2G0 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



spines, with dilated reddLsh bases; fruit remaining attached for several years, 

 at 12 months of age yellow, nearly smooth, slightly dished, flattened or 

 even convex at apex, with prominent spicules; 3 to 3.5 cm. in diameter. 



The species may be looked upon as standing between 0. 

 Kleiniae and 0. imhricata. Our cultivated specimens three 

 years old have steins three inches in diameter at base and 

 stand over five feet high. 



Tlie description is compiled from one taken in the field 

 when the species was discovered, and another made of the 

 living cultivated progeny. The specific name, cardenche/ 

 is universally apprunl to this species but it is also applied to 

 the much more common species 0. imbricata. 



The type is no. 9221 D. G., collected April 21, 1908, from 

 specimens cultivated from cuttings secured near San Luis 

 Potosi, Mexico, in March, 1905. — Plate 21. 



Opuntia neoarbuscula sp. nov. 



F 



A low spreading, compactly branched^ cylindrical stemmed plants 8 to 

 10 dm. high and 10 to 15 dm. in diameter, proliferously and compactly 

 branched, the branches falling off readily; joints tuberculate, 10 to 15 cm. 

 long, and about 8 mm. in diameter (last year); leaves subulate pointed, 

 8 to 10 mm, long, circular in section and with tips brownish or reddish; 

 roots often but apparently not uniformly bearing tuberous thickenings; 

 arcolcs large, 3 mm. in diameter, and convex, projecting 1 to 2 mm. high, 

 dull gray; spicules dirty yellow witli bases a little darker and brighter in 

 color, 1.5 mm. long, in a compact bunch from upper portion of areole; spines, 

 on late growth of last year, 1 completely sheathed about 2.5 cm. long, with 1 

 to 3 more delicate, partly sheathed, lower recurved ones, on older wood of 

 last year centrals are 4 to 10, completely sheathed, from a more prominent 

 projecting arcolc, straw color to brownish red, usually faintly annular; 

 flowers dull red with more or less of purplish tinge with petals obovatc^ 

 irregularly and minutely dentate, and often irregularly cleft, and sepals 

 * ovate, truncate or triangular and abruptly pointed above, filaments green- 

 ish below and purplish above and anthers orange; pistil about 2.5 cm. long 

 with style greenish white below and slightly tinged with purple above, 

 and stigma yellowish white, G parted, small; ovary obovate-clavate, tuber- 

 eulate, 2.5 cm. long, with comparatively large brownish gray areoles, and 

 one partially sheathed, delicate, fugacious spine, 1 cm. long, and 2 to 4 

 scattering, delicate, unsheathed, fugacious bristles. 



This differs from 0. arhuscida, to which it is most closely 

 related, by color of flowers (of minor importance), difference 

 in habit and character of spines. 



