FEROCACTUS. I23 



Echinocactus Sulphureus Dietrich, Allg. Gartenz. 13: 170. 1845. 



Globose, 7 to 10 em. in diameter, green, depressed at the apex, very spiny; ribs numerous, much 

 compressed, undulate, each bearing a few areoles; spines 8 or 9, white, when young with brown tips, 

 compressed at base, subulate; central spine solitary, porrect, long; flowers probably yellow. 



The plant described by Schumann as E. gladiatus has yellow spines, a character not 

 referred to either under that species, as originally described, or under E. sulphureus. 

 According to Salm-Dyck, this plant is near Echinocactus anjractuosus. 



Echinocactus tellii Hortus, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 11: 161. 1901. 

 Said to be of this relationship. 



Echinocactus TERETIspinus Lemaire, Hort. Univ. 6:60. 1845. 



"We have observed, in the rich collection of M. Odier, a distinguished amateur of Bellevue, a 

 species belonging to our section Stenogoni of Echinocactus, with cylindrical spines, a character peculiar 

 to this section, which is possessed by only one other species, the E. [name not given], but in the latter 

 the upper spine is flat, and anyway these two plants are quite distinct. Our specific name signifies 

 this character. We intend to refer again to this curious species and at the same time to point out 

 many other novelties of M. Odier, which he received directly from Mexico." 



Echinocactus tribolacanthus Monville in Labouret, Monogr. Cact. 221. 1853. 

 Cylindric; ribs numerous, flat; spines 8; flowers red. 



Echinocactus trifurcatus Jacobi, Allg. Gartenz. 24: 100. 1856. 



Plant pyriform, 6 cm. in diameter near the apex, umbilicate at apex, glaucous-green; ribs 32, 

 membranaceous, compressed; spines 5. 



16. FEROCACTUS gen. nov. 



Globular to eylindrie, often large cacti; ribs thick and prominent; spines well developed, 

 either straight or hooked; areoles usually large, bearing flowers only when young and then only just 

 above the spine-clusters, more or less felted when young; flowers usually large, broadly funnel- 

 shaped to campanulate, usually with a very short tube; stamens numerous, borne on the throat, 

 short; ovary and flower-tube very scaly; scales naked in their axils; fruit oblong, usually thick- 

 walled and dry, dehiscing by a large basal pore; seeds black, pitted, never tuberculate; embryo 

 curved. 



Type species: Echinocactus wislizcni Engelmann. 



The oldest species in this genus is Ferocactus nobilis which was collected by William 

 Houston in Mexico before 1733. It was described by Miller in the Gardeners' Magazine 

 7th ed. 1759. Upon this description Linnaeus in 1767 (Mantissa 243) based his Cactus 

 nobilis and Miller in 1768 (Gard. Mag.) his Cactus recurvus. 



The generic name is from ferus wild, fierce, and cactus, referring to the very spiny 

 character of the plants. 



We recognize 30 species, heretofore treated under Echinocactus, all from North 

 America. The genus differs from Echinocactus proper in its fruits and flowers. 



Key to Species. 



A. Giant species, often 1 meter high or more (except apparently 3, 4, and 5). 

 B. Areoles with a marginal row of bristles or hairs. 

 Areoles with marginal weak hairs. 



Central spines yellowish; flowers yellow 1. F. stainesii 



Central spines bright red ; flowers red 2. F. pringlei 



Areoles with marginal bristles. 

 Central spine hooked. 



Central spines 8 em. long or less, 4 to 6 mm. wide. 

 Inner perianth-segments pink. 



Inner perianth-segments linear 3. F. Jordii 



Inner perianth-segments oblong 4. F, townsendianus 



Inner perianth-segments yellow to red, the outer pinkish. 



Inner perianth-segments about 2 cm. long; spines yellow to red 5. F. chrysacanthus 



Inner perianth-segments 4 to 5 cm. long; spines white to reddish 6. F. wistizeni 



Central spines up to 12 cm. long and 8 mm. wide 7. F. horridus 



