140 



THE CACTACEAE. 



The plant illustrated in Bliihende Kakteen as cited below has flowers of different color 

 and shape, and hence is referred here with some doubt. 



Schumann (Gesamtb. Kakteen 349. 1898), following Labouret, refers as a synonym 

 of this species E. campylacanthus Scheidweiler (Allg. Gartenz. 8: 337. 1840), which is 

 described as having 21 ribs and only one central spine. It should probably be referred 

 elsewhere. The specimens distributed by de Laet under this name seem to be Echinopsis 

 leucantha. 



Illustrations: Nov. Act. Nat. Cur. 16: pi. 26; Bliihende Kakteen 3: pi. 134; Schelle, 

 Handb. Kakteenk. 162. f. 92; Gard. Chron. III. 50: 135. f. 64, E, as Echinocactus macro- 

 discus; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 24: 151, as Echinocactus macrodiscus multiflorus. 



Figure 147 is copied from the first illustration above cited. 



Fig. 147. Ferocactus macrodiscus. 



23. Ferocactus viridescens (Torrey and Gray). 



Echinocactus viridescens Torrey and Gray, Fl. N. Amer. i: 554. 1840. 



Melocactus viridescens Nuttall in Tesehemacher, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 5: 293. 1845. 



Echinocactus limitus Engelmann in Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 374. 1896. 



At first nearly globose or somewhat depressed, in age becoming cylindric, 3 to 4.5 dm. high, 

 2.5 to 3.5 dm. in diameter, simple or cespitose, deep green, somewhat glossy; ribs 13 to 21, somewhat 

 rounded, 1 to 2 cm. high, obtuse, undulate; areoles narrow, elliptic, 1 to 2 cm. long, spine-bearing in 

 the lower part, felted in upper part, flower-bearing and also with several reddish glands, these 

 becoming elongated and spinescent in age; spines at first bright red, becoming duller by age or turn- 

 ing yellow or horn-colored; radial spines 9 to 20, more or less spreading, 1 to 2 cm. long; central 

 spines 4, the lower one stouter and more flattened, up to 3.5 cm. long; flowers yellowish green, 4 cm. 

 long; perianth-segments oblong, obtuse, sometimes apiculate, more or less serrulate on the margins; 

 flower-tube bearing stamens almost to the top of the ovary; scales on the ovary orbicular, imbricate; 

 fruit 1.6 to 2 cm. long, reddish with a pleasant acid taste; seeds 1.6 mm. long, pitted. 



Type locality: Near San Diego, California. 



Distribution: California and Lower California near the International Boundary Line, 

 not far from the sea coast and in the foothills. 



Echinocactus viridescens is usually credited to Nuttall, but he referred it in manuscript 

 to Melocactus, and Torrey and Gray, who revised and published his manuscript, referred 

 it doubtfully to Echinocactus. 



