172 



THE CACTACEAE. 



Type locality: Mexico. 



Distribution: Eastern Mexico. 



Unfortunately, the type of the genus Echinocactus is now known only from the early 

 descriptions and a single illustration. It seems to be quite distinct from the other species 

 of the genus. The large giant cacti are very common in eastern Mexico, but it will 

 require some very careful field work to disentangle the species. 



Illustration: Link and Otto, Verh. Ver. Beford. Gartenb. 3: pi. 14, as Melocactus 

 plat y acanthus. 



Fig. it 



-Echinocactus palmeri. 



6. Echinocactus palmeri Rose, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: 290. 1909. 



Echinocactus saltillensis Hortus, Cact. Journ. i: ioo. 1898. Not Poselger, 1853. 

 Echinocactus ingens saltillensis Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 317. 1898. 

 Echinocactus ingens subinermis Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 317. 1898. 



Stems 1 to 2 meters high, 4 to 5 dm. in diameter; ribs 12 to 26, or perhaps more in large plants; 

 central spines 4, annular, the upper one erect, 6 to 8 cm. long, stout, straight, yellow above, brownish 

 and somewhat swollen at base, the 3 lower ones shorter, spreading, similar in color and markings but 



Fig. 189. Echinocactus palmeri. 



flattened; radial spines 5 to 8, much smaller, lighter colored and weaker; flowers yellow, rather small ; 

 perianth-segments about 2 cm. long, more or less lacerated along the margin ; fruit about 3 cm. long, 

 hidden in a dense covering of soft white wool ; scales weak and bristle-tipped. 



Type locality: Concepci6n del Rio, Zacatecas. 

 Distribution: Eastern northern Mexico. 



This is the well-known Echinocactus saltillensis of horticultural collections, but is not 

 the species first described under that name. 



