208 



THE CACTACEAE. 



Dr. Spegazzini has described two varieties, erythranthus and thionanthus (Anal. Mus. 

 Nae. Buenos Aires III. 4: 498. 1905) which have different-sized flowers and different- 

 colored filaments and which suggest the probability of there being more than one species 

 in this genus. 



The varieties brevispinus Haage jr. and elegans Haage jr. are in the trade. 



Two forms were also collected by Dr. Shafer 

 in Argentina in 191 7, both of which have flowered 

 in the New York Botanical Garden. No. 9 has 

 small yellow flowers, less than 2 cm. long, with 

 yellow filaments and style; No. 18 has large red 

 flowers, 4 cm. long with red filaments. 



Illustrations: Gartenwelt 7: 281; De Laet, 

 Cat. Gen. f. 20; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 7: 105; 

 12: 155; 16: 48; Bliihende Kakteen 1 : pi. 1; 

 Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen f. 68; Nachtr. 

 109. f. 22; Curtis's Bot. Mag. 128: pi. 7840, as 

 Echinocactus micros permus; Monatsschr. Kak- 

 teenk. 12: 155; 31: 59; vSehumann, Gesamtb. 

 Kakteen Nachtr. no. f. 23, as Echinocactus 

 micros permus macrancistrus. 



Plate xxiii, figure 1, shows a plant collected 

 by Dr. vShafer at Andalgala, Argentina, in 191 7 

 (No. 9), which flowered in the New York Botan- 

 ical Garden, January 4, 1920. Figures 220, 221, 

 and 222 are from photographs furnished by Dr. 

 Spegazzini. 



Fig. 222. Hickenia mien 



sperma. 



25. FRAILEA gen. nov. 



Plants small, globular or cylindric, with the apex rounded or depressed, usually cespitose; ribs 

 numerous, low, divided into tubercles, these bearing small spines; flowers small, often cleistogamous, 

 arising from the apex of the central tubercles; fruit small, spherical to ellipsoid, bearing narrow 

 yellow scales with hair-like bristles in their axils, these forming a crest to the flower; seeds black or 

 brown, smooth or pubescent, shining, with a triangular, deeply concave face; embryo straight (!), 

 splitting the testa on the back of the seed in germinating; endosperm wanting; cotyledons minute, if 

 at all developed. 



Type species: Echinocactus cataphractus Dams. 



These plants very much resemble some of the small species of Mammillaria, but the 

 low tubercles are more definitely arranged on ribs and the flowers and fruit are very dif- 

 ferent; the seeds are much like those of Epithclantha, but the flowers are different and the 

 fruit is scaly. The flowers of this genus are not very well known; several of the species 

 have been described as having the flowers often cleistogamous and it may be that they 

 all are. We have had two or three of the species under observation for several years. 

 Flower-buds are often formed and occasionally ripe fruit with fertile seed is produced, but 

 we have never seen open flowers or indications that they had opened. The flowers may 

 open at night, but we doubt it; they certainly do not in day-light. 



While the species of this group which we know from living plants clearly represent 

 a very distinct generic type, we are not quite certain whether Echinocactus cacspitosus 

 belongs here or not. Its larger flowers suggest a possibility of its being related to Mala- 

 cocarpus and indeed Spegazzini states that it is near E. concinmis. 



The genus is named for Manuel Fraile who was born at Salamanca, Spain, in 1850, and 

 who for years has diligently cared for the cactus collection in the U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Eight species are recognized. 



