CACTUS. 



227 



Plate xxiv, figure i, shows the top of a fruiting plant collected by Rose, Russell, and 

 Fitch at Azua, Santo Domingo, March 12, 1913 (No. 6324). Figure 235 is a reproduction 

 of the plate published in L'Horticulteur Universel and cited above. 



4. Cactus oreas (Miquel). 



Melocactus oreas Miquel, Nov. Act. Nat. Cur. 18: Suppl. 

 Melocaclus ernesti Vaupel, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 30: 8. 



. 192. 



1920. 



1841. 



Plant 2 to 4 cm. in diameter; cephalium 4 to 6 cm. high, composed of white wool and many 

 soft brown hairs; ribs 10 to 12, somewhat acute, about 20 cm. high; spines 14 to 20, of which 4 to 6 

 are central, brown, but paler toward the tips, slender, nearly straight, subulate, much elongated, the 

 longer ones 1 2 cm. long and flexible, terete ; flowers pinkish ; fruit clavate, 2 cm. long, bright red ; seeds 

 black, minute, 1 mm. broad, covered with low depressed tubercles. 



Type locality: Bahia, Brazil. 



Distribution: Dry parts of Bahia. 



Common on the hills of the interior parts 

 of Bahia, Brazil. Dr. Rose found it in Dr. 

 Leo Zehntner's collection at Joazeiro and 

 later collected it at Machado Portella, June 

 20, 1915 (No. 19729). 



This plant is characterized by its greatly 

 elongated spines, these being longer than 

 those of any other species of the genus. 



Illustrations: Karsten and Schenck, Vege- 

 tationsbilder 6: pi. 17, as Melocactus; Monats- 

 schr. Kakteenk. 30: 8, 9, as Melocactus 

 ernesti. 



5. Cactus ruestii (Schumann). 



Melocactus ruestii Schumann, Verzeichn. Kult. 

 Kakt. 26. 1896. 



Fig. 237. Cactus ruestii. 



Plants mostly globular, 5 to 15 cm. in diameter; ribs 11 to 19, rather high, separated by sharp 

 intervals; young areoles brown-felted; spines dark brown at first, gray in age; radial spines 5 to 8, 

 spreading or reflexed, subulate, 2.5 to 3 cm. long; central spine solitary, erect, 2.5 to 3 cm. long, 

 subulate; cephalium a small crown of brown stiff bristles and white wool; flowers small, red. 



Type locality: Honduras. 



Distribution : Honduras. 



It has been recently collected by F. J. Dyer in Comayagua Valley, Honduras, May 7, 

 1917 (No. 261) and also by George W. Ellis in rocky soil, altitude 1,500 meters, south of 

 Comayagua, Honduras. 



The species is characterized by its closely set areoles and by the very stiff bristles in the 

 cephalium. 



Illustration: Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 2: 89, as Melocactus brongnartii. 



Figure 237 is a reproduction of the illustration cited above. 



18: 37. 1908. 



6. Cactus maxonii Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 63. 1907. 



Melocactus guatemalensis Giirke and Eichlam, Monatsschr. Kakteenk 

 Melocactus maxonii Giirke, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 18: 93. 1908. 



Depressed-globose, 10 to 15 em. high; cephalium small; ribs 11 to 15, broad at base; radial spines 

 7 to 11, spreading or recurved, pale red or rose-colored, 1 to 1.5 em. long; central spine usually 

 solitary, porrect or ascending; flowers rose-colored; fruit clavate; seeds black, shining. 



Type locality: Near El Rancho, Guatemala. 

 Distribution : Guatemala. 



