CACTUS. 229 



30 to 40 centimeters when full grown. The eephalium has a diameter of about 8 cm. and a height of 

 3 inches and is formed by clusters of short spines strongly set together and which are of a reddish hue. 

 In the middle of the clusters beautiful flowers sprout out and are followed by purplish fruit that give 

 the whole plant a fair and elegant aspect. This Melo cactus is found in the fissures of lofty, perpen- 

 dicular mountain passes, but in very limited numbers, and in a region not exceeding a square mile 

 in extent. Therefore it is impossible for me to collect large numbers of the same. 



" Cactus lovers have now an opportunity to enrich their collections with this new specimen which 

 has already excited the cordial admiration of amateurs both in the United States and Germany." 



We wrote to Mr. S. A. Skan, of the Kew Library, regarding this publication and name 

 and he replied as follows: 



"I have made an effort to ascertain the date of its publication but regret that I have not 

 obtained any definite information. The name Mclocactus Salvador has not been taken up in any of the 

 supplements to the Index Kewensis. In the Kew Hand-List of Tender Dicotyledons (1899) there is 

 ' M [elocactus] salvatoris, Hort. Mexico.' I supposed that to be a mistake for M. Salvador and com- 

 municated with Mr. Watson about it. He tells me that a plant named M. salvatoris was purchased 

 from Prof. L. Murillo in 1898. It is not now at Kew." 



Fig. 240. Cactus Salvador. 



It must be different from Mclocactus curvispinus (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 46. 1837) also 

 from Mexico, a species which we know only from description. It is described as globose, 10 

 cm. high, 7.5 cm. in diameter, depressed; ribs 10 to 12; areoles large, round, white-velvety; 

 radial spines 7, curved, brownish or white, 12 to 16 mm. long; central spines 2, erect, 2.5 cm. 

 long, blackish. 



Another species, Melocactus delessertianus Lemaire (Hort. Univ. 1 : 225. 1839), has been 

 described from Mexico which may or may not be this plant. It was described as slightly 

 depressed, about 10 cm. high ; ribs 1 2 to 1 5 ; radial spines 8 or 9 ; central spines 2 ; flowers and 

 fruit unknown. 



Figure 240 is reproduced from a photograph, taken by Louis Murillo, now on deposit in 

 the Library at Kew, a copy of which was sent us by the Director, Captain Arthur W. Hill. 



8. Cactus broadwayi sp. nov. 



Plant a little longer than thick, 1 to 2 dm. high, yellowish green; ribs 14 to 18, sometimes 

 branching above, rather low, 1 to 1.5 cm. high, 1 to 2 cm. broad at base, rounded, separated 

 from one another by acute intervals; areoles small, depressed, 1 cm. apart; spines horn-colored, but 

 often with brownish tips or some, especially the central ones, brown throughout, at least when 

 young; radial spines 8 to 10, 1 to 1.5 cm. long, more or less curved inwards; central spines usually one, 



