282 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



Fendleri induces me to place this species here, though the flower 

 remains unknown. 



12. C. ENNEACANTHUs, E. in Wisl. Rep. : ovato-cylindricus, viridis, 

 csespitosus, 7-10 costatis ; aculeis rectis, radialibus 7-12 (plerum- 

 que sub-8) albis, inferioribus longioribus ; centrali singulo (rarius 

 2 — 3) basi bulboso teretiusculo seu compresso angulato albido vel 

 stramineo ; ovario pulvillis 25 - 35 aculeolos 6-12 gerentibus sti- 

 pato ; seminibus tuberculatis. 



In the Rio Grande valley from El Paso to Laredo, and lower down, 

 and far into Mexico : fl. April and May. — A very csespitose plant, of 

 a wrinkled or withered appearance ; 3 - 6 inches high ; spines above 

 3-5, below 8-16 lines long; lateral ones intermediate; central 

 spine extremely variable, in smaller specimens terete, in very perfect 

 ones elongated, flattened, 8 or 10 - 15 or 20 lines long. Flowers 

 2-3 inches long and equally wide: ovary and tube covered with 

 numerous bunches of spines. Fruit about an inch long, edible. 



13. C. STRAMiNEUs, E. in B. C. R. : ovato-cylindricus, csespitoso- 

 conglomeratus, 11- 13-costatus, Isete viridis ; aculeis radialibus 7- 10 

 rectis vel curvatis albis suboequalibus, centralibus 3-4 angulatis elon- 

 gatis sGepe flexuosis ; floribus magnis purpureis ; ovario pulvillis 30 - 

 40 aculeolos subsingulos gerentibus stipato ; bacca magna fasciculis 

 aculeolorum elongatorum stipata ; seminibus tuberculatis. 



Mountain slopes, from El Paso to the Pecos and Gila Rivers : fl. 

 June. Often from 100 to 200 heads in one hemispherical mass, 

 each 5-9 inches high; radial spines mostly 8, f - 1-^, central ones 

 2-3|- inches long, younger ones dirty yellow and brown, like old 

 straw. Flower 3-4 inches long, very full, bright purple. Berry 14- 

 -2 inches long, luscious. 



14. C. DUBius, E. in B. C. R. : ovato-cylindricus, ccespitosus, pal- 

 lide viridis, 7 - 9 costatus ; aculeis radialibus 5-8 albidis, superiori- 

 bus ssepe nuUis, centralibus 1-4 angulatis plus minus elongatis sospe 

 curvatis ; floribus pallide purpureis ; ovario pulvillis sub-20 aculeolos 

 1-2 gerentibus stipato ; bacca minore aculeolata ; seminibus tuber- 

 culato-scrobiculatis. 



Sandy bottoms of the Rio Grande at El Paso: fl. May and June. 

 Stems 5-8 inches high, somewhat csespitose, of a pale green color, 

 and a soft flabby texture : ribs broad, fewer ; radial spines 6-12 or 

 15 lines long ; central spines Ig- - 3 inches long,*flowers 2^ inches 

 long, with fewer and narrower petals. Fruit 1 - Ig- inches long, covered 



