Griffiths — New Species of Opuvtia. 13 



varying from close to length of spicules to 20 mm., and often 12 in 

 number. 



This species inhabits the foothills regions of the Rellito and Santa Cruz 

 Valleys of southern Arizona. It is characterized by its large joints, 

 peculiarly shaped for this group, recurved spines, and large, pyriform 

 fruit. The type was collected near Pantano, Arizona, in September, 

 1911, under my inventory number 10,456. 



Opuntia superbospina sp. nov. 



Plants low, spreading, 30 to 40 cm. high and having a spread of 125 

 cm. or more, main arms resting on edge with distal segments ascending 

 and secondary branches erect or ascending from the primary; joints obo- 

 vate, about 10 by 19 cm., rather sharply rounded above and contracted 

 below, with a moderately long stipitate base, very glaucous gray-green, 

 slightly raised at areoles for about 2 years, turning yellowish-green in 

 age; areoles large, obovate to oval, with prominent brown wool, about 6 

 mm. long; leaves short, subulate, cuspidate-pointed, pinkish, slightly 

 recurved, 4 to 5 mm. long; spicules very prominent in a large tuft in 

 upper portion of areole, yellow, 1 cm. long, continuing to increase for 2 

 years at least, in successive zones, from central areolar area ; spines long, 

 formidable, at fir.st brownish at bases, especially at apex of joints, and 

 white on sides, but all becoming white or nearly so in age, all but the 

 lowermost areoles armed, 1 below to 3 or 4 above, stout, porrect-spreading, 

 with the lowermost in the areole recurved and shorter than the others 

 which are 6 cm. long on current year's growth, ranging to 8 cm. the 

 second year and even longer than this in age; flowers yellow, red within, 

 7 to 8 em. in diameter when fully opened, fading to pinkish and becom- 

 ing more red in centre toward close of day, filaments pink, style white or 

 slightly tinted, stigma white, 6-parted ; fruit dull grayish-red with abund- 

 ant bloom, rind greenish and pulp colorless, areoles about 18, gray to 

 dull tawney, small, subcircular, 2 mm. in diameter, spicules yellow, 2 to 

 3 mm. long, fugacious spines, 2 to 5 or 6, and merging from length of 

 spicules to 6 mm. in length, all yellow and much duller in color than the 

 spicules of the stem. 



The species is characterized by its very glaucous aspect, prominent 

 yellow spicules and long, nearly white spines which are so numerous and 

 formidable that it is impossible to get down into the centre of the plant. 

 It was secured under my collection number 10,574, about 15 miles south- 

 east of Kingman, Arizona, and has been observed in several localities in 

 the same general region. 



Optunia caesia sp. nov. 



Plant a spreading shrub with main arms resting on their edges and the 

 secondary ones erect from them, 60 cm. high and 2 m. in spread when 

 fully matured; joints deep, glaucous blue-green, becoming yellowish- 

 green in age, obovate, about 11 to 15 by 20 to 24 cm., gradually narrowed 

 below to a stipitate base; areoles 4 mm. long, brown; spicules dark- 

 brown in a compact tuft in the upper portion of areoles, 4 to 5 mm. long, 



