157 [ 7 ] 



APPENDIX NO. 2.— (Continued.) 



St. Louis, February 13, 1848. 



My Dear Sir: Your letter, together with the package containing the drawings of a 

 number of most, interesting cactaceae, arrived safely here about two weeks ago. 



On the occasion of my report on the botany of Dr. Wislizenus' voyage, I have made a 

 careful investigation of the cactaceas, of which he brought home with him more than twenty 

 species, and have been enabled to elucidate several points which had been unknown, or ob- 

 scure before; no doubt because in the hot houses of European gardens these curious plants, 

 though they thrive pretty well, rarely produce flowers and fruit; so that from 800 species of 

 cactacese at present cultivated in Europe, perhaps not one-fourth is known as to its flower 

 and a much smaller proportion in fruit. 



I have ventured to describe some of your species from the drawing; my description, how- 

 ever, and the names given by me, must remain doubtful till we are able to obtain some more 

 data to characterize the species. I have written it more Tor your information than for publi- 

 cation, but if you choose to append it to your published report, I have no objection to it, but 

 must request you to make such corrections or alterations as your notes or your recollection 

 of the plants will enable you to do; for example, as to size, as in some of the drawings no 

 size is mentioned,* in which case I have assumed them to represent the natural size. I have 

 for convenience sake, numbered the different figures, and shall now proceed to copy for }-ou 

 the descriptions and remarks following my numbers. 



1. Mammillaria. October 18, 1846; head waters of the Gila, 6,000 feet above the sea. 

 Proliferous in the highest degree, forming hemispherical masses often of a diameter three 



and a-half feet; which are composed of 100 — 200 different heads or stems. Single heads 

 conical, apparently about 4 or 5 inches high, and 2| — 3 inches in diameter; color, bluish 

 green; spines white or reddish. 



This species appears to be allied to M- vivipara, but is distinguished by the conical heads, 

 and the hemispherical tufts, while M. vivipara has hemispherical or even depressed heads, 

 and forms flat and spreading masses. 



It may be an undescribed species, in which case the name of M. aggregata appears to be 

 most appropriate. 



2. Mammillaria. October 26, 1846. Rare; on the Gila, 3 or 4,000 feet above the sea. 

 Apparently a mammillaria, though the habit of the plant is more that of an Echinocereus, 



but all Echinoccrei have the bunches of spines disposed in verticle ridges, which is not the 

 case in the figure in question. Stems irregularly cylindrical, with divers contractions and 

 swelling, about 4 — 6 inches high, and 1} and 12 inches in diameter, many (in the figure 8,) 

 from one base. 



The name of M- fasciculata would indicate the peculiarity of this species. 



3. Mammillaria. November 4, 1846; abundant. 



Several (fig. 3,) oval stems from one base, 14 — 2;' inches high, and 1{ inch in diameter; 

 tubercles in about 13. rows; spines whitish, short; one small obovate red berry toward the 

 apex not more than H line long. 



If the figure is correct, this species ought to be distinguished by the name of M. microcar- 

 pa. as I know of no other Mammillaria with such a small fruit. 



4. Echinocactus Wislizeni. (Engelm. in Wislizenus' report.) October 26, 1846. 



In addition to the description in Dr. W.'s report, which I have drawn up from dried speci- 

 mens. I observe in this figure that the species has 21 oblique ribs, is of an oval shape, and 

 bluish green color; the ribs are acute, but not compressed, according to the representation of 

 a section, and the groves corresponding. 



5. Echinocactus. October 25, 1846; 18 inches in diameter. 



Height equal to the diameter; shape ventricose, contracted towards the vertex, therefore 

 somewhat urceolate; with 21 straight sharp ribs; spines apparently 8, straight, brown, color 

 of plant bright green; vertex whitish, "(tomentose?) fr m t l or 1-i inches long, oval, yellowish 

 or reddish. Seed obovate, obliquely truncated at base, full one line long, black, opaque, 

 slightly roughened; embryo curved or hooked, cotyledons accumbent, partly buried in the 

 large farinaceous albumen. 



This species is distinct from all other New Mexican species examined by me, and is most 

 probably undescribed. I propose to name it after its zealous discoverer, who has, surmount- 

 ing numberless difficulties, though occupied by severe and arduous duties, found leisure to do 

 so much for the advancement of our knowledge of the wild countries traversed by him, 

 Echinocactus Emoryi. 



C. Cereus. November 21, 1846; 3 feet high. 



There can be but little doubt but that we have here a species before us. which I have re- 



* Where the size is not mentioned, the original c'rawi'ngs are tl.e size of nature. W. H. E. 



