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at an elevation of from 2 000 to 4,000 feet; it is frequently mentioned in the report from the 

 1st to the 9th of November, and figured on several plates, (p. 72 to 79.) It most probably 

 is a true Cereus. I judge so from the seed, which fortunately has been preserved. T. 

 obovate. obliquely truncate at base, black, smooth, shining, small, (only about 0.7 lines long;) 

 the embryo is hooked, the cotyledons foliaceous, incumbent; no albumen. If it is a constant 

 fact, that the cotyledons of the seeds cf the genus Pilocereus are thick and globose and 

 straight, the plant in question cannot belong to that genus, which comprises the most gigan- 

 tic of the Cactus tribe. 



The large Cereus. C. Peruvianut, is vastly different from cur plant, which I would pro- 

 pose to came Cereus Gigantcus. Unfortunately, I can say bat little about the character of 

 this species. The stem is tall, 25 to 60 feet high, and 2 to 6 feet in circumferance, erect, 

 simple, or with a few erect branches; ribs about 20, oblique or spiral, (?) no spines, (?) (Em- 

 ory's notes; probably onlv below without spines.) fruit produced toward the top of the stem 

 or branches. (None of the fruit was procured, being too late in the season; but the molasses 

 expressed from it by tha Indians was procured in abundance at the Pimos village.) 



It is called Pitahaya by the Californians, but this appears to be a general name applied in 

 Mexico and South America to all the large columnar Cacti which bear an edible fruit; 

 especially to Cereus variabilis, which is common on the eastern coast, b^t is widely distinct 

 from our California giant. 



Very trulv, yours. 



G ENGELMAXX. 



