CACTACE. 35 
subglobosa e purpureo virescente; seminibus minutis obovatis subobliquis tuberculatis, hilo 
oblongo. (Tab. XLVIII, fig. 2-4, and tab. XLIX.) 
Along the Rio Grande, from El Paso, Wright, Parry, to Eagle Pass, Schott, Bigelow, and 
into Mexico, Wislizenus: fl. April and May. A widespread species, assuming many forms, 
sometimes approaching the next. Stems generally branching, and cespitose, 3-6 inches 
high, 14-2 or 24 inches in diameter, fresh green, in winter often reddish ; even when in full 
growth appearing flaccid or shrivelled. Areole 6-10 lines apart; spines remarkably trans-, 
parent, much smaller on the lower part of the plant than on the upper one, all bulbose at base, 
especially the central ones. Upper radial spines 3-5 lines, lateral ones 5-12 lines, lower ones 
8-16 lines long, all usually less than one inch. In some specimens the radial spines are almost 
equal in length ; in others they differ very much. Central spine extremely variable in color, size 
and shape; when young usually yellowish or brownish, at last ash-colored ; in younger plants 
terete; in perfectly developed ones triangular and flattened, 8 or 10 to 15 or 20 lines long ; 
sometimes we find one or two additional shorter and angular central spines above the principal 
one, diverging upwards. Flowers 2-3 inches long, and of the same and even greater width 
when fully open; the smallest were obtained at Eagle Pass, bright purplish-red ; these have 
more numerous as well as slenderer and shorter spines on the ovary, and bloom farlier; the 
larger flowers come from El Paso and Chihuahua, from larger plants with longer spines. Berry 
10 or 12 lines long, greenish or purplish, pleasant to eat ; seed 0.5 line or less in the longest 
diameter, its tubercles very prominent and distinct. 
11. C. stRaMINEUs, (Sp. nov.): ovato-cylindricus, versus apicem attenuatus, lete viridis, cas- 
pitosus densissimeque agglomeratus; costis 11-13 sursum compressis obtusis tuberculatis 
transverse sulcatis; areolis orbiculatis remotis; aculeis radialibus 7-10 (pleramque 8) rectis 
seu paullo curvatis basi bulbosis teretibus seu inferioribus subinde angulatis albis subpellucidis 
subequalibus; aculeis centralibus subquaternis basi bulbosis angulatis elongatis radiales longe 
excedentibus sepe flexuosis stramineis fuscatis, nascentibus spe roseis seu purpureis, superiori- 
bus sursum divergentibus, inferiore latiore porrecto seu paullo deflexo; floribus lateralibus 
grandibus; ovarii squamis 30-40 triangularibus et sepalis tubi late campanulati 20-30 infe- 
rioribus oblongis abrupte cuspidatis in axilla villosa aculeolos paucos flexuosos elongatos geren- 
tibus; sepalis superioribus 10-15 oblongo-obovatis obtusis seu cuspidatis; petalis 15-18 late 
obovatis obtusis eroso-denticulatis; stigmatibus 10-13 elongatis erecto-patulis; bacca ovato- 
subglobosa magna purpurascente aculeolis elongatis numerosis deciduis armata; seminibus 
obovatis obliquis tuberculatis; hilo oblongo parvo ; cotyledonibus subcurvatis. (Tab. XLVI— 
XLVII et tab. XLVIII, fig. 1.) 
On high gravelly table-lands, and on the mountain-slopes about El Paso, extending east to 
the Pecos and west to the Gila, Wright, Bigelow, Parry: fl. June; fruit ripe in July and 
August.—A most remarkable plant, on account of the immense masses it forms, one plant often 
consisting of 100 or 200 heads in a regular hemispherical mass, which is covered and defended 
by the long, flexuous, straw-colored spines: those have suggested the specific name of the 
plant. Single heads 5-9 inches high and 2-3 inches in diameter, tapering towards the top, 
at base closely impacted together. Areolz in vigorous plants }~1 inch apart, in older plants 
becoming more approximate. Radial spines }-1} inch long, on the lower part of the plant 
shorter. Central spines 2-3 or even 34 inches long, straight or variously twisted, and the 
younger ones red or brown. Flower 3 or 4 inches in length, and spreading as wide or 
