CACTACER. A7 
Subgen. 2. Pratopuntra. 
Articuli complanati, lanceolati, elliptici, obovati seu suborbiculati. Aculei nunquam vaginati. 
Flores majores seu magni. Petala latiora, obovata seu orbiculata, flava seu rarius miniata, 
rarissime purpurascentia, 
Stigmata plura (5-10) obtusa. 
Bacca floris rudimentis ies late umbilicata, pulposa seu succosa, et inermis, rarius sicca 
et aculeata. 
Semine margine latiore seu on cincta. . 
Embryo plus quam circularis circa albumen parcum spiraliter convolutus. Cotyledones sem- 
per contrariz, incumbentes. 
This is the well-known form of Opuntice, with compressed and more or less elliptic joints, 
decumbent or erect, with fibrous or sometimes tuberous roots, mostly with spines only on the 
upper, or in one section (Xerocarpee) on all the pulvilli, rarely (principally the Pubescentes) spine- 
less. Flowers commonly 2-3 inches and sometimes even 4 or 5 inches, in diameter ; stigmata, @s 
far as my observation goes, always from 5 to 8, or at most 10, in number, whitish, yellowish, or 
green, patulous or mostly erect. Fruits often edible, so that some species are cultivated for 
their fruits, and have been introduced into the warmer parts of the other continents; in the 
section Xerocarpee the fruits are spiny and dry. Seeds among the largest in the whole genus, 
or even in the whole family, in some species over 3 lines in diameter. 
2. O. sTriatt (sp. nov.) : suberecta ; articulis ovatis obovatis seu orbiculatis obtusis seu subinde 
subacutis tenuibus ; pulvillis confertis, junioribus albido-villosis mox setis difformibus stramineis 
stipatis, omnibus aculeiferis; aculeis rufis fuscisque versus apicem flavidis, 5-8 radiantibus 
deflexis, versus margines articuli cum 1-2 robustioribus longioribus erectis patulis seu deflexis ; 
bacca parva subglobosa late umbilicata areolis 25-30 minutis stipata rubra ; seminibus parvis 
crassis obtuse marginatis. (Tab. LXVII.) 
Western Texas, west of the Pecos, in crevices of flat limestone rocks, Wright, Bigelow.— About 
2 feet high, pale green ; joints covered with numerous pulvilli, each with a bunch of bright red- 
brown spines, paler at the tip, which give this plant a very showy appearance. Joints 4-5 
inches long, 34-4 inches wide ; pulvilli 4-6 lines apart, prominent; their whitish wool soon dis- 
appears, leaving them covered with fine pale-yellow bristles, a dozen of which are longer than 
the rest, radiating upwards and laterally, and by joining the lower radiating spines forming 
with them a complete circle. Spines on wed areola 5-8, on the lower ones (as usual) fewer, 
shorter and paler, on the upper and marginal ones more perfect ; exterior radiating spines 
3-4 lines, lower ones 5-8 lines long; the 1 or 2 stouter somewhat compressed spines on the 
upper areol are nearly an inch long, deep-brown below, light red-brown in the middle, gradually 
fading into yellow at the point. Flower unknown. Fruit 6-7 lines long, about 6 lines thick, 
with a broad and flat umbilicus; areola small, with grey wool and a few bristles. Seed 13 
line in diameter, rather irregular, very thick in proportion.—It would be desirable to obtain 
living specimens of this showy species, which could be easily done by travellers on the now 
well-frequented road between San Antonio and El Paso. 
3. O. Eycrtmannt, Salm: erecta, grandis; caule demum lignoso tereti cortice cinereo 
rimoso obducto; articulis orbiculato-obovatis seu obovatis magnis pallide viridibus ; pulvillis 
