218 32. E. DIVERSIFOLIUS. 



Stem arcuate-prostrate, angular, sometimes furrowed, 

 very haiiy when young. Prickles unequal, slender, patent 

 or very slightly declining, with very long compressed bases, 

 the larger ones chiefly seated on the angles of the stem. 

 Aciculi and setce, many, rather strong, unequal, seated on 

 tubercles. Leaves quinate-pedate. Leaflets broad, dark 

 green, opaque, rugose and pilose above, pale green, pilose and 

 felted beneath, nearly regularly dentate, or slightly lobate- 

 dentate towards the tip; basal se-;sile, oblong, overlapping 

 the intermediate pair; intermediate shortly stalked, oblong- 

 obovate, unequal-based ; terminal roundly cordate-obovate, 

 acuminate or cusjDidate, shortly stalked ; or rarely the basal 

 and intermediate are combined into one leaflet which is 

 largely and deeply bilobed; petioles and midribs with rather 

 few short rather slender unequal hooked prickles beneath; 

 stipules narrowly lanceolate. 



Flowering shoot from brownish silky scales, straight 

 except near the top, where it is slightly wavy. Prickles 

 slender, from long compressed bases, increasing in length 

 from the base of the shoot to about its middle, then de- 

 creasing gradually to the summit. Aciculi and setce rather 

 plentiful, short. Hairs fascicled, interlacing, and often rather 

 adpressed. Leaves temate. Leaflets nearly equalj pilose 

 above, hairy and felted beneath; basal very unequal-sided, 

 the outer side being half rliomboidal ; terminal obovate, 

 acute, somewhat wedgeshaped below; uppermost floral leaves 

 simple, either 3-lobed or broadly oval. Panicle long, leafy 

 nearly to the top, with very shoii: axillary few-flowered 

 subracemose branches often springing from every axil of 

 the shoot; sometimes a few of the branches are rather 

 longer, although still short, and become secondary and leafy 

 panicles. Sepals ovate, acute or with slender points, whitish, 

 setose, aciculate, felted, erect-patent and slightly clasping the 

 fruit or loosely reflexed from it. Petals ovate, slightly 



