2IO CALIP'ORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



forms here included differs from that of all other species 

 in being more fleshy and often bright red, and the protu- 

 berances from the upper part of the fruit are ribbed and 

 unusually prominent. Through the forms of its variety 

 piiietortini it approaches closely both the northern and 

 southern forms of C . rig/diis, but if not held apart from 

 that species the whole Cerastes section would have logi- 

 cally to go as varieties under C. cuncatiis. No. 70, Don- 

 ner, Placer County; No. 71, Mt. Shasta; No. 72, Blue 

 Canon, Placer County ; No. 75, Calaveras Big Tree Grove. 

 The hybrids in this collection have been mentioned under 

 C. vehctimis, and under C. ciineatus, with which it mixes 

 freely in all degrees. In all the observed hybrids the 

 fruit resembles C . ctincatus, except in one instance, a 

 specimen collected at Susanville, Lassen County, not in 

 sufficient quantity for distribution. 



Var. DivERGENS (Parry). 



C. divergens, u. sp. Branches rigid, divergent, hoary pubescent 

 when young; leaves 10-20 mm. long, 5-10 mm. broad, verj' rigid coria- 

 ceous, cuneate at base to a very short petiole, broadly truncate at sum- 

 mit, with prominent midrib, the principal pinnate veins terminating in 

 sharjDly mucronate broad serratures, dull green above, with distinct rows 

 of tufted areolar pubescence beneath; inflorescence in short vimbellate 

 peduncles, occasionally subtended by one or more leaflets; fruit oblong, 

 5 mm. broad, 8 mm. long, deeply immersed in the rigid disc; exocarp 

 spongy, light )>ink before maturity, the appendages at the summit of 

 the cocci conspicuously horned, with accessory intermediate crests. 

 Habitat: — A low-branching shrub, the long divergent branches inclined 

 to siipport themselves on adjoining bushes, but never decumbent. Flow- 

 ers in April, fruit July; only known from a single locality in the in- 

 teresting botanical district of the Napa Valley. Though closely allied 

 to C. jirostratus, with which, in herbarium specimens, it is easily con- 

 founded, it is clearly distinct in habit and foliage, as well as a widely dif- 

 ferent geographical range. Like all the species of this Section, the explosive 

 character of the capsules is very apparent to any one who would under- 

 take to collect fully mature seeds.— Parry in Proc. Davenp. Acad, v, 173 

 (1889). 



As has been mentioned in the earlier pages of this pa 



