different garden collections. In addition to forms which 

 appear normal, various so-called "monstrosities" are 

 apt to arise, both in nature and in cultivation. These 



abnormal forms are of two general types : one, in which 

 the body takes the form of a fan or contorted ridge, is 

 designated by the varietal name cristatus and its gender 

 equivalfents ; the other, in which there is an irregular 

 bunching of branches, is designated in the same way 

 as var. nionsirosus. 



A brief sj-nopsis of the 15 genera announced in trade 

 catalogues is as follows : 



B. Stems short: fls. 



Us of tubercles 



1. HelocactuB. Nearly globular, strongly ribbed and 

 spiny, easily recognized by the distinct flower-bearing 

 crown. About 30 species, found chiefly in W. India and 

 Brazil. 



2. Mamillaria, Fig. 302. Globular to short cylindri- 

 cal, not ribbed, but with prominent tubercles bearing 

 terminal clusters of spines, and fls. usually in zones. 

 The largest genus, nearly ,300 species being recognized, 

 ranging from northern U. S. into S. Amer. 



3. Pelecyphora. Fig. 303. Like the last, but the 

 spirally arranged tubercles are flattened and bear two 

 rows of flat overlapping horny scales instead of spmes 

 A single Mexican species 



4 Anhalomum Low flat topped forms the tubercles 

 spineless and resembling thick imbricate scales About 



-X>^ 



305. Flower of Phyllocactus. 



5 species, all Mexican, one of which is found in the U. 

 S. The proper name of this genus is Ariocqrpus. By 

 many it is considered as belonging to JSchinocactus . 



, on tubercles which 

 iito ribs. 



."). Echinocactua. Globular to short cylindrical, 

 stroiiLcly ribbed forms. The second genus in the num- 

 ber ,,t its species, 200 being recognized, ranging from 

 till- r. S. to Chile and Brazil. 



6. Malacocarpus. Closely resembling the last, and 

 often inchuli-cl under it. Distinguished by the woolly 

 tuft at tlie very apex of the stem. About 8 species are 

 recognized, restricted to Brazil and Uraguay. 



BBB. stems mostly elongated, erect or climbing, 

 branching, ribbed or angled. 



7. Cereus. Fig. 304. From almost globular to stout 

 columnar, or slender, climbing, creeping or deflexed. A 

 genus of about 100 species, extending from the U. S. 

 into South America. 



8. Pilocereus. Distinguished from the large, colum- 

 nar forms of Cereus by the development of abundant 

 white hairs instead of rigid spines. About 45 species 

 are recognized, ranging from Mexico to Brazil. 



9. Echinopsis. Like columnar species of Cereus, but 

 very short (sometimes globose) and many-ribbed, with 

 remarkably elongated calyx tubes. About 10 species, 

 restricted to southern S. Amer. 



10. Echinocereus. Like cylindrical species of Cereus, 

 but small, and with weak spines and short calj-x tubes. 

 About 30 species, found in liofli N. and S. Amer. 



306. Fruit of Phyllocactus anguliger. 



BBBB. Stems flattened or tcinged, jointed. 



11. PhyllocactuB. Figs. 305, 30G. Mostly epiphytic, 

 the joints flat, becoming thin and leaf -like upon cylin- 

 drical stems. About 12 species are recognized in Cent, 

 and S. Amer. 



12. Epiphyllum. An epiphyte, with numerous hang- 

 ing, niany-j"iiitr<l simis. A single S. American species, 

 the other s|„.ri. , u-n.illy nterred to this genus belong- 



ste7ns 



AA. Cull).!: liiijL not jirmhiced beyond the 

 briiiichiiiy and jointed. 



13. Bhipsalis. Small, epiphytic forms, with joints 

 ribbed, cylindrical or flat, with or without bristles. A 

 genus of 50 species, chiefly developed in Cent, and S. 

 America. 



14. Opuntia. Figs. 307, 308. Branching, jointed forms, 

 the joints flat or cylindrical, usually bristly and spiny. 

 A large genus of 150 species, ranging from central N. 

 Amer. to Chile. The cylindrical forms belong to the 

 liiore desert regions, while the flat-jointed forms, or 

 "prickly pears," as a rule occupy conditions not so ex- 

 t remely dry. 



15. Fereskia. Fig. 309. Climbing, woody forms, with 

 perfectly developed Ivs. About 15 species are known, 

 ranging from Mexico to Argentine. The name is ordi- 

 narily written Pereskia. 



The completest monograph of Cacti, with descriptions 

 of species, is Sehumannu's Gesammtbeschreibung der 

 Kakteen, Berlin, 1899. jqhn M. Coulter. 



