196 + GrirFiTHs: NEW AND OLD SPECIES OF OPUNTIA 
deeply pitted or sunken, 5.5 x 7.5 cm., purplish, glossy dark red 
marked with irregular darker lines about areoles which are black 
with central tuft of brown spicules and one or more variegated, 
or brownish, fugacious spines 4 mm. long; rind thick, pulp light 
_ purplish-red and somewhat mottled, seeds small, dark, almost 
marginless, angular. 
This species, characterized by its dark, glossy, bright green, 
bloomless, turgid, stocky aspect, and the nature of its fruits, 
might be referred to the spineless group. I am, however, not 
ready to associate it with any described botanical species, for in my 
opinion it is a spineless form of an undescribed spiny Mexican 
species whose limitations I am not yet familiar -enough with. 
A few seedling generations would probably throw some light on 
its affinities, but I have not yet been able to grow them. 
The type is my inventory No. 8040, secured at San Luis 
Potosi, Mexico, in August, 1905. It is commonly referred to as 
““nopal camueso’”’ by the natives. It has been hardy at Chico, 
California, except during the freeze of 1913. 
Opuntia cyanea sp. nov. 
An erect, spreading, tree-like plant becoming 2-3 m. high at 
six years of age from cuttings and having a spread of about 3m. 
joints obcvate, widest at upper third to fourth, slightly glaucous, 
decidedly blue-green, the last year’s joints commonly 20 x 32 cm., 
but often larger and frequently very much smaller; areoles sub- 
circular to ovate or even elliptical, 25-30 mm. apart on last year’s 
joints, about 3 mm. long, brown, fading to a dirty gray; spicules 
straw-colored, not visible until second year and then only at base 
of joints where they continue to increase in a compact tuft I mm. 
or so in length for a year or more, but never becoming prominent; 
spines white, few, only an occasional one I-1.5 cm. long in an oc- 
casional areole, turning to a dirty, semi-translucent condition, sel- 
dom increasing at all in age; flower buds dull, light greenish-red, 
short-conical pointed, flowers dull, light orange-red, developing more 
red as day advances and coloring still deeper after closing, often 
7-5 cm. in diameter, filaments greenish, turning pink, style white, 
tinting a little toward close of day, stigma light green 10-12-parted, 
turning pinkish after closing; fruit light yellowish-white, palatable, 
rind of same color, pulp distinctly greenish even when fully ripe, 
subglobose to obovate, about 62 x 70 mm., with slightly concaved 
umbilicus, its areoles subcircular, 2.5 mm. in diameter, with promi- 
nent, tawny wool, and a central tuft of straw-colored spicules 

