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Peers $s 
DESCRIPTION OF THE CACTACEA. 
BY GEORGE ENGELMANN, M. D., OF ST. LOUIS, AND JOHN M. BIGELOW, M. D. 
Nn nieniiacaell ere 
MAMILLABIA, Haw. 
iL. EuMaMitiarrA. Englm. in Synops. Cact. 
1. Mam. Wrieuttr, Englm. in Rep. of Bound. Com.: Flowers and fruit were unknown until 
specimens brought from the Pecos flowered in Washington. From these the following descrip- 
tion was drawn: 
‘‘Sepalis exterioribus triangularibus obtusiusculis fimbriatis sub-13, interioribus margine 
petaloideis acutis sub-8, petalis (purpureis) lanceolatis acuminatis aristatis sub-12; bacca 
uccosa majuscula purpurascente floris rudimentis coronata ; seminibus dbovatis basi acutis scro- 
biculatis nigris. =PE=—. I am not certain whether the flower is actually lateral and the 
germen immersed, whether, therefore, this species actually belongs to the true Mamillarie, or 
to the subgenus Coryphantha; I am, on the contrary, inclined to consider at least the germen 
e@amersed. I, nevertheless, think it best to leave this species with the Crinite, to which it 
seems to be so nearly allied, till more complete observations establish the contrary. The flower 
is about one inch long, petals and margin of inner sepals bright purple; berry large and pur- 
plish ; seeds about 0.7 lines long.”’ 
High plains near the Gallinas. Hills and roeky places near Anton Chico, on the Pecos, 
September 25, 1853. Santa Rita del Cobre mountains, near Lake Santa Maria, Chihuahua. 
Wright and Bigelow, in boundary collections. 
2. Mam. Grauamr, Englm. in Rep. B. OC. Sand and gravelly banks of streams. Williams’ 
river to the Colorado Grande, January 26, 1854. 
. . PHELLOSPERMA, Englm. in Synops. Cact. (M. tetrancistra Englm. in Sillim. Jour., 
Nov. 18587: Living specimens of this and the preceding species have been brought to Wash- 
ington, and are now growing in the Congressional garden. Few specimens only show more 
than one of the 4 central spines hooked. The manifestly improper name previously adopted 
had therefore to be altered. ‘‘I have substituted for it a name derived from the peculiar spongy 
or corky appendage of the seed, which greatly resembles that of the seed of Potentilla 
Nuét.”’—(Engelmann.) Sandy banks of streams, Colorado Grande and Mohave, February 4-23, 
1854. The external habit of this plant very much resembles that of MZ. Grahiai, es as 
collected in nearly the same localities. 
4. MAM. MEIACANTHA, Englm. in Rep. B. C.: Distinguished from M. applanata by the fewer 
and stouter spines, central spine often wanting. Cedar plains near the Llano Estacado to the 
Pecos, September 23-27, 1553. os eo 
