Little attention was paid to the plant until less than tw 
ow the plant can ord ae main ane osition. 
The only relative of this plant in Florida is Cephalocereus 
keyensis which is now known only from the limestone isla: 
Key West, although it was formerly found also o i r- 
ing Boca Chic ey e fact that Lo Matecumbe Key is 
of coral-rock and of a later geological formation than Key West 
aroused the suspicion that this ve cactus might be dif- 
ferent from that growing on limestone only at the western exten- 
sion of the lower ke A nati the stems an 
cereus keyensis has areoles with usually fewer than 15 (9-15) 
spines, and acute, either ibaa pond or acuminate, sepa 
and petals, Cephalocereus Deer usuall 
y 
more than 25 (25-31) spines, ee obtuse, rounded: or emar- 
ginate sepals and petals. The habit of growth of the two 
plants is different. The full-grown plants of Cephalocereus key- 
pious. 
Cephalocereus Deeringii are nearly simple-stemmed or with few 
i ing branche: 
e plant is named for Charles Deeeus: whose deep interest 
in the botanical exploration of Florida, and in the preservation 
