ECHINOCACTUS. 5? 



E. multiflorus. 



A well-named species, its stem, seldom more than 5 inches 

 high, often bearing a large cap-like cluster of beautiful white 

 flowers, except for a slight tinge of brown on the petals. Tube 

 scaly, reflexed petals in several rows forming a cup '2\ inches across; 

 anthers yellow ; stigma white. The stem is ridged with rows ot 

 Heshy tubercles, which are curiously humped, and each bears a 

 cluster of spreading brown spines, 1 inch long. Mexico, 1845. 

 May be grafted on the stem of a Cereus. 



E. myriostigma. 



Stem usually divided into five ridges, a transverse sectior 

 revealing a form exactly like the common starfish (Astro- 

 phyton). The white dots shown on the bark, and which look like 

 scales, are composed of very fine interwoven hairs, which, under a 

 microscope, are very pretty objects. The Howers are daisy-like, 

 l.J- inches across, straw-coloured, tipped with black. Requires 

 warm greenhouse treatment. The plant looks more like a piece of 

 chiselled stone than a living vegetable. (Fig. 27.) 



E. Orcuttii. 



Stems cylindrical, 2 to 3 feet high, 1 foot in diameter, single 

 or in clusters up to eighteen or more. Ribs eighteen to twenty- 

 two, often oblique ; spines in clusters of about a dozen, unequal as 

 to length and thickness. Flowers 2 inches long, deep crimson, with 

 a greenish-yellow border, occurring in a ring near the apex of the 

 stem. Fruit globose, green. A near ally of E. viridescens, the chief 

 difference being in the colour of the flowers. Lower California. 

 Mr. C. R. Orcutt describes a form of it with " recurving white 

 spines and lemon-yellow flowers." 



E. Ottonis. 



Stem rarely exceeding 4 inches in height, di vided into a dozen 

 ridges with clusters of small, brown spines, set in little tufts of wool, 

 suggesting spiders. Flowers clear, pale yellow, with a band of red 

 hair-like spines surrounding the calyx just below the petals, which 

 are narrow, spreading, and look not unlike yellow Marguerites ; 

 stigma red. Thrives only in a warm stove flowering in July. 

 Moxico, 1831. It produces off. set plants about its base, and is, 

 therefore, easily propagated. 



E. pectiniferus. 



A most striking plant, owing to the character of its stem and 

 the large size and beauty of its flowers, which are developed in May. 

 Stem from 4 to 6 inches, and it has about twenty ridges, which 

 are sharply defined, and bear along their angles little cushions of 

 white wool J- inch apart, with a radiating cluster of brown spines 

 springing from each. The arrangement of the spines in rows is not 



