ECK1NOCACTUS. {ft 



E. uncinatus. 



Stems oval when young, older plants becoming cylindrical, 

 usual height 6 inches. The ridges are broken into tubercles, each 

 with a tuft of short straight spines, arranged in a circle, and a long 

 hooked one springing from the centre. In old plan la the spines are 

 almost white ; in young ones they are purplish. Flowers nearly 

 2 inches long, in a cluster ; tube short and spiny ; petals purplish -red ; 

 stamens yellow. Mexico, 1850. Flowers in March and April. May 

 be grown in a cool, sunny greenhouse, or window. 



E. Visnaga See page 47. 



5. Wislizeni. 



In this we have a large-stemmed species, second only in 

 ^ize to E. Visnaga. A specimen at Kew was 8 feet high by 

 18 inches in diameter, with twenty- one regular and sharp- edged 

 ridges, bearing bunches of spines at regular intervals, three of 

 them 2 inches long, and on 3 inches, hooked, and as strong 

 as if made of steel. The flowers are greenish-yellow, about 2 inches 

 long and wide, and expand during summer and autumn. A 

 novel use the stems are put to by the Indians is that of boilers, 

 a purpose which they are said to answer well. The fleshy inside 

 is scooped out, and the tough skin, with its iron-like spine 

 protection, is then filled with vegetables and water and placed 

 on the fire. As there is a plentiful supply of plants, the Indians 

 do not trouble to carry this " boiler " about with them, but make a 

 fresh one at every stage of their journey ings. 



