76 CACTUS CULTURE FOR AMATEURS. 



and hair -like, the central (of which there are four, one hooked) red. 

 A healthy plant looks like a ball of white hair, beset with slender 

 ved hooks. Requires tropical treatment. Mexico. 



M. chlorantha. 



Stems erect, cylinder-shaped, inches high, clothed with 

 numerous tubercles, which are tipped with clusters of long, silvery, 

 interlacing, hair-like spines, and a few stouter blackish ones. The 

 flowers are greenish -yellow. Native of Mexico and Texas. It 

 requires co^l-house treatment, and should be kept free from dust. 



Fig. 35. Mamillaria compacta. 



M. cirrhifera. 



Stem 5 inches high, tubercles angular, spines yellow tipped. 

 Flowers, small, bright rose-coloured. Will thrive anywhere where 

 the sun can shine upon it, if sheltered from severe cold and wet. 

 In a cottage window it may be kept for many years. Introduced 

 from Mexico in 1835. 



M. clava. 



In size of stem, and its large, brightly-coloured flowers, this 

 species is more like one of the Echinocactuses. It is from 1 foot 

 to 2 feet high, 4 inches wide at the base, narrowing slightly 

 upwards ; the tubercles are 1 inch long, nearly as wide at the base, 

 and tipped with from eight to eleven stout, straight pale- brown 

 spines, with a little wool at the base. Flowers on the top of the 



