MACHAEROCEREUS. II5 



1. Machaerocereus eruca (Brandegee). 



Cereus eruca Brandegee, Proc. Calif. Acad. II. 2: 163. 1889. 



Lemaircoccrcits eruca Britton and Rose, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: 425. 1909. 



Prostrate, except the erect or ascending tips; branches 1 to 3 meters long, 4 to S cm. in diameter, 

 usually simple, rooting on the under surface, dying at the older end and growing forward at the other ; 

 sometimes several plants starting as branches from a common parent as a center and first radiat- 

 ing out, then dying at the rear; ribs about 12; areoles large, 2 cm. apart; spines about 20, very 

 unequal, pale gray, the outer ones terete, the inner ones stout and flatter, the longest about 3 cm. 

 long; flowers 10 to 12 cm. long, described as yellow; tube about 10 cm. long, nearly 6 mm. in 

 diameter; limb 4 to 6 cm. broad; ovary very spiny; fruit spiny, 4 cm. long; seeds black. 



Type locality: Magdalena Island, Lower California. 

 Distribution: Lower California. 



The plant is known in Lower California as chirinola and creeping devil cactus. Mr. 

 Brandegee describes it as follows : 



"Its manner of growth with uplifted heads and prominent reflexed spines gives the plants a 

 resemblance to huge caterpillars." 



While this resemblance is true of the plants when growing in the open, it is especially 

 striking when the plant meets with some obstruction such as a log or large stone. Then it 

 raises its head, crawls up one side and down the other, and finally by the dying of the rear 

 virtually passes over the obstruction. 



Fig. 171. — Machaerocereus eruc 



Mr. E. A. Goldman (Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 16: 352, 353. 1916) speaks of it as 

 follows : 



"We first saw this remarkable cactus on the coastal plain near Santo Domingo, about 30 miles 

 north of Mataneita and here made a collection. From this point southward it was noted at intervals 

 on the plains as far as the Llano de Yrais and on the lower and more sandy parts of Magdalena 

 Island. The stems grow 1 to 3 meters in length and are nearly prostrate, and from this habit 

 and their long whitish recurved spines have aptly been likened to huge caterpillars. The growing 

 ends of the branches stand up from the ground, but progressive growth leaves the main body lying 

 prostrate. The stems become rooted along the lower sides and gradually die behind, resulting in 

 a slow progression of the living portion along the ground. Multiplication of individuals frequently 

 results from the decay of connecting parts. In some places disconnected plants forming a hollow 

 circle can be traced by the remains of dead trunks to a common center. The plants show a 



