BORZICACTUS. 159 



Cereus areolatus Muhlenpfordt in Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 100. f. 20. 1897. 

 Cleislocactus areolatus Riccobono, Bol. R. Ort. Bot. Palermo 8: 264. 1909. 



Described as columnar, somewhat branching, with 12 low, acutish ribs ; ribs divided into 

 tubercles by transverse lines running down from the areolcs; radial spines 9 or 10, acicular; central 

 spines 2 to 4, stouter, subulate; flowers and fruit unknown. 



The above name was published in a garden catalogue in i860, while the plant was listed 

 as Cereus dumesnilianus Labouret in Gruson's Catalogue. 



This cactus is described from plants which are supposed to have come from the Andes 

 of South America. The species is recognized by Schumann in his monograph and is placed 

 in his series Gracilcs after Cereus platygonus. It has been in cultivation in the Berlin Botan- 

 ical Garden and at La Mortola. From the latter source Dr. Rose obtained a specimen in 

 1 9 14. This plant may be described as follows: 



Ribs 15, low, rounded, with a deep horizontal groove just above the areoles; spines yellowish 

 brown, the 6 to S radials acicular, spreading, about 1 cm. long; the central subulate, 2 em. long, 

 porrect. 



Cereus magnus Haworth, Phil. Mag. 7: 109. 1830. 



This species has not been definitely identified. Haworth says it was procured from the captain 

 of a French vessel, who obtained it from Santo Domingo. He describes it as a yard high, with 1 2 

 ribs and a very large white flower 6 inches long and open day or night. This does not correspond 

 to any cactus known from Hispaniola. Pfeiffer suggests that it might be a form of C. eyriesii, that 

 is an Echinopsis. In its large flower, open both day and night, it does agree with that genus. 



Cereus microsphaericus Schumann (Fl. Bras. 4 2 : 196. 1890) and C. damazioi Schumann 

 (Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 13: 63. 1903; 28: 62. 1918) are of this alliance. Both come from 

 near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 



27. BORZICACTUS Riccobono, Boll. R. Ort. Bot. Palermo 8: 261. 1909. 



Low, slender cacti, erect or procumbent; ribs usually numerous but sometimes as few as 9, 

 usually low and rounded; spines acicular or in some species subulate; areoles usually approximate, 

 in some species producing wool with the flowers; flowers diurnal, orange to scarlet (in one species 

 said to be white) solitary, narrow; tube-proper very short, smooth within; throat very narrow below, 

 expanded above; limb somewhat spreading; axils of scales on ovary and flower-tube bearing long 

 silky hairs; stamens long and slender, slightly exserted; fruit small, globular, edible. 



Type species: Borzicactus ventimigliae Riccobono. 



This genus is perhaps nearest Rathbunia of Mexico, but is of different habit and usually 

 with different spines. The flowers are of much the same shape, but with a different limb, 

 some of the stamens originating near the base of the flower-tube, while the areoles of the 

 ovary and flower bear long silky hairs. 



The plants are found in the mountains and hills of Ecuador, Peru, and northern Chile, 

 where they have a remarkable development. The indications are that there are still other 

 species to be referred here. It was named in honor of Professor Antonio Borzi, director 

 of the Botanical Garden of Palermo, Italy. Eight species are here described. 



Key to Species. 



Flowers red. 



Base of throat bearing a mass of hairs within. 



Ribs few, 8 to 11, prominent 1. B. sepium 



Ribs many, low 2. B. morleyanus 



Base of throat naked within. 



Flowers pinkish, not as narrow as in the next species, their areoles very hairy 3. B. icosagonus 



Flowers dark red, very narrow, their areoles not very hairy 4. B. acanthurus 



Flowers white 5- B. decumbens 



(6. B. humboldtii 



Not grouped \7- B. plagjostoma 



18. B. aurivillus 



