12 THE CACTACEAE. 



cherrv-brown, smooth; spines in the axils of the leaves usually solitary, sometimes in threes, long and 

 slender, 3 to 4 cm., rarely 16 cm. long; leaves thickish, oblong to orbicular, 4 to S cm. long, rounded 

 or somewhat narrowed at base, mucronatel}' tipped; flowers solitary', near the tops of the branches, 

 short -peduncled; ovary covered with leafy scales; flowers 4 to 5 cm. broad; petals entire, orange- 

 colored; stamens numerous; fruit globular, 4 to 5 cm. in diameter, fleshy, glabrous, bearing small, 

 scattered leaves, these naked in the axils; seeds black, glossy, 4 mm. long. 



Type locality: In Guatemala. 



Distribution: Widely distributed in Guatemala, usually at an altitude of 120 to 300 

 meters; but we do not know of its occurrence elsewhere. 



Fig. 3. — Pereskia autumnalis. X0.5. 



Fig. 4. — Pereskia lychnidifiora. 



The plant, so far as we know*, has no common name and no use is made of its fruit. 



Illustrations: Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: pi. 52 to 54; Safi'ord, Ann. Rep. Smiths. Inst. 

 1908: pi. 10, f. i; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 21: 37, the last as Pereskiopsis autumnalis. 



Text-figures 2 and 3 are copied from the above-cited illustrations. The original 

 photographs were obtained bj^ O. F. Cook in Guatemala. 



3. Pereskia lychnidifiora De Candolle, Prodr. 3:475. 1828. 



E\^dently a tree or shrub; branches cylindric, woody; leaves large, 4 to 7 cm. long, oval to 

 oblong, pointed, rounded at base, sessile, fleshy, with a prominent midvein; axils of leaves each 

 bearing a stout spine 2 to 5 cm. long and several long hairs; flowers large, 6 cm. broad, solitary, 

 borne at the ends of short, stout branches; petals broadly cuneate, laciniate at the apex; ovary 

 turbinate, bearing small leaves. 



Type locality: In Mexico. 

 Distribution: ^Mexico. 



