FEROCACTUS. 135 
rounded at apex with a more or less erose-margin; scales on the ovary orbicular, small; stigma-lobes 
16 to 20, green; fruit described as pulpy, crimson, scaly; seeds numerous, small. 
Type locality: Palm Valley, Lower California. 
Distribution: Definitely known only from type locality. Recorded from San Diego. 
Palm Valley is not shown on ordinary maps. We wrote to Mr. E. C. Rost who 
recently returned from northern Lower California to locate the place and he writes as 
follows: “Palm Valley is about 40 miles southeast of Tia Juana, and is probably not 
noted on any of the maps as it is not a pueblo, but merely the watershed of the Rio Tia 
Juana.” He subsequently visited Palm Valley and sent us two plants, neither of them 
quite agreeing with the descriptions of the species. 
We know this plant only from descriptions and illustrations. After our manuscript 
was in type Mr. C. R. Orcutt wrote us as follows: “You know, I suppose that I consider 
Echinocactus orcuttii only a luxuriant development of E. viridescens? At Palm Valley, 
Lower California, I have seen it very large and one cluster contained 25 heads, forming 
quite a large mass. I found one large cristate.” The published illustrations do not 
indicate close relationship with F. viridescens. 
Illustrations: West Amer. Sci. 2: 47; 7: 69; Schelle, Handb. Kakteenk. 166. f. 96; 
Blanc, Cacti 49. f. 575, as Echinocactus orcuttii. 
16. Ferocactus robustus (Link and Otto). 
Echinocactus robustus Link and Otto, Allg. Gartenz. i: 364. 1833. 
Echinofossulocactus robustus Lawrence in Loudon, Gard. Mag. 17: 318. 1841. 
In large clumps, often 3 meters, rarely 5 meters, in diameter, 1 to 1.3 meters high, with hundreds 
of branches; ribs 8, prominent in young growth, but becoming indistinct in age, somewhat undulate; 
areoles brown-felted when young; radial spines ascending, about 10, often thread-like; central spines 
subulate, about 6, brown at first, somewhat flattened, annulate, often 6 cm. long; flowers 3.5 to 4 cm. 
long; inner perianth-segments oblong, acute, yellowish; scales on the ovary broad, rounded at tip; 
fruit 2 to 2.5 cm. long; seeds black, oblong, 1.5 mm. long. 
Type locality: Mexico. 
Distribution: Tehuacan, Puebla, Mexico. 
The large mounds formed by this plant are striking features of the landscape; the 
individual heads are globose or short-oblong, 1 to 2 dm. in diameter. 
