Mat, 1893.] CACTUSES OF THE DEATH VALLEY EXPEDITION. 349 



valley and Ash Meadows. It is a remarkably prostrate form of the 

 cylindrical-stemmed section of the genus, and its characters are well 

 shown in the accompanying photograph. 



Opuntia ramosissima. 



This very characteristic species, easily recognized by the small diam- 

 eter of its stems and branches, was not found in California or in Nevada 

 west of the North Kingston Mountains, where it was first seen, and 

 where it seems to reach its western limit. It was found also through- 

 out Indian Spring Valley aud on both slopes of the Timpahute and 

 Desert mountains, ranging down on the east side (west side of Tim- 

 pahute Desert) to 1,500 meters (4,900 feet), and was seen on the east 

 side of the Valley of the Virgin, near Bunkerville, Nev., and near the 

 mouth of Beaverdam Creek, Arizona. 



Opuntia pulchella. 



This singular little species, having a remarkably large root, was 

 observed in but a single locality, namely, the south end of Fish Lake 

 Valley, on the boundary between California and Nevada, where it was 

 in full flower June 8. The blossoms are pink. 



Opuntia basilaris. 



Opuntia basilaris is one of the commonest cactuses of the Sonoran 

 deserts, and may be recognized by the obcordate shape of its pads 

 and the scantiness of its spines. Its purple-red flowers grow in great 

 numbers on the upper edges of the pads, as many as eight open blossoms 

 and several buds having been seen on a single pad at one time. The 

 species was observed in the following localities: 



CALIFORNIA. 



Mohave Desert. — Common in places. 



Tehachapi Valley and Pass. — Tolerably common, and still in flower as 

 late as June 25. 



Wallcer Pass and Kern Valley. — Common on the east slope up to 1,430 

 meters (4,700 feet). On the west slope it descends into the valley of 

 Kern River, where it is tolerably common on northerly exposures as 

 low as 820 meters (2,700 feet). 



Owens Valley. — Tolerably common in places. 



Beep Spring Valley. — Found in the wash leading up from Deep Spring 

 Valley to the pass over the "W hite Mountains. 



Panamint Valley. — Common in places, running over the greater part 

 of the Panamint Mountains, where it was tolerably common in Perog- 

 nathus Flat. 



Death Valley. — Common in places, particularly at Saratoga Springs 

 at the south end of the valley, where it was in full flower as early as 

 April 26. 



NEVADA. 



Fish LaJce Valley. — Tolerably common, ranging up on the northwest 

 slope of Mount Magruder to about 1,850 meters (6,100 feet). 



