- 8 - 



in di^ferert sections; but again those with a separated Corona of 

 the s tarnen s and those with staminiae rrada.tuis odoata t I pointed to 

 this in an article in the St, Louis transactions, but spoke only 

 in an indicating way. 



When I get a flowering or fruiting cactus now,it will be exam- 

 ined. in all its parts, including pollen, f uniculum, Ovulum, embryo, etc , 

 but I have to assemble first nore naterial, before pernitting myself 

 to draw p-e^eral results. 



I do not agree, that you could be asked to reforn the entire 



science o^ Cacti, even though such a reformation would be most desi- 



nable» Obviously specific question will cone up, which you will have 

 about 



to answer. e.g. Ham.Tfiicronerls specially. In. general you nay stick to 

 the common Classification if you do not consider yourself sufficiently 

 capable to emerge as reforner. 



Again, group your species, without giving the groups at this 

 time genaric n.anes; look for rrine differences of these Croups, and. if 

 these are sufficiently outting, then narae the group a genus. I ^eel howO 

 ever that you are inclined to state nu.ch too ro any genera; as you. know, 

 I see only few venera within the cacti; but I do not know enough spe- 

 cies by a long sight in all their parts, to make a final decision.- 

 Again, when we find such strikinorly dif f erent forms even in snall,well 

 defined groups (as Echirocereus ) , why not in the largest group.where 

 enough large transitions are at hand. fron Ce^eus girranteus to C. redu c- 

 tus : First the flower and the fruit 1 But even there, as already said, 



exist so mary d if f erences and transitions, that one raust get confused 



never 



by it. You will find, that in most cases the Croups" mayjbe naned ge- 

 nera or even tribes, but mueh rather sections« Compare sometimes the 

 genus Euphorbia , which was supposed to be split into dozens of genera, 

 and yet all clear (thinking) botan.ists an-ree, that the Cereus-like 

 Euphorbia antlquorujn etc. and the small low-lying S. 



