tetezco. At this time I could not control the veracity of this assertion which is probably 

 false. But in every case this Observation has proven that there are long stemmed plants 

 with a terminal cephalium that occupies all the circumference at the top of the stem. The 

 Pilocereus senilis et niger should reenter into the same category, according to our 

 observations. 



As you have observed, this year I have not been able to make numeroues 

 observations on the Cactus. In the meantime I have gone several times to Pfersdorff s and 

 to Guedeney's and I collected several flowers for the herbarium. Next year I will collect a 

 complete series of dessicated flowers (cut through the middle and pressed between two 

 sheets of paper). In this way we were very successfull in perfectly preserving their color 

 and their form. I will prepare and send you the complete series of all the Echinocereus 

 that have flowered here. I have observed the flowers of the Echinocereus subinermis, a 

 very distinct and characteristic that lives next to the Echinopsis pulchella and which ' 

 evidently is part of the group Echinocereus and not at all a part of the Echinopsis. 



On the contrary all the Echinocereus of South America, like the candicans, 

 multangularis, strigosus, etc.etc., must be removed from the group. The Echinocereus 

 group, is until now exclusive of North America. 



The only exception that could be made would be for the Cereus Bertini of 

 Patagonia that has uncinated needles that you have seen at Mr. Cels*. Unfortunately this 

 year it has no flowers. 



The bud of the Leuchtenbergia that we saw at Guedeney's has not grown. There 

 was another that developed very slowly and seemed to have aborted. Mr. Guedeney 

 promised to write me if it bloomed but until now he has not done so. Perhaps next year we 

 will be luckier. I brought all my Anhalonium and in general all my rare plants and will 

 confide there care to Mr. Pfersedorff. Contrary to my expectations none of my 

 Anhalonium bloomed this year. 



It appears that at the Botanical Garden in Caen (Normandy), there is a magnificent 

 collection of Melocactus and other rare Cacti preponderantly the large Cereus.. 



Next spring I plan to study them. I will see if it is not possible to interest some 

 botanists of the region to study them. 



In one word, next year, I promise you that I will be more assiduous than I have been 

 this one. 



While awaiting the news of your happy return to St. Louis, my wife and I send you 

 and Mrs. Engelmann our most respectfiil and affectionate wishes. 



Alb. Weber 



