A. H. Alvekson’s Cactus Catalogue. 
NOTICE. 
When ordering, it is well to give an additional or supple¬ 
mentary list of names, as a second choice, from which I may 
select to fill an order in case I may be out of some sorts first 
named, as it is very difficult to keep at all times a full stock, 
especially of the rarer kinds. I have the reputation of sending 
out the finest plants only, together with numerous extras free. 
Cash, therefore, should accompany each order, and I guarantee 
safe arrival either by mail or express. 
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SPECIALTIES. 
Echinocactiis Polyancistrus. An exceedingly rare and strikingly beautiful 
plant, with large magenta colored flowers. The plant has two sorts of 
spines—numerous round hooked and brownish pink, and fewer ivory 
white and not hooked. This plant occurs singly, and at widely separated 
localities; hence it has been called the “Hermit Cactus.” So rare is this 
plant that even the government exploring and surveying expeditions 
brought in only six plants ; but by the most diligent and persistent search 
I have secured about one to each two million inhabitants of the United 
States. I have the honor to be the first collector and dealer to place this 
^ plant on the market. Price, fi.oo, #2.00 and fs 00. 
Polycephalns. A fine and quite rare, heavy red spined sort, growing 
naturally in clusters. Handsome young single plants, four to eight in¬ 
ches. Price, 50 cents and #1.00. 
U. Johnsonii. This rare and handsome plant has not before, I believe, been 
on the market in this country. Like E. Polyancistrus, it grows in out-of- 
the-way places, and has cost me much trouble to secure only a few. The 
spines are quite numerous and appear of nearly equal length—reddish 
i ash color, turning when wet, into deep red. Price, 50 cents and $r.oo. 
E. (Jylindraeeus. Of this beautiful plant too much cannot be said. These 
plants differ greatly, both in color and length of spines. Some are 
bright red or pink; others light yellow and dove color. Price 25 and 50 
cents. Also a new variety with enormously elongated and twisted spines 
^ and beautiful color. Large plants. Price, f 1.00 to !f5.oo. 
h. \\ hipplei. Of this rare plant I have only a limited slock, as they are 
even more difficult to find than E. Polyancistrus, so that 1 can accept only 
conditional orders. The spines are some white, flat and upright ; others 
hooked. Price, 50 cents and $1.00. 
CereilS Mojavensis. This plant grows mostly in clusters of from five or ten 
to several hundred heads, the mass being sometimes several feet across 
and weighing fifty to one hundred pounds or more. The flowers are 
about two inches across, numerous and blood red. Rooted cuttings, 25 
and 50 cents, according to size. 
Opuntia Bigelowii. A branched, tree like plant with dense light yellow 
spines completely covering the whole plant. Flowers greenish yellow. 
Small plants and rooted joints, 15 to 50 cents. 
California Grizzly Bear Cactus. 1 am also the first collector and dealer to 
place this remarkable plant before the public, which has been no easy 
matter, growing as it does in the almost inaccessable dry desert regions, 
where water and feed for the teams, as well as all camp equippage, has 
to be transported over the barren and burning sands and rocks for days 
and weeks in heavy wagons or on pack animals. Often water gives out 
before other tanks or springs are reached ; then intense suffering ensues. 
Once our expedition was without water for two days. This plant cost me 
three separate expeditions before I found its hiding place. This curious 
plant is covered with tawny white hair or flexuous spines, some of which 
are from three to six inches long, and 1 have some extra fine specimens 
with these spines or hairs nine and twelve inches long. This plant has 
recently been named by Weber as Opuntia Ursina. Plants five to eight 
inches, 50 cents and f 1 00. 
0. Basilaris Albaflora —I have the honor of being the first to discover and 
place this variety on the market. The joints are an even light green, 
rather small, but the flower is most magnificent, two or three inches 
across, the same shape as that of O. Cordata, and pure waxy white- A 
