2 
COLORADO WILD FLOWERS. 
duced many large, brilliant yellow blooms during the summer, followed by showy 
crimson and purple fruits. They have endured the past trying winter with but 
trifling harm. Two species of hedgehog cactus. Cactus viviparus and Ecliinocactus 
Simpsoni, accompanied the Opuntias, and were planted at the same time and 
place. They also endured the winter without harm and are now, May 15, bloom¬ 
ing brightly. C. vivaparus has large brilliant purple flowers, and those of E. 
Simpsoni are shell pink. These cacti are apparently indifferent to dry cold, but 
often suffer from stem rot if water settles about them in winter. They do best on 
a dry slope or rockery, where the drainage is perfect at all times, and may be 
made very decorative.” 
DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES OF HARDY CACTI. 
In describing a group of plants having certain strong features in common, as 
is the case with the Cactus family, it is not easy in a mere description to point 
out by words those characters which distinguish one species or variety from all 
the others. Moreover, the individuals vary so much that it is perhaps the excep¬ 
tion when one is found agreeing with the type in every particular. This is es¬ 
pecially true of the Opuntias. We offer the following desci'iptions, therefore, be¬ 
lieving them to set forth the specific distinctions as clearly as the difficulties of 
the case will allow. 
CACTUS. 
C. MISSOURI CNS1S. Star Cactus. Plant dwarf, blooming when very small, 
covered with elongated tubercles, each tipped with a star of gray spines. 
Flowers yellow or salmon, followed by scarlet berries. 10 cents each, $1.00 
per dozen. 
C. VIVIPARUS. Bird’s Nest Cactus. Whole plant covered with purple and 
white spines. Flowers very large and showy, bright purple, plant extra hardy 
and a good bloomer 20 cents each, $2.00 per dozen. 
ECHINOC ACTUS. 
E. SIMPSONI. Hedgehog or Pincushion Cactus. Thickly covered with short, 
curved and interlacing spines, varying much in color even on the same plant; 
often very dark purplish brown, more commonly with grayish spines mingled 
with dark ones, rarely with all the spines gray, yellowsh, or even snow white. 
All the forms are exceedingly beautiful, and have very handsome pink or rose 
colored flowers. Plants 1 1-2 to 2 inches in diameter, 10 cents each, $1.00 per 
dozen; 2 to 3 inches, 15 cents, $1.50 per dozen; 3 to 4 inches, 25 cents, $2.50 
per dozen; fine specimen pairs, triplets, clusters, etc., 25, 35 and 50 cents 
each, $4.00 per dozen; a few extra fine large clumps $1.00 each. 
E. SIMPSONI VAR. PERPETUAL SNOW. This is identical with the last, ex¬ 
cept that the spines are all pure glistening white, of a peculiar crystalline 
quality, and when the delicate rosy flowers appear, the plant is beautiful be¬ 
yond description; very rare. Plants 2 to 3 inches in diameter 35 cents, $3.50 
per dozen; 3 to 4 inches, 50 cents, $5.00 per dozen. Clumps can sometimes be 
furnished. 
E. SIMPSONI MINOR. Button Cactus. This is a flattened, less spiny form, 
from high altitudes, quite distinct in appearance, spines usually dark, flowers 
shell-pink. 25 cents each, $2.00 per dozen. Supply uncertain, so please name 
a second choice in case it is unobtainable. 
