Page:Memoir of a tour to northern Mexico.djvu/110

[ 26 ] known from where obtained,) shows that to be identical with a Texan species, common between the Brazos and Nueces rivers, which I have described in Engelmann and Gray's Plantae Linheimerianae, Boston Journal of Natural History, v, page 247, under the name of Cereus caespitosus, and which should now be named Echinocereus caespitosus. Echinopsis pectinara, β. laevior, Monv., and γ. Reichenbachiana, Salm, are perhaps forms of this Texan plant, which varies considerably in its native country. Dr. Wislizenus has sent me a living specimen and dried flowers of E. pectinatus; unfortunately the plant met with a similar fate to those sent to England by Mr. Potts, and there is none now in cultivation, if I am correctly informed; but I preserve the dried specimen in my herbarium, and have been enabled to draw up from it the description. Echinocereus pectinatus mihi, (Echinocactus pectinatus, Scheidw., E. pectiniferus, Lem.,) simplex (an semper?), ovato-cylindricus, 23 costatus; areolis elevatis, linearibus, approximatis, junioribus albo-villosis; aculeis radialibus 16-20 subrecurvis, adpressis, pectinatis, albis, apice roseis, superioribus inferioribusque brevioribus, lateralibus longioribus; centralibus 2-5 brevissimis, uniseriatis; tubo floris pulvillis 60-70 brevitomentosis aculeos albos s. apice roseos 12-15 gerentibus stipato; sepalis interioribus 18-20 oblauceolatis; petalis 16-18 obiongis, obtusis, erosodenticulatis, mucronatis.

Bachimpa, south of Chihuahua; flowers in April. Stem 7 inches high, below 3, above 2 inches in diameter; upper and lower spines 2 lines, lateral 4 lines long; central spines mostly 3, sometimes 2, and below as much as 5, in one vertical row, to 1 line in length. Flowers about 3 inches long and wide; red or purple, spiny bristles on the tube 2 to 3 lines long; the uppermost 3 to 5 lines long, only 3 to 5 together.

It will not be amiss to introduce here again a more complete and correct description of its Texan relative.

Echinocereus caespitosus mihi, (Echinopsis pectinata, authors in part; Cereus caespitosus, Engelm, 1. c.,) ovatus, caespitosus, 13-18-costatus, areolis elevatis, linearibus, approximatis, junioribus albo-villosis; aculeis radialibus 20-30 subrecurvis adpressis, pectinatis, albis (nonnunquam roseis, Lindh.,) superioribus inferionbusque brevioribus, lateralibus longioribus, centralibus nullis; tubo floris pulvillis 80-100 longe cinereovillosis setas apice s. totas fuscas s. nigricantes 6-12 gerentibus, stipato; sepalis interioribus 18-25 oblauceolatis integris s. denticulatis; petalis 3040 obovato-lanceolatis, obtusis, acutis, s. mucronatis, ciliato-denticuiatis; stigmate viridi infundibuliformi, 13-18-partito; bacca viridi ovata, perigonio coronata, villosa, setosa, demum nudata; seminibus obovatis tuberculatiS, nigris.

From the Brazos to the Nueces, in Texas, Lindheimer; flowers in May and June; generally 1 to 2 inches high, and of nearly the same diameter; rarely as much as 5 or 6 inches high, and 2 to 3 inches in diameter; longer lateral spines in different specimens 2 to 4 lines long; flowers in the northern specimens, from Industry, 2 inches long and wide, in those from New Braunfels 2 to 3 inches in diameter and length; generally a little wider than long when fully open. Brown or black bristles on the tube 2 to 5 or 6 lines long, surrounded by wool, which is often 3 lines in length.