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THE CACTACEAE
DESCRIPTIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF
PLANTS OF THE CACTUS FAMILY
BY
N. L. BRITTON anv J. N. ROSE
Volume I
LIBRARY
NEW YORK
BOTANICAL
GARDEN
Tue CaRNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON
Wasuincton, 1919
CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON
PUBLICATION No. 248, VOLUME I
Copies of this Book
were first isaued
JUN 21 1918
PRESS OF GIBSON BROTHERS
WASHINGTON
CONTENTS.
amilyACactacea ckprerersiicre ieichereistee feeie srerienckee
Kev stombribese mmr ai seein decseicueunne ees ne
ebribeyeereskiea ey cecivssyetersts sphere toe erereteceroneuet
IRERES EN So ouse.ce ad CRO obo ERA ccon eon
IKeeystOV OPECleS i. esis Masse oh crave cvolens cuslenelene
elribel@ punticaceererer cern nena ren
Keevat ol Generaerpmerrict cicickeiisiciereriecvss1 sare
BereskiopsiSeserincrc Cais cee aesiaeececaiokerels
IAWETOCAUSogagnddoosocascadsanooounD bod
Nopaleasereeeieernricriocicieiicr tent iemncrsrey
ARG a dduS ocoopedgubaooeModsedonaooule
Math weniasrrrritactcracneisteveisileeici ste rotors nel oys
@puUntiaenyesvo ere ee econ eliceer a oer tereuerenersile
Key to Subgenera and Series..............
Subgenus Cylindropuntia.................
SeriessRamosissimae see ie ieraieisie as
Series eptocaules...-...:.....---+-.--
Senieswihntinberiandes errr ret nreiet
Series Echinocarpae..................--
Senes Bigelovianaes.. a2 seer elses eee
Senlestimbricataceereeeeerirn enn
Senlesprulcidaesrny errr ier aerate ieee
Seniesmuestitaeseryryannerrceteracteclersterelle
Series. Clavanioidesmerem eerie eck eater
Seniespoalmiana coer ere retrace a kerr tri
Senlesisubulatacsspeee neice
SerlesmVugtielianaeeeer ener ernie ar
SeniesiClavataeteneernc ascii tetris
Subgenus Tephrocactus.........:.....:..
SeniesnwWiebenlanacsrerecenennerer ion raat
‘Seriesphloccosaceep eerie eerie:
Series Glomeratae..............-..-.--
Series Pentlandianae...................
PAGE.
Family Cactaceae—continued.
Tribe Opuntieae—continued.
Opuntia—continued.
Subgenus Platyopuntia................... 99
Series 1ebrM®. ogoconuscdsoadasooan00 100
Werles) Curassavicaesenerneon eee iciiae 102
Series;Atirantiacaemaennm eee 106
Series hunaee ry wescisii eect error ae IIo
SerieseBasilaresma racic ree 118
Seriestinamoenaderteeeenenc ore eer eer 12
Serieslontispinaesaeheeeenencrnmi ee 126
Seriesioulphtireaemnneeeereee eerie 133
SeriesiStrigilessacnuicas ie tea vesoraenecoienats 136
Series) Setispinae’pere ee reer oriobereeer 136
Serieswahaecacanthacwenr rrr riiiel. 139
SeriestPlatiores! tires e nme aoe 149
SeriessElataciaen wien cee ech ere 156
Seriesiocheerianaesennrt orl 159
Series) Dillenianaes.2..2-+- ++ - soe 159
Series Macdougalianae ................. 169
Series omentosae: s44.- 5-69 in eee 172
Seriespivertcotrichaehseneeenee reece 174
Senies!Oxbiculataeseeiieeereersecint: 176
Series Ficus-indicae................---- 177
Series Streptacanthae...3....---.-....- 181
SeriesvRobustaeieas aciiacrerrieitere clio 191
Series Polyacanthae................-.-- 193
Series Stenopetalae.. 2.352 .6-6- ec er 200
Seniespealmadoraetpeneeeerier tricia 201
Series Spinosissimae.................... 202
Series) Brasilienses!s5ca.- ose eenee eel 209
Series Ammophilae...................-. 211
Seriesi@hatteyanaeeeeere eerie cece 213
Grisoniar mse ee ele eeeerou cree 215
Append ixerey reer oie cer 216
WRI sav oocowoycoooD AOD ODO aD ODDO DODO OOO ROUS 227
ILLUSTRATIONS.
FACING
PLATES PAGE
Gis nT, (CaaS IDEsemitmn VEE. abe coco en on soon cous onde ooap no Sddoe cag SDE RCs S Ke ROUSSSOURSC Frontispiece
PLaTE 2. (1) Flowering branch of Pereskia pereskia. (2 and 3) Fruit of Pereskia pereskia. (4) Leafy branch of
Pereskia sacharosa (5) Proliferous fruit of Pereskia sacharosa.....................-.--- Io
PLATE 3. (1) Flowering branch of Pereskia grandifolia. (2) Leafy branch of Pereskiopsis chapistle. (3) Leafy
branch‘ of Pereskiopsis:pititache® <2. 24 be se ak cc cin os es oe cise em aie cnusn craves chs te teh enetebepereroneienees 20
PLaTE 4. (1) Upper part of flowering joint of Nopalea cochenillifera. (2) Upper part of flowering joint of
Nopalea auberi. (3) Fruit of Nopalea auberi. (4) Flowering joint of Nopalea dejecta..... 34
PHATE) ss Nopaleaaubert asutsrows near Matlay MexicOnaenia riya a oct cieteis ei oie letersi ioe erties iersterreisiele 38
PLATE 6. (1 and 2) Branch of Opuntia mortolensis. (3 and 4) Branch of Opuntialeptocaulis. (5) Flowering
branch of Opuntia arbuscula. (6) Flowering branch of Opuntia kleiniae.................. 48
PuLateE 7. (1) Leafy branch of Opuntia Kleiniae. (2) Terminal branch of Opuntia vivipara. (3) Branch of
Opuntia parryi. (4) Flowering branch of Opuntia echinocarpa. (5) Fruiting branch of
Opuntiayversicolor ry over oa easel ay ee eee eee een ae SER eile ache Cie ete 50
PLaTE 8. (1) Type plant of Opuntia vivipara, near Tucson, Arizona. (2) A much branched plant of Opuntia
Alors 0) 0) GR eR ee ane pe eee PER Sey Gram eG Dem EIS SA Mae OS COO EO OOS 52
PLATE 9. (1) Joint of Opuntia tetracantha. (2, 3, 4, 5) Flowering joint of Opuntia versicolor. (6) Proliferous
fraits;of Opuntia fuleida s 72% 2 Aceves oxcrsvsom So eee Se eae ene eS 54
PLATE 10. (1) Joint of Opuntia tunicata. (2, 3, 4, 5) Joint of Opuntia spinosior.................-----.---.- 66
PLATE 11. (1) Leafy branch of Opuntia imbricata. (2) Flowering branch of Opuntia prolifera. (3, 4) Form of
Opuntiavaleahes® \(556)! (Opuntiavestitave «cs sen ania ae eee eee eee eee 68
PLATE 12. (1) Clump of plants of Opuntia fulgida. (2) A very open plant of Opuntia spinosior.............. 70
PLATE 13. (1) Opuntia exaltata as seen in the highlands of Peru. (2) Clump of Opuntia floccosa asit growsin
thetvalleys ofithevAndesj of easternP entins exe epee oe eer eee eee n eee 76
PLATE 14. (1) Flowering branch of Opuntia burrageana. (2) Opuntia cylindrica. (3, 4) Joint of Opuntia stanlyi.
(G)eRlowenns joint of Opuntiaymacrorhizass eeeeee ee eee eee eee eee eee 78
PLATE 15. (1, 2) Part of joint of Opuntia exaltata. (3) Upper part of joint of Opuntia macrarthra. (4) Upper
part/of jointiof Opuntiastortispina---ce wee eee ee ono ie eee Roe eee 80
PLATE 16. (1) Top of Opuntia miquelii. (2) Old and young joints of Opuntia invicta. (3) Upper part of joint
Of Optintiasignescensys 2 a5 /sj.y. apace sete wie el a ralnos er a fnrsreyau suas cutaynteh avene ere e Seoe neo ee 98
PLATE 17. (1) Joint of Opuntia pascoensis. (2) Joints of Opuntia taylori. (3, 4) Form of Opuntia repens.
(5) Flower of Opuntia repens. (6) Flowering joint of Opuntia drummondii............... 102
PLATE 18. (1) Two plants of Opuntia drummondii. (2) Joints of Opuntia retrorsa with flower. (3) Joints of
Opuntia triacantha. (4) Joint of Opuntia jamaicensis. (5) Section of fruit of Opuntia
JAMIAICENSIS':s He See misthe eter Eideizeslo aves srade Sens) sree ateesna atehase ie eter nieete te a eyatane ete ees eae eee 104
PLATE 19. (1) Plant of Opuntia jamaicensis. (2, 3) Flower of Opuntia jamaicensis. (4) Longitudinal section
of flower of Opuntia jamaicensis. (5, 6) Stamen of Opuntia jamaicensis. (7) Style of
Opuntiavjamaicensis yy (ae ee Ces eke ee soars ee Le eee OnE Oe ee ees 112
PLATE 20. (1) Flowering joint of Opuntia decumbens. (2) Fruiting joint of Opuntia decumbens. (3) Hybrid 116
PLaTE 21. Group of hardy Opuntia, mostly Opuntia tortispina, in grounds of New York BotanicalGarden.... 126
PLATE 22. (1) Joints of Opuntia microdasys. (2) Flowering joint of Opuntia macrarthra. (3) Fruit of Opuntia
macrarthra. (4) Seed of Opuntia macrarthra. (5) Flowering joint of Opuntia opuntia..... 128
PLATE 23. (1) Flowering joint of Opuntia fuscoatra. (2) Upper part of joint of Opuntia sulphurea. (3) Joint
Of Opuntia: tentuspina scsi es a6 aie atc ease ae Sas se OLE a oe TES trey ee ee ee 132
BRAT 24581) eelantioh Opuntia santa-titas (2) selantol@puntialdiscatass = eee eee Ene ere eee oreo ener 142
PLATE 25. (1) Flowering joint of Opuntia atrispina. (2) Flowering joint of Opuntia phaeacantha. (3) Upper
paxctrofjonton Opuntiavengelmanniten- ma ee nee eee CECE 144
PLATE 26. (1) Flowering joint of Opuntia bergeriana. (2) Flowering joint of Opuntia elatior. (3) Flowering
joint of Opuntia boldinghii. (4, 5) Joint of Opuntia elata.............................-. 152
PLATE 27. (1) Upper part of fruiting joint of Opuntia schumannii. (2) Flower of Opuntia schumannii. (3)
Flowering joint of Opuntia vulgaris. (4) Flowering joint of Opuntia stricta.............. 156
PLATE 28. (1) Flowering joint of Opuntia laevis. (2) Flowering joint of Opuntia dillenii. (3) Upper part of
fowenns yomtiom@Opuntiaaciculatassacceeeee Renee eee aOR Eee eee eee 160
PLATE 29. (1) View of Opuntia keyensis. (2)-View of Opuntia dillenii_.................2.....000e ee eee 162
PLATE 30. Pblowerng) joint ol Opin tagline uit onsen heer heer ene ena ner eee RE eee eee 164
PLATE 31. Flowering joints of Opuntia lindheimeri. (1) Orange-flowered race. (2) Red-flowered race........ 166
PLATE 32. (1) Upper part of flowering joint of Opuntia leptocarpa. (2) Fruit of Opuntia leptocarpa. (3) Flower-
ing joint of Opuntia velutina. (4) Upper part of joint of Opuntia megacantha............ 172
PLATE 33. (1) Upper part of joint of Opuntia tomentosa. (2) Flowering joint of Opuntia brasiliensis. (3)
Flowering branch of Opuntia brasiliensis. (4) Joint of Grusonia bradtiana............... 174
PLATE 34. (1) Part of joint of Opuntia leucotricha. (2) Part of joint of Opuntia maxima. (3) Joint of Opuntia
lasiacanthawe (4) sj ointiolOpuntiarobustacs seer eee eee eee ee eee ECan 180
PLATE 35. (1) Plant of Opuntia fragilis. (2) Flowering branch of Opuntia rhodantha. (3) Flowering joint of
Optintia,polyacanitha::\s Soctece Serres eee ee 194
PLATE 36. (1) Flowering joint of Opuntia spinosissima. (2, 3) Single flower of Opuntia spinosissima. (4, 5)
Longitudinal section of flower of Opuntia spinosissima. (6) Cross-section of ovary of
Opuntia spinosissima. (7) Style of Opuntia spinosissima..............000-..0eeeeeee ao
Fic.
THE CACTACEAE.
TEXT-FIGURES.
PAGE
1. Hedge of Pereskia pereskia............ a]
2. Tree of Pereskia autumnalis............ II
3. Branches of Pereskia autumnalis,....... 12
4. Branch of Pereskia lychnidiflora........ 12
5. Leafy branch of Pereskia nicoyana...... 13
6. Branch of Pereskia zehntneri........... 13
7. Cultivated plant of Pereskia zehntneri.. 14
8. Herbarium specimen of Pereskia moorei. 15
g. Tree of Pereskia guamacho............. 15
10. Flowering branch of Pereskia guamacho. 16
11. Leafy branch and flower of Pereskia
colombianakere eee eee ite 17
12. Branch and fruit of Pereskia bleo....... 18
13. Fruit of Pereskia bahiensis............. 19
14. Leafy branch of Pereskia bahiensis...... 19
15. Iree of Pereskia bahiensis.............. 20
16. Hedge containing Pereskia grandifolia.. . 21
17. Branch of Pereskia zinniaeflora......... 21
18. Tree of Pereskia cubensis.............. 22
19. Leafy branch of Pereskia cubensis....... 22
20. Branch and fruit of Pereskia portulaci-
iONenooscnve ones hoclonbedaneb oboe 23
21. Potted plant grown from a cutting of
Pereskiopsis velutina............... 26
22. Branch of Pereskiopsis diguetii......... 27
23. Branch of Pereskiopsis opuntiaeflora .. 27
24. Branch of Pereskiopsis rotundifolia...... 27
25. Shows aclump of Pereskiopsis rotundi-
KO) Oe biaiga oeechvera tion holo ust ho Coenen 28
26. Branch of Pereskiopsis porteri.......... 28
27. Branch of Pereskiopsis aquosa.......... 2
28. Leaf of Pereskiopsis kellermanii......... 30
29. Leaf of Pereskiopsis kellermanii......... 30
30. Leaf of Pereskiopsis kellermanii......... 30
31. Seed of Pterocactus hickenii............ 31
2. Plant of Pterocactus hickenii........... 31
33. Branch of Pterocactus fischeri.......... 31
34. Seed of Pterocactus fischeri............. 31
35. Seed of Pterocactus pumilus............ 31
36. Seed of Pterocactus tuberosus.......... 31
37. Plant of Pterocactus tuberosus, showing
AaveLy langerroOLan eects nelecn 2
38. Potted plant of Pterocactus tuberosus... 33
39. Joint of Nopalea guatemalensis......... 35
Aovs)oimbtiofNopalearliuteakmecnsiecacire cite 35
41. Large plant of Nopalea dejecta......... 36
42. Joints of Nopalea dejecta.............. 37
43. Joints of Nopalea karwinskiana......... 2]
44. Joint of Nopalea inaperta.............. 37
45. Flower of Tacinga funalis.............. 38
46. Longitudinal section of flower of Tacinga
Live NS eae ca Basie dom oroueince cro et 38
47. Section of stem of Tacinga funalis...... 38
48. Tip of young branch of Tacinga funalis. 38
49. Plant of Tacinga funalis, climbing over
DUSHES ers epee ine Se feee emails ieee tre 39
50. Plant of Maihuenia valentinii.......... 40
51. Fruit of Maihuenia poeppigii........... 41
52. Joint and flower of Maihuenia brachydel-
Ph Cea bam cane saiteicie pid cea os aatciic ere 41
53. Plant of Maihuenia tehuelches.......... 41
54. Branch of Opuntia ramossissima........ 46
55. Section of stem of Opuntia ramosissima. 46
56. Plant of Opuntia leptocaulis............ 48
Fic. 57
V
PAGE.
. Section of stem of Opuntia leptocaulis’.. 48
. Joint of Opuntia caribaea...,......... 48
. Thicket formed of Opuntia caribaea..... 49
. Clump of Opuntia arbuscula............ 50
. Plant of Opuntia arbuscula............. 51
. Fruiting branch of Opuntia arbuscula... 51
. Flowering branch of Opuntia thurberi... 53
. Branch of Opuntia davisii.............. 55
. Branch of Opuntia viridiflora........... 55
. Branch of Opuntia whipplei............ 55
. Plant of Opuntia acanthocarpa......... 56
. Joint of Opuntia serpentina............ 58
. Plant of Opuntia bigelovii.............. 59
. Joint of Opuntia bigelovii.............. 59
. Potted plant of Opuntia ciribe.......... 60
SJointioM@puntiarcinibes see eee 60
. Potted plant of Opuntia cholla.......... 61
a Om: OF Opinre Grol. soosncscooceccs 62
. Proliferous fruits of Opuntia cholla, devel-
Opin genewel OMItS Eee Cerner eee 62
. Proliferous fruits of Opuntia cholla,
developing new joints................ 62
= Joints\of Opuntia loydiiteeeese eee 63
. Plant of Opuntia lloydii............... 63
. Plant of Opuntia imbricata............. 64
. Potted plant of Opuntia tunicata....... 65
. Plant of Opuntia pallida............... 65
. Potted plant of Opuntia molesta........ 67
. Joint of Opuntia prolifera.............. 69
. Potted plant of Opuntia prolifera....... 70
. Potted plant of Opuntia alcahes........ 70
. Joint of Opuntia verschaffeltii.......... 72
. Grafted plants of Opuntia clavarioides... 73
. Potted plant of Opuntia salmiana....... 74
. Joints of Opuntia salmiana............. 74
. Potted plant of Opuntia subulata....... 76
. Joint of Opuntia pachypus............. ol
. Joints of Opuntia schottii.............. 81
. Joints of Opuntia clavata.............. 81
. Joints of Opuntia parishii.............. 82
. Joints of Opuntia pulchella............. 82
wPlantsio@Opiuntianvilismeeeee rae eee 83
. Joints and cluster of spines of Opuntia
‘bulbispinaenekmccr cicero: 83
. Joints of Opuntia grahamii............. 84
. Plants of Opuntia weberi.............. 84
. Joints of Opuntia weberi............... 85
. Potted plant of Opuntia floccosa....... 86
. Mound of Opuntia lagopus............. 88
. Root, joints, and flower of O. australis.. 88
. Joints of Opuntia glomerata............ 89
. Joint of Opuntia aoracantha............ gI
. Joint of Opuntia rauppiana............. 92
. Flowering plant and fruit of Opuntia sub-
terraneay weve RSE lee chee ie 2
. Joints of Opuntia hickenii.............. 92
. Joint of Opuntia darwinii.............. 94
. Joints of Opuntia atacamensis.......... 94
. Joints of Opuntia russellii.............. 94
. Joints of Opuntia ovata................ 95
. Potted plant of Opuntia sphaerica...... 96
. Joint of Opuntia skottsbergii........... 97
. Joint of Opuntia nigrispina............. 97
. Joint of Opuntia pentlandii...... ...... 97
vI
FIG. 117.
118.
I19Q.
120.
121.
122.
123.
124.
125.
126.
or7-
128.
129.
130.
131.
m2
133.
134.
135-
136.
UD7o
138.
139.
140.
I4I.
142.
143.
144.
145.
146.
147.
148.
149.
150.
151.
152.
153.
154.
155-
156.
157-
158.
159.
160.
161.
162.
163.
164.
165.
166.
167.
168.
169.
170.
171.
172.
173-
174.
175:
176.
77s
178.
179.
180.
181.
182.
183.
184.
THE CACTACEAE.
TEXT-FIGURES—continued.
Joints of Opuntia pentlandii............
Joint of Opuntia ignescens.............
Mound of Opuntia ignescens...........
Plant of Opuntia campestris............
Joints of Opuntia ignota...............
Thicket of Opuntia pumila.............
Joints of Opuntia pumila...............
Joints of Opuntia pubescens............
Joints of Opuntia curassavica...........
Joints of Opuntia borinquensis..........
Joints of Opuntia militaris.............
Joints and flower of Opuntia tracyi.....
Joints and flowers of Opuntia pusilla... .
Joints of Opuntia aurantiaca...........
Potted plant of Opuntia schickendantzil.
Plant of Opuntia kiska-loro............
Joints of Opuntia canina...............
Plant of Opuntia retrorsa..............
Plant of Opuntia utkilio...............
Joints of Opuntia anacantha............
Thicket of Opuntia bella...............
Joints of Opuntia bella................
Joint of Opuntia bella.................
Plant of Opuntia triacantha............
Plantiot Opuntiastunas ase accel e
JomtsrohOpuntiagtunaeeeeeoeeeo eee
Thicket of Opuntia antillana...........
Joints of Opuntia antillana.............
Plant of Opuntia decumbens...........
Plant of Opuntia depressa..............
Joints of Opuntia lubrica...............
Landscape showing Opuntia treleasei....
Joints of Opuntia basilaris.............
Plant of Opuntia microdasys...........
Potted plant of Opuntia, probable hybrid
Joint of Opuntia macrocalyx...........
Plant of Opuntia rufida................
Plant of Opuntia pycnantha............
Potted plant of Opuntia comonduensis. .
Plant of Opuntia inamoena.............
Joint of Opuntia inamoena.............
Joints of Opuntia allairei...............
Joints of Opuntia pollardii.............
Plant of Opuntia opuntia..............
Fruit of Opuntia grandiflora............
Flowering joint of Opuntia grandiflora. .
Flowering joints of Opuntia austrina....
Joints, flower, and fruit of O. plumbea. .
Fruit of Opuntia stenochila.............
Fruit of Opuntia stenochila.............
Joint of Opuntia stenochila.............
Potted plant of Opuntia delicata........
Joint of Opuntia soehrensii.............
Joint of Opuntia microdisca............
JomtsiotOpuntiaystrcile ss eee
Joints of Opuntia ballii................
Joints of Opuntia pottsii...............
Joint of Opuntia setispina..............
Plant and fruit of Opuntia mackensensii
Joint of Opuntia macrocentra..........
Joint of Opuntia tardospina:...........
Cluster of spines of Opuntia gosseliniana
Joint of Opuntia gosseliniana...........
Joint of Opuntia angustata.............
PlantoOpuntiajaztireass eee eee
Joints of Opuntia azurea...............
Joint of Opuntia covillei...............
Joint of Opuntia covillei...............
138
139
140
141
141
PAGE.
Fic. 185. Joint of Opuntia vaseyi................ 146
186. Potted plant of Opuntia occidentalis.... 147
187. Joint of Opuntia brunnescens........... 150
188. Fruit of Opuntia brunnescens........... 150
189. Joint of Opuntia galapageia............ 150
190. Flower of Opuntia galapageia........... 150
191. Joint and cluster of spines of Opuntia
Palapa relay ne aiccsses eeceesrae cee 151
192. Flowering joint of Opuntia delaetiana.. 152
193. Joints of Opuntia hanburyana.......... 154
194. Joint of Opuntia quitensis............. 154
195. Joint of Opuntia distans............... 155
196. Joint of Opuntia elata................. 157
197. Joints of Opuntia cardiosperma......... 157
198. Joint of Opuntia scheeri............... 159
199. Plant of Opuntia chlorotica............ 160
200. Joints of Opuntia chlorotica............ 160
2o1. Plant of Opuntia dillenii............... 162
202. Joint of Opuntia tapona............... 164
203. Potted plant of Opuntia littoralis....... 164
204. Joints of Opuntia cantabrigiensis........ 167
205. Part of joint and cluster of spines of
Opuntia procumbens................. 167
206. Joint of Opuntia cafiada............... 167
207. Joint of Opuntia pyriformis............ 168
208. Joint of Opuntia durangensis........... 169
209. Plant of Opuntia macdougaliana........ 170
210. Potted plant of Opuntia macdougaliana. 171
211. Joint of Opuntia wilcoxii............... 172
212. Plant of Opuntia tomentosa............ 173
213. Joint of Opuntia tomentella............ 174
214. Potted plant of Opuntia leucotricha..... 175
215. Joints of Opuntia orbiculata............ 176
216. Potted plant of Opuntia pilifera......... 177
217. Plants of Opuntia ficus-indica.......... 178
218. Fruit of Opuntia ficus-indica........... 178
219. Plant of Opuntia crassa................ 179
220. Potted plant of Opuntia maxima........ 180
221. Joint of Opuntia spinulifera............ 182
222. Joint of Opuntia lasiacantha............ _ 183
223. Joint of Opuntia zacuapanensis......... 183
224. Joint of Opuntia hyptiacantha.......... 183
225. Joint of Opuntia streptacantha......... 184
226. Potted plant of Opuntia megacantha.... 185
227. Plants of Opuntia megacantha.......... 186
228. Joint of Opuntia megacantha........... 186
229. Joint of Opuntia deamii................ 187
230. Joint of Opuntia eichlamii.............. 188
231. Joint of Opuntia inaequilateralis........ 188
232. Joint of Opuntia pittieri......... sean 189
233. Joint of Opuntia cordobensis........... 189
234. Fruit of Opuntia cordobensis........... 189
235. Joint of Opuntia quimilo............... 190
236. Fruit of Opuntia quimilo............... 190
237. Joint and flowers of Opuntia quimilo.... 191
238. Plant of Opuntia robusta.............. 192
239. Plant of Opuntia fragilis............... 194
240. Joints of Opuntia arenaria............. 195
241. Joint of Opuntia trichophora........... 195
242. Plant of Opuntia erinacea.............. 196
243. Joint of Opuntia juniperina............ 197
244. Seed of Opuntia juniperina............. 197
245. Joint of Opuntia hystricina............. 197
246. Joint of Opuntia sphaerocarpa.......... 198
247. Joints of Opuntia polyacantha.......... 199
248. Joint of Opuntia stenopetala........... 200
249. Upper part of joint and flower of Opuntia
stenopetalannjacseeeee eee 201
Fic. 250.
251.
252.
253-
254.
255-
256.
257.
258.
259.
260.
261.
262.
263.
264.
265.
266.
267.
268.
269.
270.
271.
272.
273.
274.
275.
276.
THE CACTACEAE.
TEXT-FIGURES—continued.
Plants of Opuntia palmadora..........
Joints of Opuntia palmadora...........
Plants of Opuntia nashii...............
Potted plant of Opuntia nashii..........
Joint of Opuntia bahamana.............
Flower of Opuntia bahamana...........
Plants of Opuntia macracantha.........
Potted plant of Opuntia macracantha. ..
Potted plant of Opuntia spinosissima. ...
Plants of Opuntia millspaughii..........
Plant of Opuntia moniliformis..........
Plant of Opuntia moniliformis..........
Plant of Opuntia moniliformis..........
Plants of Opuntia rubescens............
Plants of Opuntia rubescens............
Proliferous fruits of Opuntia rubescens. .
Joint of Opuntia rubescens..............
Fruit of Opuntia brasiliensis............
Plant of Opuntia brasiliensis............
Branch of Opuntia bahiensis............
Joint and fruit of Opuntia bahiensis.....
Plant of Opuntia bahiensis.............
Plant of Opuntia ammophila...........
Fruiting joint of Opuntia ammophila....
Flower of Opuntia argentina...........
Potted plant of Opuntia chaffeyi........
Plant of Opuntia chaffeyi...............
Fic.277. Small joint of Nopalea gaumeri.........
278.
. Plant of Opuntia depauperata..........
. Joint of Opuntia depauperata..........
. Plant of Opuntia pestifer..............
. Plant of Opuntia discolor..............
. Joints of Opuntia pestifer..............
. Joint of Opuntia discolor...............
. Joint of Opuntia guatemalensis.........
. Joint of Opuntia pennellii..............
. Joints of Opuntia caracasana...........
. Plant of Opuntia aequatorialis..........
. Joints of Opuntia aequatorialis.........
yeointsvofOpuntiavlatase eerie
. Fruits'of Opuntia lata......2...5.....-
. Joint with flower of Opuntia macateei...
. Joint of Opuntia macateei..............
. Plants of Opuntia soederstromiana......
. Plants of Opuntia zebrina..............
. Fruit of Opuntia zebrina...............
. Plants of Opuntia keyensis.............
. Section of flower of Opuntia keyensis....
. Flower of Opuntia keyensis.............
. Joint of Opuntia bonplandii............
. Plant of Opuntia dobbieana............
. Plant of Opuntia dobbieana (without
Elongated joint of Nopalea gaumeri....
legend) .
VII
od ep
ne
THE CACTACEAE
Descriptions and Illustrations of Plants of the Cactus
Family
oe (INS 5 Nave le irs AC NIRS) ames)
ft
S
NOV 7 41949
THE CACTACEAE.
INTRODUCTION.
The writers began field, greenhouse, and herbarium studies of the Cactaceae in
1904 and in the years following they made studies and collections over wide areas
in the United States, Mexico, and the West Indies. It was first intended that
these should be followed by a general description of the North American species
only, but a plan for a more complete investigation of the family was proposed by
Dr. D. T. MacDougal in January 1911. This was approved by the trustees of the
“Carnegie Institution of Washington at its next regular meeting and a grant was made
to cover the expenses of such an investigation. Dr. Rose was given temporary
leave of absence from his position as Associate Curator in charge of the Division of
Plants, United States National Museum, and became a Research Associate in the
Carnegie Institution of Washington, with William R. Fitch and Paul G. Russell as
assistants; Dr. Britton, Director-in-Chief of the New York Botanical Garden, was
appointed an honorary Research Associate, while R. S. Williams, of the New York
Botanical Garden, was detailed to select and preserve the specimens for illustration.
Work under this new arrangement was begun January 15, 1912, and thus several
lines of investigation were undertaken in a comprehensive way.
1. Reexamination of type specimens and of all original descriptions: ‘This was
necessary because descriptions had been incorrectly interpreted, plants had been
wrongly identified, and the errors perpetuated; thus the published geographical
distribution of many species was faulty and conclusions based on such data were
unreliable. Not only had specific names been transferred to plants to which they
did not belong, but generic names were interchanged and the laws of priority
ignored. Many valid species, too, had dropped out of collections and out of current
literature and had to be restored.
2. Assembling of large collections for greenhouse and herbarium use: Extensive
greenhouse facilities were furnished by the New York Botanical Garden and the
United States Department of Agriculture, while the herbaria and libraries of the
United States National Museum and of the New York Botanical Garden furnished
the bases for the researches. “The New York Botanical Garden has also cooperated
in contributing funds in aid of the field operations, in clerical work, and a large
number of the illustrations used have been made there, the paintings and line
drawings mostly by Miss Mary E. Eaton.
3. Extensive field operations in the arid parts of both Americas: Many of these
deserts are almost inaccessible, while the plants are bulky and if not handled care-
fully are easily destroyed. Many plants require several years to mature, in some
cases many years to flower in cultivation. Through these explorations were obtained
the living material for the greenhouse collections and for exchange purposes, as well
as herbarium material for permanent preservation. Of much importance, also,
were field observations upon the plants as individuals, their form, habit, habitat,
and their relations to other species.
3
BOT
4 THE CACTACEAE.
Early in 1912 Dr. Rose went to Europe to study the collections there and to
arrange for exchanges with various botanical institutions having collections of these
plants. He spent considerable time at London, mainly at the Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew, where through the courtesy of the Director, Sir David Prain, he was
able to examine the greenhouse, illustrative, and herbarium material for which this
institution has long been famed. ‘The collection at the British Museum of Natural
History and that of the Linnaean Society of London were examined. At Paris he
studied the collections at the Natural History Museum, many of which have historic
interest; one of his interesting discoveries there was that the Pereskia bleo, collected
by Baron Friedrich Alexander von Humboldt in Colombia, is a very different species
from the plant which for nearly a century has been passing in our collections and
literature under that name. He also visited the famous botanical garden of the
late Sir Thomas Hanbury, at La Mortola, Italy, and through the courtesy of Lady
Hanbury was given every possible facility for the study of this collection; Mr.
Alwin Berger, who was then curator in charge, had brought together one of the most
extensive representations of this family to be found growing in the open in any
place in the world. Here in the delightful climate of the Riviera were grown many
species which were apparently just as much at home as they would have been in
their desert habitats. Dr. Rose also visited Rome, Naples, Venice, and Florence,
where he saw smaller collections in parks and private gardens. At Munich he
examined certain types in the Royal Botanical Museum, then under the charge of
Dr. L. Radlkofer, and saw some interesting species in the Royal Botanical Garden
then being organized by Dr. K. Goebel. At Berlin he examined the herbarium and
living specimens in the Berlin Botanical Garden, through the courtesy of Dr. A.
Engler, and the West Indian collection through the courtesy of Dr. I. Urban. He
then went to Halle and saw L. Quehl’s collection of mammillarias; to Erfurt, where
he saw the Haage and Schmidt, and Haage Jr. collections; to Darmstadt to see the
Botanical Garden under Dr. J. A. Purpus; and to Antwerp to see DeLaet’s private
collection.
In 1913 Dr. Britton and Dr. Rose visited the West Indies. Dr. Britton, who
was accompanied by Mrs. E. G. Britton, Miss D. W. Marble, and Dr. J. A. Shafer,
collected on St. Thomas and the other Virgin Islands, Porto Rico, and Curacao.
At the latter island he rediscovered the very rare Cactus mammillaris, which had not
been in cultivation for many years. Dr. Rose, who was accompanied by William
R. Fitch and Paul G. Russell, also stopped at St. Thomas, and collected on St.
Croix, St. Christopher, Antigua, and Santo Domingo.
In 1914 and 1915 Dr. Britton again visited Porto Rico and, assisted by Mr.
John F. Cowell and Mr. Stewardson Brown, explored the entire southwestern arid
coast and the small islands Desecheo, Mona, and Muertos.
In 1914 Dr. Rose went to the west coast of South America, making short stops
at Jamaica and Panama. He made extensive collections in central and southern
Peru, central Bolivia, and northern and central Chile. At Santiago, Chile, he
examined a number of Philippi’s types in the National Museum and obtained
some rare specimens from the Botanical Garden through the courtesy of Johannes
Sohrens
.s .
INTRODUCTION. 5
In 1915 Dr. Rose, accompanied by Paul G. Russell, visited Brazil and Argentina
on the east coast of South America, collecting extensively in the semiarid parts of
Bahia, Brazil, and in the region about Rio de Janeiro, so rich in epiphytic cacti.
In the deserts about Mendoza and Cérdoba, in Argentina, collections were also
made. Here he also arranged for exchanges with the leading botanists and collec-
tors. ‘The following persons have made valuable contributions from the regions
visited: Dr. Leo Zehntner, Joazeiro, Brazil; Dr. Alberto Léfgren, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil; Dr. Carlos Spegazzini, La Plata, Argentina; Dr. Crist6bal M. Hicken,
Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Dr. Carlos S. Reed, Mendoza, Argentina.
In October and November 1916, Dr. Rose, accompanied by Mrs. Rose, visited
Curacao and Venezuela, studying especially the cactus deserts about La Guaira
and Puerto Cabello. A number of photographs were taken by Mrs. Rose.
While en route for Venezuela, arrangements were made with Mr. Harold G.
Foss to make a collection of cacti at Coro, Venezuela. Among the specimens
obtained were species not found farther east in Venezuela, so far as known.
In 1916 Dr. Britton, assisted by Mr. Percy Wilson, studied the cacti of Havana
and Matanzas Provinces and those of the Isle of Pines, Cuba.
In 1918 Dr. Rose, assisted by George Rose, visited Ecuador on behalf of the
United States Department of Agriculture, aided by the Gray Herbarium of Har-
vard University and the New York Botanical Garden; about thirty rare or little-
known species were obtained.
Through the expenditure of about $2,400, contributed by Dr. Britton, a very
important collection of cacti was made by Dr. J. A. Shafer during a six months’
exploration from November 1916 to April 1917 of the desert regions of northwestern
Argentina, southeastern Bolivia, northeastern Argentina, and adjacent Uruguay
and Paraguay. Fortunately, for the purposes of this work, this collection was
brought back to New York by Dr. Shafer in time for the information yielded by
it and by his field observations to be used in the manuscript. It has given us—
first-hand information concerning over 120 species of cacti as to which we have | >
previously known little.
‘There are still a few cactus regions which ought to be explored, but the following
summary will show the wide field from which we have obtained information.
Our field investigations have covered practically all the cactus deserts of
Mexico. ‘The most important of these are the vicinities of Tehuacan and Tomellin,
the plains of San Luis Potosi, the chalky hills surrounding Ixmiquilpan, the lava
fields in the Valley of Mexico and above Cuernavaca, the deserts of Querétaro, the
west coast of Mexico extending from the United States border to Acaponeta, and
the seacoasts and islands of Lower California. Other regions in Mexico containing
cacti, but not in such great abundance as the foregoing, are those about Pachuca, —
Oaxaca City, Mitla, Jalapa, Iguala, Chihuahua City, and Guadalajara. All the~
work in Mexico, however, was done prior to 1912, for, owing to political disturb- |
ances, no field work there has been feasible since that time.A_—
In the United States our work has extended over the cactus regions of Florida,
Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, southern California, western Kansas, and south-
eastern Colorado.
)
6 THE CACTACEAE.
In the West Indies we have explored all of the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas,
the Virgin Islands, St. Christopher, Antigua, Barbados, and Curacao.
In South America our field study included the most important deserts of Peru,
Bolivia, and Chile, and parts of Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Argentina. ‘The
cactus deserts of South America are so extensive and so remote from one another
that it was possible to visit only a part of them in the four seasons allowed for
their exploration.
Among many enthusiastic volunteers whose contributions of specimens and
data have greatly supplemented our own collections and field studies, the following
deserve especial mention:
Mr. Henry Pittier has made valuable sendings from Colombia, Venezuela,
Panama, Costa Rica, and Mexico; Mr. O. F. Cook, from Guatemala and Peru;
Mr. G. N. Collins, the late Federico Eichlam, Mr. R. H. Peters, Mr. C. C. Deam,
Mrs. T. D. A. Cockerell, Baron H. von Tiirckheim, and the late Professor W. A.
Kellerman have sent important collections from Guatemala; Mr. A. Tonduz,
Mr. Ot6n Jiménez, Dr. A. Alfaro, Mr. C. Wercklé, and Mr. Alfred Brade, local
collectors and naturalists in Costa Rica, have sent much good material from their
country; Mr. William R. Maxon has sent new and rare material from Costa Rica,
Guatemala, and Cuba; Professor C. Conzatti and his son, Professor Hugo Conzatti,
Dr. C. A. Purpus, Dr. Elswood Chaffey, Mrs. Irene Vera, M. Albert de Lautreppe,
and the late Mr. E. A. H. Tays have sent us many interesting specimens from
Mexico; Mr. W.E. Safford made a valuable collection in Mexico in 1907; EF. W. Nelson
and E. A. Goldman, who have collected so extensively in Mexico and the Southwest,
have obtained many herbarium and living specimens for our use; Mrs. Gaillard,
who lived at Panama several years while the late Colonel D. D. Gaillard was a
member of the Isthmian Canal Commission, collected interesting cacti, including
Epiphyllum gaillardae; the late Dr. H. EF. Hasse sent specimens from southern
California and Arizona; C. R. Orcutt, the well-known cactus fancier, has aided
us in many ways besides sending us specimens from his collections; Dr. R. EK. Kunze
has frequently sent specimens, especially from Arizona; General Timothy E. Wilcox,
for whom Wilcoxia was named, has sent us specimens from the Southwest, while
his son, Dr. G. B. Wilcox, contributed several sendings from the west coast of
Mexico and Guatemala; Dr. D. T. MacDougal has sent many specimens from all
over the Southwest, especially from Mexico, Arizona, and southern California;
he has made several excursions into remote deserts, which have yielded interesting
results, and has contributed many excellent photographs, quite a number of which
are reproduced in this report (Plate 1, etc.). Professor F. E. Lloyd, while located
in Arizona and in Zacatecas, Mexico, made large collections of living, herbarium,
and formalin material, often accompanied by valuable field notes, sketches, and
photographs. Dr. Forrest Shreve has sent specimens, especially from northern
Arizona and Mr. W. H. Long from New Mexico; Mr. S. B. Parish and Mr. W. T.
Schaller have furnished interesting specimens and valuable notes on southern Cali-
fornia species; Professor J. J. Thornber has made valuable contributions of material
and notes from Arizona; Mr. M. E. Jones, Mr. I. Tidestrom, Mr. Thomas H.
INTRODUCTION. 7
Kearney, and Professor A. O. Garrett have all sent specimens from Utah; Profes-
sor T. D. A. Cockerell and Mr. Merritt Cary have sent specimens from Colorado;
Dr. P. A. Rydberg has brought many specimens from the Rocky Mountain region;
Messrs. Paul C. Standley, FE. O. Wooton, Vernon Bailey, and H. L. Shantz have
sent specimens from the southwestern United States; Brother Leén, of the Colegio
de la Salle, Havana, and Dr. Juan T. Roig, of the Estacién Agronémica, Santiago
de las Vegas, Cuba, have contributed Cuban specimens, and Dr. J. A. Shafer has
collected widely in Cuba; Mr. William Harris, of Hope Gardens, Jamaica, has col-
lected for us in Jamaica; Dr. John K. Small has obtained collections from nearly
all over the southeastern United States, aided by Mr. Charles Deering. Dr. Henry
H. Rusby and Dr. Francis W. Pennell have contributed plants and specimens from
Colombia, collected in 1917 and 1918. Mr. Frederick V. Coville, of the United
States Department of Agriculture, has made many valuable suggestions during the
progress of the investigation.
In our studies we have also had use of the cacti of the following American
collections: Herbarium of the Missouri Botanical Garden at St. Louis; the Gray
Herbarium of Harvard University; the Rocky Mountain Herbarium at Laramie,
Wyoming; the collection of the United States Department of Agriculture; the
herbarium of the University of California, especially the Brandegee collection; and
the herbarium of the Field Museum of Natural History.
The types of the new species described in this work are deposited in the herbaria
of the New York Botanical Garden and the United States National Museum, unless
otherwise indicated.
In greenhouse collections many kinds of cacti grow very slowly, and flower
only after many years’ cultivation. We have a number of plants of this kind
from various parts of America. It is hoped that some of them may bloom during
the period of publication of this book and thus enable us to include them in an
appendix.
Fic. 1.—Pereskia pereskia. Grown as a hedge.
8 THE CACTACEAE.
Order CACTALES.
Perennial, succulent plants, various in habit, mostly very spiny, characterized by specialized
organs termed areoles. Leaves usually none, except in Pereskia and Pereskiopsis, where they are
large and flat but fleshy, and in Opuntia and its relatives, where they are usually much reduced
and mostly caducous, terete, or subulate. Spines very various in size, form, arrangement, and
color, sometimes with definite sheaths. The areoles are peculiar and complex organs, situated in
the axils of leaves when leaves are present, and bearing the branches, flowers, spines, glochids, hairs,
or glands; in some genera two kinds of areoles occur, either distinct or united by a groove. Flowers
usually perfect, either regular or irregular, usually solitary but sometimes clustered, sometimes
borne in a specialized terminal dense inflorescence called a cephalium; perianth-tube none, or large
and long, the limb spreading or erect, short or elongated, the lobes few or numerous, often inter-
grading in shape and color, but sometimes sharply differentiated into sepals and petals; stamens
commonly numerous, elongated or short, sometimes clustered in series, the filaments usually borne on
the throat of the perianth, the small oblong anthers 2-celled; style one, terminal, short or elongated;
stigma-lobes 2 to many, usually slender; ovary 1-celled, distinct, or immersed in a branch or
forming a part of a branch; ovules numerous. Fruit a berry, often juicy and sometimes edible,
sometimes dry, in one species described as capsular and dehiscing by an operculum, in others opening
by a basal pore. Seeds various; cotyledons two, accumbent, sometimes minute knobs, often broad
or elongated; endosperm little or copious; radicle terete.
The order consists of the following family only:
Family CACTACEAE Lindley, Nat. Syst. ed. 2. 53. 1836.
Characters of the order as given above. ‘The family is composed of three tribes.
Key To TRIBES.
Leaves broad, flat; glochids wanting; flowers stalked (sometimes short-stalked), often clustered...... 1. Pereskieae
Leaves (except in Pereskiopsis) terete or subterete, usually small, often wanting on the vegetative parts;
flowers sessile. :
Areoles with glochids (except in Mathuenia); vegetative parts bearing leaves, which are usually
small and fugacious; flowers rotate (petals erect in Nopalea)............0.0 cee cece ee eeee 2. Opuntieae
Areoles without glochids; usually no leaves on the vegetative parts (except cotyledonary) ; flowers
Tain Cerra tM (Gee we LM PAHD)) ooo ooccccvcoccodcbaccgeroennocgndnovooooDUdcecKuOS 3. Cereeae
Tribe 1. PERESKIEAE.
Stems and foliage as in other dicotyledonous plants; inflorescence in some species compound;
flowers more or less stalked, their parts all distinct; glochids wanting; ovule with short funicle;
testa of seed thin, brittle.
The genus Pereskia, the only representative of this tribe, is, on account of its similarity
to other woody flowering plants, considered the nearest cactus relative to the other families,
but this relationship is in all cases remote.
The nearest generic relatives of Pereskia in the cactus family are doubtless the following:
Pereskiopsis, some of whose species were first assigned to the genus Pereskia, but they
have different foliage and the areoles often bear glochids.
Opuntia, whose species have leaves, though much reduced and usually caducous, other-
wise very different; but some of the species of Opuntia were first referred to Pereskia.
Maihuenia (two of whose species have only recently been taken out of Pereskia), whose
seeds are similar but the areoles lack glochids, otherwise very different.
This tribe has a wide geographic distribution, but is found wild only in the tropics.
1. PERESKIA (Plumier) Miller, Gard. Dict. Abr. ed. 4. 1754.
Leafy trees, shrubs, or sometimes clambering vines, branching and resembling other woody
plants; spines in pairs or in clusters in the axils. of the leaves, neither sheathed nor barbed; glochids
(found only in the Opuntieae) wanting; leaves alternate, broad, flat, deciduous, or somewhat fleshy;
flowers solitary, corymbose, or in panicles, terminal or axillary, wheel-shaped; stamens numerous;
style single; stigma-lobes linear; seeds black, glossy, with a brittle shell, the embryo strongly curved;
the cotyledons leafy; seedlings without spines.
PERESKIA. 9
Type species: Cactus pereskia Linnaeus.
In 1898 about 25 names had been proposed in Pereskia, but, in his monograph published
that year, Karl Schumann accepted only 11 species. Several new ones have been proposed
since the publication of Schumann’s monograph.
The species are_native in Mexico, the West Indies, Central America, and South
America. Some of the species are much used as stocks for growing the various forms of
Zygocactus, Epiphyllum, and other cacti requiring this treatment; P. pereskia is most
used and P. grandifolia next. Several species are widely cultivated as ornamentals in
tropical regions; they do not flower freely under glass in northern latitudes. All species
studied by us in the living state grow readily from cuttings.
The typical species seems to have been first introduced into Europe from the West
Indies in the latter part of the sixteenth century. A straight-spined species was first
described and figured by L. Plukenet in 1696, who called it a portulaca, and the next year
by Commerson as an apple (Malus). In 1703 C. Plumier described the genus Pereskia,
basing it upon a single species. The genus was repeatedly recognized by Linnaeus in his
earlier publications, and by some pre-Linnaean botanists, but in 1753 Linnaeus merged it
into Cactus along with a number of other old and well-established genera; but it was
retained by Philip Miller in 1754 in the fourth edition (abridged) of his Gardeners’ Dic-
tionary and has since been generally recognized as a genus by botanical and horticultural
authors.
The name is variously spelled Petrescia, Peireskia, Perescia, and Pereskia.
Named for Nicolas Claude Fabry de Peiresc (1580-1637).
KEY TO SPECIES.
Climbing vines, the twigs with a short pair of reflexed spines from each areole, the stem with
: AS mnie Goines (Sentes) i, WONG). goncénooebeanboankecaos 1. P. pereskia
Shrub or trees with slender straight spines (Series 2. Grandifoliae).
Petals toothed or fimbriate.
Petalsisomewhatetooth edie cmey ver tery reese ese enter es a Sion Sr Eieh de heen Coee 2. P. autumnalis
Petals fimbriate.
SASHES rhoon IMISGCOS CHEAP WADE... oocsessonscobboudgcadboocnoecnobovennue 3. P. lychnidiflora
GoSOres sioyen! Cowie NICAS OWeiny sO oo sooetoaebeosciavedcocbsoobsucbouesoe 4. P. nicoyana
Petals entire, at least not fimbriate.
IsySnes ahael eenes Wen Gasthy CAEN Sosa uncueboncesnonanonouecnonenaavdunace 5. P. zehntneri
Branches and leaves not easily detached.
Axils of sepals bearing long hairs and bristles.
Weavestlanceolate ne tay tyre en satsicte et cesee che etn rete re ee Pera oy AR A PA 6. P. sacharosa
NOSE NSS ON dO (UENCE A art bomen eat cate ope nS amo MRS DIB eSmnaiad veeemions Hc otsldtesce aid oie 7. P. moorei
Axils of sepals not bearing long hairs and bristles.
ESO Wersnwini ter ela wale sss cteyawsveuene cute atc le rani aig Ue it at Uk ON rt AR ee CL 8. P. weberiana
Flowers not white.
Petals yellow.
Weayvesanveolate: toloblongiom obovater weer sonmieieinenatieeiee 9. P. guamacho
Weavesiorpicilamonproadlysovaterernreeiaii seit ier erie isne 10. P. colombiana
Petals red or purple.
SpINeSME WHOL NONE) Haye os dara maceneg Moepemer ys cir et aie tea aL tian eee 11. P. tampicana
Very spiny, at least on old branches.
Flowers terminal.
Flowers panicled.
nniiinakedmbroadhyatrincaternrienee cere earners 12. P. bleo
Fruit leaf-bearing, not truncate.
eaves ohovaryacuneateatibasemrss-1iameliceie nisin aera 13. P. bahiensis
Weavesvotovanry, broadvatibases pe pmne a ieee ne aria 14. P. grandifolia
LOWES ISO Fa Typy ce perce ake eos NoMa ee Ore ete ee Tne 15. P. zinniaeflora
Flowers usually axillary and solitary.
Leaves 1 cm. long or longer, obtuse or acute.
Flowers 2 to 5 together, 1 cm. long; South American species.... 16. P. horrida
Flowers solitary, 1.5 cm. long; petals elliptic-obovate; Cuban
SPECIES eae ata Ma VIIa eared Sveneys Caen SLE OPAL ae eat 17. P. cubensis
Leaves emarginate, 1 cm. long or less, petals obovate............. 18. P. portulacifoha
PN Tava Meo aN SaLOhyPola yc Aas aire oeate. ay Bid nto aa) eacaun eae eh ace Olercrord cri a A cenea Hee) DIO ae in ee AIRB Ase Bibi g 19. P. conzattit
10) THE CACTACEAE.
Series 1. TYPICAE.
Consists of only the typical species, which is widely distributed, and much cultivated through-
out tropical America. Schumann regarded it as a subgenus under the name Eupereskia.
1. Pereskia pereskia (Linnaeus) Karsten, Deutsch. Flora 888. 1882.
Cactus pereskia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 469. 1753.
Pereskia aculeata Miller, Gard. Dict. ed. 8. 1768.
Cactus lucidus Salisbury, Prodr. 349. 1796.
Pereskia lcengispina Haworth, Syn. Pl. Succ. 178. 1812.
Pereskia aculeata longispina De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 475. 1828.
Pereskia fragrans Lemaire, Hort. Univ. 2:40. 1841.
Pereskia undulata Lemaire, Ilustr. Hort. 5: Misc. 11. 1858.
Pereskia foetens Spegazzini in Weingart, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 14: 134. 1904.
Pereskia godseffiana Sander, Gard. Chron. III. 43: 257. 1908.
Shrub, at first erect, but the branches often long, clambering, and forming vines 3 to 10
meters long; spines on lower part of stem solitary or 2 or 3 together, slender and straight; spines
in the axils of the leaves paired, rarely in threes, short, recurved; leaves short-petioled, lanceolate
to oblong, or ovate, short-acuminate at the apex, tapering or rounded at base, 7 cm. long or less;
flowers in panicles or corymbs, white, pale yellow, or pinkish, 2.5 to 4.5 cm. broad; ovary leafy and
often spiny; fruit light yellow, 1.5 to 2 cm. in diameter, when mature quite smooth; seeds black,
somewhat flattened, 4 to 5 mm. in diameter; hilum basal, circular, depressed, or crater-shaped.
The plant and fruit have several common names, one of which, blade apple, was in use
as early as 1697. Lemon vine, Barbados gooseberry, and West Indian gooseberry are three
others, with various French and Dutch modifications. In Argentina it is called sacharosa,
according to Sir Joseph Hooker (Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 116: pl. 7147), but this name is prop-
erly applied only to the P. sacharosa of Grisebach, native of Argentina, a distinct species,
which Hooker thought identical with this.
The berries are eaten throughout the West Indies and the leaves are used as a pot herb
in Brazil. ‘The species was in cultivation in the Royal Gardens of Hampton Court in 1696
and has been at Kew ever since its establishment in 1760, but did not flower until 1889.
In Washington we have one plant among a dozen which flowers abundantly each year;
three plants at New York bloom annually.
In tropical America the plant climbs over walls, rocks, and trees, and at flowering time
is covered with showy, fragrant blossoms, followed by beautiful clusters of yellow berries.
In La Plata it is grown sometimes for hedges (see fig. 1), but its strong, almost offensive
odor makes it objectionable for growing near habitations.
Type locality: Tropical America.
Distribution: West Indies and along the east and north coasts of South America; found
also in Florida and Mexico, but perhaps only as an escape; widely grown for its fruit.
This species consists of several races, differing in shape and size of the leaves and in
color of the flowers. One of these races, with ovate-orbicular leaves rounded at the base,
had heretofore been known to us only in cultivation, but in October 1916, while collecting
in Venezuela, Dr. Rose found this broad-leafed form common in the coastal thickets near
Puerto Cabello.
Pereskia lanceolata (Forster, Handb. Cact. 513. 1846), P. acardia Parmentier (Pfeiffer,
Enum. Cact. 176. 1837), and P. brasiliensis Pfeiffer (Enum. Cact. 176. 1837), usually
referred as synonyms of P. aculeata, were not formally published in the places above cited.
The following varieties, based on the shape of the leaves, are recorded under P. aculeata:
lanceolata Pfeiffer (Enum. Cact. 176. 1837); latifolia Salm-Dyck (Hort. Dyck. 202. 1834,
name only); rotundifolia Pfeiffer (Enum. Cact. 176. 1837); rotunda (Suppl. Dict. Gard.
Nicholson 589. 1901) is perhaps the same as rotundifolia.
Pereskia aculeata rubescens Pfeiffer (Enum. Cact. 176. 1837) is described with glaucous-
green leaves above, tinged with red beneath.
Near the last belongs Pereskia godseffiana, described as a sport in the Gardeners’
Chronicle in 1908. It is a very attractive greenhouse plant, often forming a round,
BRITTON AND ROSE : PLATE II
M. E. Baton del,
AnoEN aco
1. Flowering branch of Pereskia pereskia. 4. Leafy branch of Peveskia sacharosa.
2,3. Fruits of the same. 5. Proliferous fruit of the same.
(All natural size.)
PERESKIA. II
densely branched bush, but is sometimes grown as a climber, as a basket plant, or in the form
of a pyramid. It is especially distinguished by the rich coloration of the leaves, which are
variously mottled or blotched above with crimson, apricot-yellow, and green, but of a
uniform purplish crimson beneath. We have seen this form in the New York Botanical
Garden, where it is grown only as a bush. It was exhibited first at Ghent, Belgium, in
1908, and is supposed to have originated in Queensland, Australia.
Illustrations: Stand. Cycl. Hort. Bailey 5: pl. 87; Blithende Kakteen 2: pl. 86; Bot. Reg.
23: pl. 1928; Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 116: pl. 7147; Gard. Chron. III. 29: f. 61; Plumier, Nov. PI.
Amer. pl. 26, in part; Safford, Ann. Rep. Smiths. Inst. 1908: f. 10; Schumann, Gesamtb.
Fic. 2.—Pereskia autumnalis.
Kakteen f. 109, all as P. aculeata. Descourtilz, Fl. Med. Antill. ed. 2. 4: pl. 294, as Cactier a
Fruits Feuilles; Vellozo, Fl. Flum. 5: pl. 26, as Cactus pereskia; Gard. Chron. III. 43: f. 114,
as P. godseffiana.
Plate u, figure 1, of this volume is a flowering branch of a plant at the New York Bo-
tanical Garden obtained from M. Simon, of St. Ouen, Paris, France, in 1901; figure 2, fruit
of same plant; figure 3, fruit of another plant. Text-figure 1, from a photograph taken by
Paul G. Russell at La Plata, Argentina, in September 1915, shows the plant used as a hedge.
Series 2. GRANDIFOLIAE.
In this series we include 18 species, all tropical American, both continental and insular.
Schumann, regarding the series as a subgenus, applied to it the name Ahoplocarpus.
2. Pereskia autumnalis (Kichlam) Rose, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12:399. 1909.
Pereskiopsis autumnalis Eichlam, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 19:22. 1909.
Tree, 6 to 9 meters high, with a large, round, much branched top, the trunk usually very definite
and 40 cm. or more in diameter, often covered with a formidable array of spines; young branches
12 THE CACTACEAE.
cherry-brown, smooth; spines in the axils of the leaves usually solitary, sometimes in threes, long and
slender, 3 to 4 cm., rarely 16 cm. long; leaves thickish, oblong to orbicular, 4 to 8 cm. long, rounded
or somewhat narrowed at base, mucronately tipped; flowers solitary, near the tops of the branches,
short-peduncled; ovary covered with leafy scales; flowers 4 to 5 cm. broad; petals entire, orange-
colored; stamens numerous; fruit globular, 4 to 5 cm. in diameter, fleshy, glabrous, bearing small,
scattered leaves, these naked in the axils; seeds black, glossy, 4 mm. long.
Type locality: In Guatemala.
Distribution: Widely distributed in Guatemala, usually at an altitude of 120 to 300
meters; but we do not know of its occurrence elsewhere.
Fic. 3.—Pereskia autumnalis. 0.5. Fic. 4.—Pereskia lychnidiflora.
The plant, so far as we know, has no common name and no use is made of its fruit.
Illustrations: Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. 12: pl. 52 to 54; Safford, Ann. Rep. Smiths. Inst.
1908: pl. 10, f. 1; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 21: 37, the last as Pereskiopsis autumnalis.
Text-figures 2 and 3 are copied from the above-cited illustrations. The original
photographs were obtained by O. F. Cook in Guatemala.
3. Pereskia lychnidiflora De Candolle, Prodr. 3:475. 1828.
Evidently a tree or shrub; branches cylindric, woody; leaves large, 4 to 7 cm. long, oval to
oblong, pointed, rounded at base, sessile, fleshy, with a prominent midvein; axils of leaves each
bearing a stout spine 2 to 5 cm. long and several long hairs; flowers large, 6 cm. broad, solitary,
borne at the ends of short, stout branches; petals broadly cuneate, laciniate at the apex; ovary
turbinate, bearing small leaves.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Mexico.
PERESKIA. 13
This species was described by De Candolle from Mocifio and Sessé’s drawing, but it has
never been collected since, so far as we can learn. Its large flowers with laciniate petals must
make this a very striking species and it is surprising that it has not been rediscovered.
Schumann thought it might be the same as P. nicoyana of Costa Rica, but a study of recent
Costa Rican collections indicates that the species are distinct. The measurements given in
the description are taken from De Candolle’s plate, and may require some modification.
Cactus fimbriatus Mocifio and Sessé (De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 475. 1828) was published only as
asynonym of this species.
Illustrations: Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 17: pl. 18; Forster, Handb. Cact. ed. 2.
1003. f. 136; Safford, Ann. Rep. Smiths. Inst. 1908: 545. f. 11.
Text-figure 4 is copied from the first illustration above cited.
4. Pereskia nicoyana Weber, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 8: 468. 1902.
Tree, usually about 8 meters high; branches rigid, stout, covered with smooth brown bark; spines
wanting or single, long (4 cm. long), stout and porrect; leaves in fascicles on old branches, but alternate
on young shoots, lanceolate or oblanceolate, subsessile, the lateral veins almost parallel and some-
Fic. 5.—Pereskia nicoyana. Xo0.6. Fic. 6.—Pereskia zehntneri. 0.6.
times seeming to come from the base, acute, bright green, and somewhat shining; axils of the young
leaves containing long white hairs; petals reddish yellow, fimbriate; ovary pyriform, bearing 8 to 12
spreading leaves, except the uppermost ones, which are much smaller and connivent.
Ty pe locality: Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica.
Distribution: Costa Rica.
The spines, hairs in the axils of the leaves, and fimbriate petals indicate a relationship to
the little-known P. lychnidiflora.
Mr. H. Pittier informs us that this species is common in the open coastal forests along
the Pacific side of Costa Rica. The plant illustrated by Mr. Pittier, referred to below, has
a long, slender trunk and is very spiny.
According to Mr. W. E. Safford, it has long, slender spines and the habit of the Osage
orange, and is used as a hedge plant in Costa Rica, where it is known as mat€are or puipute.
Illustration: Pittier, Pl. Usuales Costa Rica pl. 2.
Text-figure 5 was drawn from a plant obtained by Mr. C. Wercklé at San José, Costa
Rica, in 1912.
14 THE CACTACEAE.
5. Pereskia (?) zehntneri sp. nov.
Shrub, 2 to 3 meters high, with a central erect trunk, very spiny; branches numerous, horizontal,
usually in whorls, sometimes as many as Io in a whorl; branches terete, green, fleshy, very easily
detached from the stem; leaves stiff, fleshy, numerous, small, 2 to 4 cm. long, ovate to orbicular,
acute, standing at right angles to the branches; areoles large, filled with short white wool and
numerous slender white spines; flowers at tops of branches, large, 7 to 8 cm. broad, bright red, appear-
ing in November; petals broad, retuse; ovary borne in the upper end of the branch, very narrow,
3 to 4 cm. long, bearing the usual leaves, areoles, and spines of the branches.
Collected by Dr. Leo Zehntner (Nos. 567 and
630, type) November 15 and 16, 1912, at Bom Jesus
da Lapa, Bahia, Brazil, on the Rio Sado Francisco.
This is a very rare plant and seen in only one
locality, in soil of a peculiar chalky formation. Liv-
ing plants were taken by Dr. Zehntner to the Horto
Florestal, Joazeiro, Brazil, where they grew well, and
whence Dr. Rose obtained specimens in 1915 which
were shipped to the United States under No. 19722.
The plant is known in Bahia under the name
quiabento. It is probably not a true Pereskia; it sug-
gests in its habit and foliage some of the Mexican spe-
cies of Pereskiopsis, but it may represent a distinct
genus.
Text-figures 6 and 7 are from the type plant
above cited.
6. Pereskia sacharosa Grisebach, Abh. Ges. Wiss. Géttin-
gen 24: 141. 1879.
Pereskia amapola Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 938. 1898.
Pereskia argentina Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 938. 1898.
Small tree or shrub, 6 to 8 meters high; branches green
and smooth, but in age becoming yellowish or light brown;
leaves lanceolate to oblanceolate, 8 to 12 cm. long, cuneate
at base, more or less pointed at apex; young areole with 1 to
3 spines, the longest 5 cm. long, the others when present
not over half as long, all acicular and dark in age; older Fics Sparceitaenntieu protean
areoles often with 6 or more spines; pedicels sometimes 10 jis Beil Gs Rirescill
mm. long; flowers in terminal clusters, either white or
rose-colored and very showy, 8 cm. broad, open at midday; sepals about 8, 1 or 2 petal-like, the others
scale-like, the outer sepals and upper scales bearing long hairs; petals 8, rose-colored, oblanceolate,
3 em. long; stamens free from the petals, numerous, unequal, erect; filaments, style, and stigma-
lobes white; ovules borne on the lower part of ovary; ovary bearing small leaves, their axils filled with
short wool and occasionally bearing a spine; fruit hard, 2.5 to 4 cm. in diameter, more or less tapering
at base, many-seeded, leafless or nearly so, sometimes proliferous.
Type locality: Cobos, Oran, Argentina.
Distribution: Paraguay and Argentina.
Schumann (Gesamtb. Kakteen 765. 1898) gives Opuntia sacharosa Grisebach as a
synonym of this species, but erroneously, since it was never taken up by Grisebach as an
Opuntia. The Index Kewensis refers this species to P. aculeata, doubtless following
Hooker’s references in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine for 1890 in regard to Argentine plants,
which even then were little known. :
The common name of this plant in Argentina is sacharosa. It is sometimes used as
a hedge plant.
Plate 11, igure 4, represents a leafy branch of a plant given to the New York
Botanical Garden by Frank Weinberg in 1903; figure 5 shows its fruit.
PERESKIA. 15
7. Pereskia moorei sp. nov.
A much branched shrub about 1 meter high, covered with brown bark; branches stout; leaves
orbicular or obovate-oblong, rounded or apiculate at the apex, somewhat cuneately narrowed at the .
base, thick and fleshy, 4 to 8 cm. long, 3.5 to 6 cm. wide; areoles suborbicular, 4.5 mm. in diameter,
the wool gray; spines at each areole mostly 2 to 4, very unequal, the longest 7.5 cm. long or less, ashy
gray, blackish toward the apex; flowers purplish red, about 4.5 cm. long; ovary few-leafed, its leaves
obovate-oblong, 2.5 to 3 cm. long, bearing 1 to 3 black spines about 5 mm. long in the axils; sepals
narrowly oblong-obovate, bluntly acute, 2.5 cm. long, bearing long bristles in their axils; petals
obovate, obtuse, 3.5 cm. long, rose-colored; stamens. about 2 cm. long; areoles on the ovary large,
filled with a mass of short, white wool and bearing an occasional short spine; fruit not known.
Fic. 8.—Pereskia moorei. 0.66. Fic. 9.—Pereskia guamacho.
Described from the specimen preserved in the herbarium of the British Museum of
Natural History collected at Corumba, Brazil, by Spencer Moore, No. 955, who has kindly.
furnished us with data for this description, together with a sketch of the type specimen.
Specimens were also collected at Corumba by F. C. Hoehne in 1908, No. 4863, who sup-
posed it to be P. sacharosa.
Figure 8 is from a photograph of an herbarium specimen from Matto Grosso, Brazil,
received from F. C. Hoehne in 1915.
8. Pereskia weberiana Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 762. 1808.
Shrubby, much branched, glabrous, 2 to 3 meters high, the slender round branches about 3 mm.
thick; leaves ovate to elliptic, about 3 cm. long and 2 cm. wide, sessile, acute at the apex, obtuse at
the base; areoles circular, slightly elevated, the wool short, whitish, fading brown; spines 3 to 6 at the
lower areoles, solitary at the upper, 2 cm. long or less, terete, acicular, yellow or horn-colored; flowers
clustered, white, about 1 cm. long or less; ovary about 2 mm. long, bearing a few white, woolly areoles;
outer segments of the perianth triangular, acute, woolly at the axils, the inner spatulate to obovate;
stamens a little longer than the petals; stigma-lobes 3 or 4, erect.
16 THE CACTACEAE.
Type locality: Tunari Mountains,* Bolivia, at 1,400 meters altitude.
Distribution: Bolivia, known only from the type locality.
This species is said to flower in May.
The description has been drawn from a cotype in the herbarium of the New York
Botanical Garden, and from Professor Schumann’s original account of the species in his
Gesamtbeschreibung der Kakteen, p. 762. Dr. Kuntze obtained the specimens during his
botanical exploration of Bolivia in 1892. The species was named, but not described, by
Professor Schumann in Dr. Kuntze’s Revisio Genera Plantarum (37: 107. 1893).
The material preserved is too imperfect to enable us to give an illustration of this
plant.
Fic. 10.—Pereskia guamacho. Xo.8.
9. Pereskia guamacho Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 938. 1808.
Plant very spiny, usually a small shrub 1 to 3 meters high, but often a tree 10 meters high
with a trunk up to 4 dm. in diameter and 3 meters long or more below the much branched top;
areoles rather prominent, especially in age often standing out like small knobs on the branches, filled
with brown felt, at first usually with only 1 to 4 spines along with a few short accessory ones, but in
age often with 20 spines or more; spines somewhat divaricate, rigid, brown, the longer ones often
4cm. long; leaves on young branches solitary, but on old wood growing in fascicles, acute, lanceolate
to ovate or obovate with cuneate bases, usually about 3 cm. long, but sometimes 5 to 9 cm. long by
3 to 6 cm. broad, fleshy; flowers probably solitary, but so thickly set along the branches as to appear
almost spicate, sessile, bright yellow, 4 cm. broad; ovary covered with small, lanceolate-acuminate
leaves, these hairy in the axils; stamens numerous; fruit globular, about 2 cm. in diameter, becoming
naked, said to be orange-colored and edible; seeds black, flattened, 4 mm. broad.
Type locality: Basin of the Orinoco, Venezuela.
Distribution: Venezuela mainland and on Margarita Island.
This plant is very common not only in the flat land along the coast of Venezuela but
also in the mountains. It is also widely grown in and about yards, for the leaves are
supposed to have medicinal properties, and when properly grown as a hedge it forms a
*Tunari Mountains, just northwest of Cochabamba, Bolivia, about at the site of Sacaba.
PERESKIA. 17
most formidable protection. In the grazing regions of the country and along railways
where wire fencing is employed, the trunks and larger branches are used for posts and
smaller branches for intervening supports; these posts and stays, however, do not die, but
in time grow to considerable size.
Although the wood, especially the branches, has little strength or endurance, it is used
somewhat for making hanging baskets for orchids. It is known everywhere as guamacho,
which was taken by Weber as the specific name for the plant.
Figures 9 and ro are from photographs taken by Mr. H. Pittier at Caracas, Venezuela,
in 1913.
10. Pereskia colombiana sp. nov.
A tree, 6 to rr meters high, or sometimes smaller and shrub-like; main stem covered with clus-
ters of slender spines, 2.5 to 7 cm. long; branches glabrous, either bearing spines or naked, covered
with light-brown bark; areoles small, woolly; leaves oblong to obliquely
orbicular, short-petioled, unarmed at base, often broad above, usually
acute, probably fleshy, glabrous, 4 cm. long or less; flowers bright yel-
low, opening about midday, borne on the old wood, solitary, sessile, 4 cm.
broad; ovary covered with small ovate, acute leaves, these hairy in the
axils; sepals oblong, obtuse, about 1 cm. long, entire on the margins;
stamens numerous; fruit not known.
Collected by Herbert H. Smith at low altitudes near Santa
Marta, Colombia, in April, 1898 to 1905 (No. 1886, type), and from
the same locality by Justin Goudot in 1844, and by Francis W.
Pennell in 1918 (No. 4765).
Mr. Smith remarks that the leaves are deciduous in March or
April, and that the tree is leafless when in bloom in the spring.
Figure 11 is copied from a drawing of an herbarium specimen
collected by Herbert H. Smith at Ronda, Santa Marta, Colombia.
11. Pereskia tampicana Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 939. 1808.
Shrub; branches often without spines or the spines several, needle
like, black, 2 to 3 cm. long; areoles globular, appearing as knobs along the
stem; leaves about 5 cm. long, petioled; flowers 2.5 cm. long; petals entire,
rose-colored.
Fic. 11.—Pereskia colom-
Type locality: Near Tampico, Mexico. Diane MAGS:
Distribution: Eastern Mexico, but known only from the type locality.
P. tampicana is not well known and has been reported only from Tampico, Mexico.
Dr. E. Palmer made a careful search for it some years ago at the type locality, but in vain.
In 1912 Dr. Rose examined the two small specimens of the species preserved in the
herbarium of the Royal Botanical Garden of Berlin, and is convinced that it is a Pereskia
and not a Pereskiopsis.
Pereskia rosea A. Dietrich (Allg. Gartenz. 19: 153. 1851; Opuntia rosea Schumann,
Gesamtb. Kakteen 764. 1898) is supposed to have come from Mexico, but we have not
been able to identify it; Schumann refers to it in a note under P.tampicana. Here he also
takes up Pereskia zinniaeflora De Candolle (Prodr. 3: 475. 1828). Both these specific names
are much older than P. tampicana, and should either of them be found identical with it, the
name P. tampicana would be rejected.
12. Pereskia bleo (HBK.) De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 475. 1828.
Cactus bleo Humboldt, Bonpland, and Kunth, Nov. Gen. et Sp. 6:69. 1823.
Pereskia panamensis Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 739. 1898.
A tree, sometimes 7 meters high; trunk 10 cm. in diameter or less, when old becoming naked, but
young shoots Often bear large fascicles of spines (sometimes 25 or more); young branches red, leafy,
its spines in fascicles of 5 and 6, but young shoots often bear but 1 to 4, black, acicular, up to 2.5 cm.
18 THE CACTACEAE.
long; leaves thin, oblong to oblanceolate, 16 to 21 cm. long, 4 to 5.5 cm. wide, acuminate, cuneate at
base, tapering into petioles 2 to 3.5 cm. long; areoles circular, bearing when young a little wool, but
soon becoming naked; calyx turbinate, somewhat angled, naked, with linear deciduous sepals;
petals 12 to 15, rose-colored, obovate, 3.5 cm. long; style longer than the stamens, red, thick; stigma-
lobes 5 to 7; ovary depressed; fruit yellow, truncate, 5 to 6 cm. long; seeds 6 mm. long, black,
shining.
Type locality: Near Badillas, on the Magdalena River, Colombia, South America.
Distribution: Northwestern South America and throughout Panama.
This species was collected by Bonpland during Humboldt’s trip through the New
World and was described and published by Kunth in 1823. Dr. Rose examined two of
the original specimens in the herbarium of the Museum of Natural History at Paris, one
being the specimen given by Bonpland and the other the specimen in the Kunth Herbarium,
Fic. 12.—Pereskia bleo.
which is kept distinct from the general herbarium. ‘The only other representatives of this
species from South America which we have seen are a specimen in the herbarium of the
same museum, which was collected by Justin Goudot in Colombia in 1844, and one collected
in 1852, by I. F. Holton at San Juancito, Colombia, preserved in the Torrey Herbarium
and one recently brought by Francis W. Pennell from Boca Verde, Rio Sinu, Colombia.
Heretofore Pereskia bleo has been considered one of the most common species, for
many living collections as well as herbaria contain many specimens under that name; the
plant which has been known as P. bleo, however, is P. grandifolia Haworth, now known to
be a native of Brazil and not found wild in Colombia.
Since determining that the so-called Pereskia bleo of our gardens and of Brazil is not
the true P. bleo of Humboldt, we have become convinced that P. panamensis Weber is the
same as P. bleo; Mr. Pittier’s exhaustive exploration of Panama has strengthened our con-
clusions, for he has traced this species as far south as the Colombian border. Humboldt’s
plant came from northern Colombia.
a}
PERESKIA. 19
In Panama the plant is known under the name fiajii de Culebra.
Illustrations: All illustrations referred to this species which we have examined are
cited under P. grandifolia.
Figure 12 is from a photograph taken by Henry Pittier, near Chepo, Panama, October
30, IQII.
13. Pereskia bahiensis Giirke, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 18:86. 1908.
Shrub or tree, sometimes 8 meters high, with a more or less definite trunk, sometimes 1 meter or
more long and 1.5 to 2 dm. in diameter, and a large, rounded, much branched top; spines on new
growth wanting, but on old wood 5 to 4o at an areole, some of them 5 to 9 cm. long; young branches
green; leaves lanceolate, 6 to 9 cm. long, deciduous, somewhat
pointed, narrowed at base into short petioles; flowers in small
panicles, rose-colored; ovary bearing large leaves with cuneate
bases; fruit often proliferous, yellowish when mature, more or less
irregularly angled, bearing large leaves 3 to 4 cm. long, which ulti-
mately fall away; seeds black, oblong, 5 mm. long.
Type locality: In the southeast catinga between Rio
Paraguacu at Tambury and Rio das Contas at Caldeirao,
Bahia, Brazil.
Distribution: Dry parts of eastern Brazil.
This species is very common in the dry regions of Bahia;
and is often planted for hedges about small towns. The fruit
is proliferous; as many as eight were found hanging from a
single peduncle; it is said
to be edible, but while
half-ripe is very astrin-
gent. The perfect fruits
can seldom be found,
because the birds peck
into them for the large
black seeds.
Called in Brazil,
according to Dr. Leo
Zehntner, Iniabanto,
Espinha de Sado Antonio,
and Flor de Céra. He Fics. 13, 14.—Pereskia bahiensis. Xo.5.
also. says: “I think
Iniabanto is the best and ought to be generalized. It is derived from Iniabo=Okra=
Hibiscus esculentus, without doubt because the leaves of the pereskias are sometimes eaten
by people, giving a mucilaginous dish like that of the Hibiscus fruit.”
Illustration: Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 18: 87.
Figure 13 is from a specimen, preserved in formalin, collected by J. N. Rose near
Machado Portello, Bahia, Brazil, in June 1915; figure 14 is from a plant from the same place;
figure 15 is from a photograph obtained by J. N. Rose at Barrinha, Bahia, in June 1915.
14. Pereskia grandifolia Haworth, Suppl. Pl. Succ. 85. 1819.
Cactus rosa Vellozo, Fl. Flum. 206. 1825.
Pereskia ochnacarpa Miquel, Bull. Sci. Phys. Nat. Neerl. 48. 1838.
‘Tree or shrub, 2 to 5 meters high, usually with a definite, very spiny, woody trunk up to 1 dm.
in diameter, the branches fleshy, glabrous, elongated, usually with 1 or 2 acicular spines at the
areoles; leaves oblong, obtuse or acute, somewhat narrowed at base, 8 to 15 cm. long; petioles short;
inflorescence terminal, usually few-flowered; 3.5 to 4 cm. broad; sepals green; petals rose- -colored,
sometimes white; filaments red; style and stigma-lobes white; ovary leaf-bearing; fruit described
as large, pear- shaped, many- seeded: seeds black.
20 THE CACTACEAE.
Type locality: In Brazil.
Distribution: Brazil, widely planted and subspontaneous throughout the West Indies.
The plant is extensively used for hedges in tropical America. It is planted by pushing
cuttings into the ground, its spiny stems soon forming a capital barrier.
Illustrations: Vellozo, Fl. Flum. 5: pl. 27, as Cactus rosa. Amer. Garden 11: 462;
Blithende Kakteen 3: 137; Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 63: pl. 3478; Cycl. Amer. Hort. Bailey 1:
f. 309; Dict. Hort. Bois f. 678; Edwards’s Bot. Mag. 17: pl. 1473; Engler and Prantl,
Pflanzenfam. 3°: f. 71; Gard. Chron. III. 20: f. 75; Karsten, Deutsch. Fl. 887. f. 9;
Martius, Fl. Bras. 4*: pl. 63; Pfeiffer and Otto, Abbild. Beschr. Cact. 1: pl. 30; Reichen-
bach, Fl. Exot. pl. 328, all as Pereskia bleo.
Fic. 15.—Pereskia bahiensis. Photograph by Paul G. Russell.
Plate 101, figure 1, represents a flowering branch of a plant obtained by N. L. Britton
on St. Christopher in 1901. Figure 16 is from a photograph of the plant used as a hedge
near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
15. Pereskia zinniaeflora De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 475. 1828.
Shrub; leaves oval to oblong, 2 to 4 cm. long, acuminate, cuneate at base; spines on young
branches 1 or 2 at an areole, on old branches 4 or 5, all short, less than 1 cm. long; flowers broad,
5 em. wide, rose-red; petals entire, obtuse or retuse; style and stamens very short; ovary truncate,
bearing small, stalked leaves.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Mexico.
Nicholson associates this species with Pereskia bleo, that is, P. grandifolia, but the
relationship is not close. The measurements of the flower given above are taken from
"
{
;
‘
BRITTON AND ROSE PLATE III
u
1. Flowering branch of Pereskia grandifolia. 2. Leafy branch of Pereskiopsis chapistle.
3. Leafy branch of Pereskiopsis pititache. (All natural size.)
M. E. Eaton del.
PERESKIA. 21
De Candolle’s plate cited below, and may not be quite correct. This species, so far as
we are aware, has not been again collected.
Cactus zinniaeflora Mocifio and Sessé (De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 475. 1828) was given
as a synonym.
Illustrations: Forster, Handb. Cact. ed. 2. f. 135; Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 17:
pl. 17; Riimpler, Sukkulenten f. 127; Suppl. Dict. Gard. Nicholson f. 624.
Figure 17 is a copy of the second illustration above cited.
Fic. 16.—Pereskia grandifolia. Exposed branches are Fic, 17.—Pereskia zinniaeflora.
shown above the other foliage.
16. Pereskia horrida (HBK.) De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 475. 1828.
Cactus horridus Humboldt, Bonpland, and Kunth, Nov. Gen. et Sp. 6:70. 1823.
Tree, 4 to 6 meters high, with terete slender branches; spines often solitary, sometimes 2 or
3, slender, dark in color, unequal, the longest 2 to 3 cm. long; leaves solitary, alternate,
narrowly oblong, 3 cm. long, subsessile, entire, glabrous; flowers 3 to 5 together in upper axils,
about 1o mm. long; calyx described as 5-toothed and persistent; petals 5 or 6, red, lanceolate,
spreading; fruit fleshy, many-seeded.
Type locality: ““Ad flumen Marafion prov. Jaen de Bracamoros.’”’ (Schumann says
this locality is in Peru.)
Distribution: Northwestern South America.
The above description is compiled from Kunth’s original description and from notes
made by Dr. Rose upon the type material in the herbarium of the Museum of Natural
History at Paris, in which there are specimens from both Bonpland and Kunth. Both of
these sheets lack flowers and fruit, and only Kunth’s bears leaves. So far as we are aware,
32 THE CACTACEAE.
no other material of this species has been collected since Humboldt’s time except that
in 1912 Dr. Weberbauer wrote that he had visited the Marafion, at Humboldt’s locality,
and had collecteda single specimen, which had been sent to the Botanical Museum at Berlin.
17. Pereskia cubensis Britton and Rose, Torreya 12:13. 1912.
A tree, 4 meters high, with a trunk 2.5 dm. in diameter and a large, flat, much branched top;
bark brownish, rather smooth, marked here and there by black bands (representing the old areoles),
these broader than high; young branches slender, smooth, with light-brown bark; spines from young
areoles 2 or 3, needle-like, brownish, 2 to 4 cm. long, from old areoles very numerous (25 or more),
and much longer (5 cm. or more long); leaves several at each areole, sessile, bright green on both
sides, oblanceolate to oblong or obovate, 1 to 4 cm. long, 10 to 12 mm. wide, acute at both ends or
obtuse at the apex, fleshy, the midvein broad, the lateral veins very obscure; peduncle very short,
jointed near the base, bearing 1 to 3 leaf-like bracts; flowers terminal and also axillary, solitary; sepals
5, obtuse or rounded, ovate-oblong to orbicular, unequal, 7 to 9 mm. long, the larger ones with broad
purple margins; petals 8, about 15 mm. long, deep reddish purple, obovate-elliptic, rounded; stamens
many, about 6 mm. long; anthers light yellow; ovary turbinate, naked, spineless; fruit not seen.
Fic. 19.—Pereskia cubensis.
Fic. 18.—Pereskia cubensis. X0.5-
Type locality: In Cuba.
Distribution: Near the southern coast of eastern and central Cuba.
The tree is abundant on the plain between Guantanamo and Caimanera, Oriente,
where the type specimens were collected; it also inhabits coastal thickets at Ensenada de
Mora, in southwestern Oriente, the plants of this colony bearing leaves with less acute
apices than those of the typical ones. A single plant was also observed on La Vigia Hill,
at Trinidad, provinceof Santa Clara, which had shorter and smaller leaves than either of
the other two. The description of the flower is from one of a plant collected by N. L.
Britton and J. F. Cowell at Ensenada de Mora, southern Oriente, Cuba, in 1912, and
brought to the New York Botanical Garden, where it flowered in May 1917.
Dr. Rose finds that the plant in De Candolle’s herbarium which represents the Pereskia
portulacifolia of the Prodromus is undoubtedly Pereskia cubensis. It was collected as
early as 1821.
Illustration: Journ. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 10: f. 22.
Figure 18 is from a photograph taken by Dr. M. A. Howe in the colony of this tree
at Nuevaliches, near Guantanamo, Cuba, studied by Dr. N. L. Britton in 1909; figure 19
represents a leafy branch of the same plant.
PERESKIA. 23
18. Pereskia portulacifolia (Linnaeus) Haworth in De Candolle, Prodr. 3:475. 1828.
Cactus portulacifolius Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 469. 1753.
A tree, 5 to 6.6 meters high, the branches terete, very spiny; spines acicular, sometimes almost
bristle-like, 2 cm. long, on old wood in clusters of 7 to 9, but on new growth usually solitary; leaves
iN
(ak de ey -
Sabon rae
CAM cs
UAV
Va, Ve Ve
SN
SJ
Fic. 20.—Pereskia portulacifolia. 0.66.
only 1 cm. long or less, cuneate at base, often retuse at apex; peduncles short but definite, 2 to 5 mm.
long, bearing several small spatulate to broadly obovate leaves; flowers rose-colored, about 3 cm.
broad; sepals about 3, ovate to shortly oblong, obtuse, fleshy, 8 mm. or less long; petals oblong, about
2 cm. long, thin, obtuse; ovary small, truncate, naked or bearing a single small leaf; immature fruit
hard, depressed, 2 cm. long, 2.5 cm. broad, smooth, naked or with a single small leaf 5 to 6 mm. long,
with a broad scar at the top 8 to 10 mm. in diameter; fruit globular, naked; seeds large, black.
Type locality: Tropical America, doubtless Hispaniola.
Distribution: Haiti.
The usual reference for the first publication of the plant under Pereskia is Haworth’s
Synopsis (Syn. Pl. Suce. 199. 1812), but it was not here formally transferred from the
genus Cactus. His statement is: “Cactus portulacifolius is another species of this genus.”
Our knowledge of this plant is drawn from the illustration below cited and descriptions,
and from a fragmentary specimen collected by W. Buch near Gonaives, Haiti, in 1900,
24 THE CACTACEAE.
where it grows on dry calcareous rocks, and one obtained by Paul Bartsch at Tomaseau in
April 1917. Dr. Bartsch states that the flower reminds one very much of a rose and the
fruit is pendent like a green plum.
Lunan in 1814 (Hort. Jam. 2: 236) described a tree nearly a foot in diameter, growing
at a residence near Spanish Town, Jamaica, stating that it differed from Pereskia by the
absence of tufts of leaves on its fruit. His description points to Pereskia portulacifolia,
but nothing is known of the species in Jamaica at the present day; according to Grisebach,
Macfadyen recorded it as cultivated there.
Tllustration: Plumier, Pl. Amer. ed. Burmann pl. 197, f. 1.
Figure 20 is copied from the illustration above cited.
19. Pereskia conzattii sp. nov.
Tree, 8 to ro meters high; bark of stems and branches brown and smooth; leaves orbicular to
obovate, acute, 1 to 2.5 em. long; areoles small, with short white wool and a few long hairs; spines 2
to 6 on young branches, 10 to 20 on main stem, acicular, 2 to 2.5 cm. long, at first yellowish brown,
dark brown in age; flowers not known; ovary bearing small scales; fruit naked, pear-shaped, more
or less stalked at base, 3 to 4 cm. long; seeds black, glossy, 3 mm. long, with a small white hilum.
Collected at Salina Cruz and Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico, in February and April,
1913, by Professor C. Conzatti; probably also in Guatemala.
SPECIES UNKNOWN TO Us.
Pereskia affinis and P. haageana Meinshausen, Wochenschr. Gartn. Planz. 2: 118. 1859. .
Pereskia cruenta, P. grandiflora, and P.(?) plantaginea, the first two given as synonyms
and the last merely mentioned by Pfeiffer (Enum. Cact. pp. 176, 177, and 179) can not be
identified. The same is true of P. grandispina Forbes (Journ. Hort. Tour Germ. 159. 1837).
Tribe 2. OPUNTIEAE.
Plants usually very fleshy, never epiphytic, branched (usually much branched), one to many-
jointed; joints diverse in structure, terete, compressed, or much flattened, with irregularly scattered
areoles, ribless, except one species; leaves usually caducous, but in some species more or less persist-
ent, small or minute, subulate or cylindric, in one genus broad and flat; areoles usually glochidif-
erous (except in Maihuenia; in Grusonia only those of the ovary), mostly spine-bearing; spines
usually slender, straight or nearly so, sometimes sheathed; corolla mostly rotate (sepals and petals
in Nopalea erect) ; flowers sessile, diurnal, one from an areole; fruit usually a fleshy berry, sometimes
dry, rarely capsular; seed white or black, globular, flattened or even winged, with a thin or hard
testa; cotyledons large, elongated.
This tribe contains 7 genera and at least 300 species, various in habit, flower, fruit,
and seeds. It is more closely related to the Pereskieae than to the Cereeae. ‘The following
characters possessed by some or all genera of the Opuntieae are wanting in the Cereeae:
Leaves on the stem (see also Harrisia and Hylocereus); glochids in the areoles; sensi-
tive stamens; sheathed spines; winged, white, and bony-covered seeds; the separation of
withering calyx, stamens, and style from the ovary; areoles irregularly distributed over the
stem in all the genera except Grusonia, in which they are arranged on ribs as in many of
the Cereeae.
The tribe is distributed throughout the cactus regions of the Americas, but the genera,
except Opuntia, are localized.
Key TO GENERA.
Weavesthroadvanm di hata stick eon is dlls rotennte tt ay niet ag eae mera Ser Retr ateray e a eet as ee ar 1. Pereskiopsis
Leaves subulate or cylindric.
Seedsiibroadlywin ged! seers tact ous creas rate eek aT RR Tn Paisano IS oye elem ne a ane me 2 nee LET OCOGEES)
Seeds wingless.
Stamens much longer than the petals.
Petalsrerectscsjoimtsitlatesc: sens isms once rare ae ea A REE MISS RI oer aes es 3. Nopalea
Retalsmecunvedsy joimtsyteneteks meyers ccxcucsse- bey oak ey ae etched oe eee Larne ee ore eae 4. Tacinga
Stamens shorter than the petals.
Joints flat to terete, not ribbed.
Testa of the seed thin, black, shining 5. Mathuenia
Testa thicks pal es cuill ed eae Se ee atic een eet oe eee eee OES aN 6. Opuntia
lomMis terse; longigaiiehy widoelosses Sabcocst bon osoooSbeseasobeseedoosenvuoueees 7. Grusonia
PERESKIOPSIS. 25
1. PERESKIOPSIS Britton and Rose, Smiths. Mise. Coll. 50: 331. 1907.
Trees and shrubs, in habit and foliage similar to Pereskia; old trunk forming a solid woody
cylinder covered with bark and resembling the ordinary dicotyledonous stem; areoles circular,
spine-bearing or sometimes spineless, also bearing hairs, wool, and usually glochids; flowers similar
to those of Opuntia; ovary sessile (one species described as pedunculate), with leaves at the areoles
(except in one species) ; fruit red, juicy; seeds bony, few, covered with matted hairs.
Type species: Opuntia brandegeet Schumann.
The plants are common in hedges and thickets of Mexico and Guatemala.
As to the number of species to be recognized in this genus we are uncertain; about 16
have been described. In our first discussion of the genus (op. cit.) we recognized 11
species, including several known only from descriptions. There now seem to be at least
10 species, of which 8 are in cultivation in Washington and New York. ‘Two of the plants
were described, as early as 1828, as species of Pereskia, and here they remained with 2
later-described species until, in 1898, Dr. A. Weber transferred them to Opuntia, placing
them in a new subgenus, Pereskiopuntia. The same year Dr. Karl Schumann adopted
Weber’s conclusions, publishing his treatment of the subgenus and assigning 5 species to it.
In its large leaves and woody, spiny stems, this group suggests Pereskia, but it has
glochids and different flowers, fruit, and seeds; in flowers, fruit, seeds, and glochids it re-
sembles Opuntia, but on account of habit and foliage must be excluded from that genus.
In view of these differences, Britton and Rose in 1907 established the genus Peres-
kiopsis and listed 11 species, 4 of which had been originally described as species of Pereskia
and 5 as species of Opuntia. Since then we have grown most of these plants along with
the pereskias and opuntias so as to compare them. Unfortunately we are not able to
describe all the species fully, for they have never been known to flower in cultivation,
although some of the species, at least, bloom freely in the wild state. ‘The leaves on the
lower parts of shoots are sometimes broader and shorter than those on the upper parts,
and in greenhouse cultivation the leaves of some species are narrower than when the plants
are growing under natural conditions.
The generic name is from the Greek and signifies resembling Pereskia.
Key TO SPECIES.
Stems, ovary, and often the leaves more or less pubescent.
Normal leaves long-acuminate, narrow, with narrow cuneate bases...................... Th
Normal leaves abruptly pointed, somewhat cuneate at base..........................-- oy
Stems, ovary, and leaves glabrous.
Leaves, at least some of them, not much longer than broad.
. velutina
. diguetit
Ny
IPieknte Wate ooyete Neeinesy, ene GAS Se sisiieGle foe sbbendsonenccdaccanbooue yooduudemecc 3. P. opuntiaeflora
Fruit with leaves subtending the areoles.
Areoles white, with few glochids or none.
Leaves orbicular or nearly so, rounded or apiculate.......................... 4. P. rotundifolia
Leaves, at least the upper ones, obovate or elliptic, acute at both ends......... 5. P. chapistle
Areoles dark, filled with numerous brown glochids.....................-....--:. 6. P. porteri
Leaves, at least some of them, twice as long as broad or longer.
Weavestspatula te) irra passer Nene. sacar) eae Nese Eh Ree Oo, Caeptinh che me yee paneer 7. P. spathulata
Leaves elliptic to oblong, or obovate.
Peavestpal exgreen nelatcousames tocar ios sien Serle seb el ee ee eee Ieee ee 8. P. pititache
Leaves bright gr.en, shining.
GlochidsatewAmyelloweewe every sci ote tele y stereo tas tas edesenis bones Ouran recUaiea citet ea eysaa Graleaieheuae ite g. P. aquosa
GlGehidspmianiy NOLO wileesrse ase eee eee aye Cee I oe LE Reo Re hace Repeater eee Neue 10. P. kellermanti
1. Pereskiopsis velutina Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 333. 1907.
Stems weak and spreading, forming compact bushes 9 to 12 dm. high or sometimes higher;
old stems with cherry-brown bark; young branches green, borne nearly at right angles to the old
stem, velvety-pubescent; areoles bearing long white hairs and several short spines and some glochids;
leaves elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 2 to 6 cm. long by 1.5 to 2.5 cm. broad, acuminate, or acute at both
ends, dull green, more or less velvety-puberulent on both surfaces, when very young brighter green;
flowers sessile on the second-year branches; ovary obovoid to oblong, pubescent, bearing large
26 THE CACTACEAE.
leaves and areoles similar to those of the stem; leaves on ovary spreading or ascending and persisting
after the flower falls; flower-bud (above the ovary) 2 to 3 cm. long, acute; sepals green or deep red
tinged with yellow; petals bright yellow.
Type locality: In hedges about city of Queré-
taro, Mexico.
Distribution: Table-lands of central Mexico.
This plant is called by the natives nopaleta and
cola de diablo.
Illustration: Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: pl. 44.
Figure 21 is from a photograph of type plant.
2. Pereskiopsis diguetii (Weber) Britton and Rose,
Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 332. 1907.
Opuntia diguetii Weber, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 4:
166. 1898.
Tall shrub, larger than the preceding species; old
stems reddish; branches pubescent; areoles when young
filled with long, white, cobwebby hairs, when old large
and filled with short black wool; leaves elliptic to obovate,
3 to 5 cm. long, usually abruptly pointed, more or less
cuneate at the base; spines usually 1, rarely as many as
4, at first nearly black, in time becoming lighter, some-
times nearly 7 cm. long; glochids brownish, not very
abundant; flowers yellow; fruit 3 cm. long, red, pubes-
cent, its areoles often bearing spines as well as glochids;
seeds white, 5 mm. broad, covered with matted hairs.
Type locality: Near Guadalajara, Mexico.
Distribution: Central Mexico.
Common in hedges near Guadalajara and
Oaxaca, Mexico. According to W. E. Safford, it
is known in Guadalajara as tasajillo and alfilerillo.
Figure 22 represents a leafy branch of a plant
collected by W. E. Safford in Guadalajara, Mexico,
in 1907.
3. Pereskiopsis opuntiaeflora (De Candolle) Britton and
Rose, Smiths. Mise. Coll. 50: 332. 1907.
Pereskia opuntiaeflora De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 475. 1828.
Opuntia golziana Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 654. 1898.
Shrubby, glabrous; leaves obovate, mucronate,
often in pairs; spines, when present, solitary, elongated,
2 to 3 times as long as the leaves; flowers subterminal,
short-pedunculate; petals numerous, ovate, subacute,
reddish yellow, arranged in two series; ovary leafless,
bearing areoles filled with glochids.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Known only from the original
description.
This description is drawn from De Candolle’s
original description and illustration; otherwise nothing is known of the plant.
This species, as illustrated by De Candolle, is unlike anything we know. In its pedun-
culate fruit it is like Pereskia, but its leafless ovary and its areoles filled with glochids would
exclude it from that genus. Ina general way the illustration looks more like a Pereskiopsis,
and we suspect that the delineation is incorrect or that the leaves had fallen away from the
specimen drawn.
Fic. 21.—Pereskiopsis velutina.
PERESKIOPSIS. 27
Cactus opuntiaeflorus Mociiio and Sessé (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 178. 1837) was published
as a synonym of Pereskia opuntiaeflora.
Illustrations: Forster, Handb. Cact. ed. 2. f. 137; Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 17:
pl. 19, both as Pereskia opuntiaeflora.
Figure 23 is copied from the second illustration above cited.
4. Pereskiopsis rotundifolia (De Candolle) Britton and Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 333. 1907.
Pereskia rotundifolia De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 475. 1828.
Opuntia rotundifolia Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 652. 1808.
Stem thick, more or less woody; branches slender, glabrous; leaves nearly orbicular, mucronate;
spines elongated, solitary; flowers 3 cm. broad, borne on the second-year branches; petals reddish
yellow. broad, with mucronate tips; ovary leafy; fruit obovoid, red, leafy.
Fic. 22.—Pereskiopsis Fic. 23.—Pereskiopsis opuntiae- Fic. 24.—Pereskiopsis
diguetii. Xo.5. flora. Xo.5. rotundifolia. Xo.5.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Known only from the original description and, apparently, from Oaxaca,
Cactus frutescens Mocifio and Sessé (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 178. 1837) and Cactus
rotundifolia Mocifio and Sessé (De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 475. 1828) were given as synonyms
of Pereskia rotundifolia, but were never published.
Illustrations: Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 17: pl. 20, as Pereskia rotundifolia; Schu-
mann, Gesamtb. Kakteen f. 99, as Opuntia rotundifolia.
Figure 24 is copied from the first illustration above cited; figure 25 is from a pho-
tograph taken by Dr. MacDougal at Oaxaca, Mexico, in 1906.
5. Pereskiopsis chapistle (Weber) Britton and Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 331. 1907.
Opuntia chapistle Weber in Gosselin, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 10: 388. 1904.
A large, branching shrub, sometimes 3 to 4 meters high, the branches widely spreading, glab-
rous; spines single, white, long (6 cm. long), very stout; leaves fleshy, somewhat persistent, obovate
to elliptic, sometimes nearly orbicular, 3 to 4 cm. long, glabrous; flowers yellow; fruit red.
Type locality: In Oaxaca.
Distribution: Oaxaca and perhaps Morelos, Mexico.
Illustration: Bull. Soc. Nat. Acclim. France 52: f. 10, as Opuntia chapistle.
Plate 111, figure 2, represents a leafy branch of a plant collected by Dr. Rose at
Cuernavaca, Mexico, in 1906.
28 THE CACTACEAE.
Fic. 25.—Pereskiopsis, apparently P. rotundifolia, with other cacti in the background.
6. Pereskiopsis porteri (Brandegee) Britton and Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 332. 1907.
Opuntia portert Brandegee in Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 899. 1898.
Opuntia brandegeet Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 653. 1808.
Pereskiopsis brandegeei Britton and Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 331. 1907.
Stems stout, woody, branching, 6 to 12 dm. high, 3 cm. in diameter, the old areoles bearing 3
to 8 stout spines 3 to 5 cm. long, but on the trunk often 15 to 20 spines from an areole; first and sec-
ond year branches usually short, spineless, or with 1 or 2 brown spines, those of the first year green,
the second-year brownish; areoles bearing numerous small, brown glochids;
leaves sessile, 2 to 3 cm. long, obovate, acute, fleshy, in greenhouse speci-
mens sometimes much narrower; flowers about 4 cm. in diameter; sepals
few, spatulate, short; petals few, yellow, broad, entire; fruit joint-like,
oblong, 4 to 5 cm. long, orange-colored, with large areoles bearing brown
glochids;. seeds 1 or few, covered with white deciduous hairs.
Type locality: In Sinaloa, Mexico.
Mstribution: Common in the Cape region of Lower Cali-
fornia and in the State of Sinaloa, Mexico.
Figure 26 shows a leafy twig of a plant sent in 1904 from
the Missouri Botanical Garden to the New York Botanical Garden
as Opuntia brandegeet, which had been received by the Missouri Bo-
tanical Garden from Mrs. Katharine Brandegee in 1901.
7. Pereskiopsis spathulata (Otto) Britton and Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll.
50: 333. 1907.
Pereskia spathulata Otto in Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 176. 1837. Fic. 26.—Pereskiopsis
Opuntia spathulata Weber, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 4: 165. 1808.
porteri. Xo0.66.
Branching shrub, r to 2 meters high; branches few, glaucescent, deflexed; leaves spatulate,
thick, green, 2.5 to 5 cm. long; areoles distant, woolly, hairy when young; spines 1 or 2, rigid, white
below, 2.5 cm. long; glochids brown, borne in the upper part of the areoles; flowers red; seeds white.
a eee Se ee eee ee
a
A ig “Sree.
et en
PERESKIOPSIS. 29
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Probably southern Mexico, but no definite locality is known.
There is some confusion in the literature of this species; Schumann describes it as
pubescent, while in the original description nothing is said about pubescence; this error
is probably due to a misidentification, for Dr. Rose found in the Museum of Paris two
specimens collected by Diguet at Guadalajara, Mexico, which were labeled Opuntia
spathulata, and which have pubescent branches and leaves; these are undoubtedly O. diguetii.
Pereskia crassicaulis Zuccarini (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 176. 1837) was never published,
simply being given as a synonym of P. spathulata.
8. Pereskiopsis pititache (Karwinsky) Britton and Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 332. 1907.
Pereskia pititache Karwinsky in Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 176. 1837.
Pereskia calandriniaefolia Link and Otto in Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 252. 1850. (Accord-
ing to Schumann.)
Opuntia pititache Weber, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 4: 166. 1898.
Stems rather low and somewhat branching; bark light brownish and flaking off; areoles on
main trunk each bearing 1 to 4 slender acicular spines and a small cluster of yellowish glochids;
branches, even when several years old, bearing a single long, acicular spine from an areole and
no glochids; young and growing branches rather slender and green, their areoles small, black in
the center, with long, white hairs from their margins and no spines; leaves obovate or oblong-
obovate, 4 cm. long or less, pale green, thin, acute or bluntish at the apex, narrowed at the base.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Uncertain, but reported from southern Mexico.
In the original description this species is said to have a very spiny, erect woody trunk,
the branches spreading nearly horizontally, the spines unequal, 3 to 6, 25 to 37 mm. long,
the leaves fleshy, green, lanceolate to ovate, 37 mm. long, 16 mm. broad. It was named by
Baron Wilhelm von Karwinsky and probably collected by him in Mexico, but no definite
locality was given; Weber states it is from Tehuantepec, while Schumann gives Tehuacan
on a statement of Weber.
Pereskia calandrimiaefolia we have referred here, follow-
ing Schumann, but the original description is somewhat dif-
ferent from that of P. pititache, the leaves being described
as spatulate to lanceolate, strongly narrowed below, 7.5
em. long.
Our description is mostly drawn from specimens grow-
ing in the New York Botanical Garden obtained from
M. Simon, of St. Ouen, Paris, in rgotr.
Illustrations: Abh. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. Miinchen 2: pl. 1,
sec. 6, f. 1, 2; pl. 2, f. 9, both as Pereskia pititache.
Plate 111, figure 3, represents a leafy shoot of a plant
sent by M. Simon, of St. Quen, Paris, France, to the New
York Botanical Garden in r1gor.
9. Pereskiopsis aquosa (Weber) Britton and Rose, Smiths. Misc.
Coll. 50: 331. 1907.
Opuntia aquosa Weber, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 4:.165. 1898
Shrub, with glabrous, glaucous, green branches, the young
shoots with long white hairs at the areoles; leaves bright green,
nearly elliptic, acute, about twice as long as wide, narrowed at the
base, glabrous; spines usually solitary, standing at right angles to
the stem, white; glochids few, yellow; flowers yellow; outer petals
blotched with red; fruit pear-shaped, 4 to 5 cm. ong, 2 to 2.5
a F < Fic. 27:—Pereskiopsis aquosa.
cm. in diameter, yellowish green. X0.66.
30 THE CACTACEAE.
Type locality: Guadalajara, Mexico.
Distribution: In hedges about Guadalajara, Mexico.
The fruit, called in Mexico tuna de agua and tasajillo, is used in making a cooling
drink and for preserves.
Opuntia spathulata aquosa (Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 4: 165. 1898) was given as a
synonym of this species, but was never published.
Illustration: Safford, Ann. Rep. Smiths. Inst. 1908: pl. ro, f. 2.
Figure 27 represents a leafy shoot of the plant collected by W. E. Safford near
Guadalajara, Mexico, in 1907.
10. Pereskiopsis kellermanii Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 332. 1907.
Stem glabrous, herbaceous, weak, and clambering over shrubs to a length of 4 to 5 meters,
about 2 cm. in diameter; second-year branches usually at right angles to main stem, with cherry-
red bark; old stem bearing several slender, acicular brown spines, sometimes only I, sometimes
wanting, and numerous brown glochids; young branches green, fleshy, their areoles circular, white,
filled with long white hairs, brown glochids, and often with “several
acicular brown spines; spines on wild plants often stout, usually
solitary, nearly black, 2 to 3 cm. long; leaves various, shining green,
glabrous, thickish, elliptic and two or three times as long as “wide,
or suborbicular, acute at the apex, narrowed at the base, 5 cm. long
or less, 2 to 2.5 cm. broad; flowers not known; fruit red, ¢ glabrous,
leafy, 3 to 6 cm. long, bearing large areoles filled with brown
glochids; seeds covered with matted hairs.
Type locality: Trapichite, Guatemala. Beee eae a ee nee ee
Distribution: Guatemala.
Figures 28, 29, and 30 are copied from sketches of the leaf-forms of the type plant,
made by W. A. Kellerman in Guatemala in 1908.
2. PTEROCACTUS Schumann, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 7:6. 1897.
Stems low, more or less branched above, cylindric, from tuber-like and often greatly enlarged
roots; leaves minute, caducous; spines weak, several or many at each areole; glochids small, cadu-
_ cous as in Opuntia; flower terminal, regular, without tube; perianth-segments several, erect; fila-
ments and pistil shorter than the petals; ovary nearly turgid, bearing numerous small clusters of
spines; fruit dry, capsular, dehiscent; seeds winged, white; embryo curved.
Type species: Pterocactus kuntzet Schumann.
Four species have already been described, but three of these we have combined and
the fourth is referred to Opuntia. Three additional species, however, are here described.
The generic name refers to the winged seeds.
This is a remarkable genus, and it is surprising that it remained unrecognized so long,
for one of its species was known as long ago as 1837; the fruit and seeds, however, seem not
to have been known until about 1897. In habit the plants are nearest some of the anom-
alous species of Opuntia, having large roots and short, weak stems like Opuntia chaffeyi,
of Mexico; the seeds, however, differ, not only from those of Opuntia, but from those of
all other cactus genera, in being winged. The fruit, according to Schumann, although
we have not been able to confirm his observation definitely, is a capsule with an opercu-
lum. Another peculiarity is that the fruit is borne in the end of the stem or branch.
While this genus has good characters, it is no more distinct than many others and does
not deserve the relative importance given to it by T. von Post and Otto Kuntze in Lexicon
Generum Phanerogamarum, who treat it as one of the only three cactus genera to be
conserved, in their view.
PTEROCACTUS. jl
KEY TO SPECIES.
Scacs marouahy wails Goines (ho) to) D Cin, OM, So ower eceeadbococcoeauuasoccneccsonsoobaouede 1. P. hickentt
Seeds broadly winged; spines 3 to 10 mm. long.
oimtststronglyituberculatesnnee race erin ee ere eee IO icles oie? i leanjuSCHen.
Joints scarcely tuberculate.
Ovary densely covered with weak spines; wing of seed 1 mm. wide....................... 3. P. pumilus
Ovary loosely covered with stiff spines; wing of seed 2 mm. wide......................... 4. P. tuberosus
FIGs. 31, 32.—Pterocactus
hickenii. Xo.7. Fic, 33.—Pterocactus fischeri. 1.12. Photograph
by Paul G. Russell.
1. Pterocactus hickenii sp. nov.
Rootstocks moniliform, consisting of at least 4 joints widely separated; joints above ground
2 or 3, 2 to 3 cm. long, almost hidden by the spines; spines from each areole numerous, slender,
yellow above, brown at base; glochids numerous; fruit and flower not known; seeds thick, 5 mm. in
diameter, with narrow lateral wing.
Collected by Crist6bal M. Hicken
(No. 3284) January 10, 1914, near Como-
doro Rivadavia, southeastern Chubut,
Argentina.
Figures 31 and 32 represent a plant 35
and a seed from the specimen above cited FIGs. 34, 35, 36.—Seeds of three species of Pterocactus.
2. Pterocactus fischeri sp. nov. REN Se:
Stems low, 1 dm. high or less, spreading or erect, cylindric, 1.5 cm. in diameter, tuberculate;
leaves minute, acute; tubercles about as long as broad, arranged in spiral ridges somewhat resembling
those of Opuntia whipplei; spines numerous, the radials 12 or more, white, setaceous, 6 mm. long,
spreading; centrals usually 4, 1 to 1.5 cm. long, brownish, the tips and bases often yellowish;
32 THE CACTACEAE.
glochids numerous, yellowish, 3 to 4 mm. long; flowers, in only specimen seen, terminal, almost con-
tinuous with the stem; ovary tuberculate and spiny like the stem, deeply umbilicate; seed one, large,
flat-winged.
Collected by Walter Fischer in 1914 in the Province of Rio Negro, Argentina, and
given to Dr. Rose during his visit to Argentina in 1915 by Professor Crist6bal M. Hicken.
While this species resembles some of the
species of Cylindropuntia of the United States,
the spines are not sheathed.
Figure 33 is from a photograph of the
specimen above cited; figure 34 shows a seed
of the same specimen.
3. Pterocactus pumilus sp. nov.
Plants low, usually prostrate or ascending;
joints cylindric, 1 cm. in diameter, covered with
weak appressed spines; areoles very woolly; flower
terminal; ovary sunk in the apex of the terminal
joint, somewhat umbilicate; ovules several; seed
flattened, 7 mm. in diameter, very thin.
Collected by Crist6bal M. Hicken (No.
3286), January 8, 1914, at Puerto Piramides,
Chubut, Argentina.
Figure 35 shows a seed of above speci-
men.
4. Pterocactus tuberosus (Pfeiffer).
Opuntia tuberosa Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 146. 1837.
Pterocactus kuntzei Schumann, Monatsschr. Kak-
teenk. 7:6. 1897.
Pierocactus kurtzei Schumann in Engler and Prantl,
Pflanzenfam. Nachtr. 259. 1897.
Pierocactus decipiens Giirke, Monatsschr. Kakteenk.
172147. 1907.
Roots tuber-like, single or in clusters, usually
small but sometimes large and thick, up to 12 cm.
long by 8 em. in diameter, deep-seated, giving off
several erect stems, these branching at surface of
the ground; terminal branches purplish, turgid,
3 to 40 cm. long, 1 cm. in diameter, more or less
clavate; areoles numerous, small, bearing numer-
ous small white appressed spines; flowers terminal,
2 to 3 cm. long; petals long, lanceolate, apiculate,
yellow; ovary with numerous areoles bearing long
bristles; ovules numerous; fruit dry; seeds large,
flat, winged, 10 to 12 mm. in diameter.
Type locality: Near Mendoza, Argentina.
Distribuiion: Western provinces of Argen- Fic. 37-—Pterocactus tuberosus. Natural size. Photograph
tina, chiefly in the mountains. by Paul G. Russell.
We have not seen the type of P. kuntzez,
which is doubtless at Berlin, but we have examined cotypes in the Kurtz Herbarium at
Cérdoba, Argentina, and at New York.
Opuntia tuberosa, described from Mendoza as long ago as 1837, has long been a puzzle
to botanists, who have tried to associate it with various opuntias. Dr. Rose, who visited
Mendoza in 1915, found a tuberous-rooted cactus in the mountains above that city, which
we are convinced is the plant described by Pfeiffer. There is no doubt, on the other
NOPALEA. 33
hand, that it is Pterocactus kuntzet, from the same region, which was described as new by
Schumann in 1897.
Opuntia alpina Gillies (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 146. 1837) was not published, but was
given as a synonym of Opuntia tuberosa. Schumann referred both names to Opuntia
platyacantha.
Illustrations: Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 7:7; Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen f. 107, both
as Pterocactus kuntze1; Blihende Kakteen 3: pl. 140, as P. decipiens.
Figure 36 shows a seed of a plant, collected by Dr. Rose near Mendoza, Argentina,
in 1915; figure 37 is from a photograph of same plant; figure 38 is from a photograph
taken by Dr. Carlos Spegazzini.
Fic. 38.—Pterocactus tuberosus.
3. NOPALEA Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 63. 1850.
Much branched cacti with definite cylindric trunks; roots so far as known fibrous; branches or
joints flattened, fleshy, often narrow; glochids usually less abundant than in Opuntia; spines solitary
or in clusters at the areoles, sheathless; leaves small, subterete, soon deciduous; areoles bearing white
wool, glochids, and often spines; flowers originating in the areoles usually at or near the edges of the
joints; sepals ovate, erect; petals red or pinkish, erect, closely appressed against the numerous
stamens and the style; filaments and style slender, much longer than the petals; ovary more or less
tuberculate, naked or spiny, with a very deep umbilicus; fruit a juicy berry, red, edible, usually
spineless; seeds numerous, flat, covered by a hard bony aril.
Nopalea is closely related to Opuntia, with which it is sometimes united; the erect
petals and elongated filaments and style are constant in Nopalea, however. :
Three species were included by Salm-Dyck in this genus when it was described, of
which Opuntia cochenillifera Linnaeus was the first and is therefore considered the type.
Karl Schumann described five species in his monograph, but since then two species,
N. guatemalensis and N. lutea, have been described by Dr. Rose, and one, N. inaperta,
by Dr. Griffiths. N. moniliformis ([annaeus) Schumann, based on plate 198 of Plumier,
is Opuntia moniliformis (Linnaeus) Steudel.
The species are natives of Mexico and Guatemala, and have been accredited to Cuba,
although none has recently been observed wild on that island. Some of them are widely
34 THE CACTACEAE.
cultivated and may be found throughout the warmer parts of the world. Two are of
some economic importance and two or three are grown as ornamentals.
The name Nopalea is doubtless from nopal, the common name of Mexicans for certain
opuntias and nopaleas.
Key TO SPECIES.
Spineless, or rarely a few short spines on old joints....................- ies Bit Oe ee OR 2 ihe
N. cochenillifera
Joints spiny (spines few in NV. aubert). ,
Spines, at least those of young joints, very slender, acicular, several at each areole.
Carries WH, coccuccoascundeosoabeseducodonsnodecocvondbeseeouddoscacauepas ced Bo Ne UMRAO RSIS
Spines yellow or becoming brown.
Joints obovate to oblong, 10 to 22 cm. long, 5 to rocm. wide ......-.............. 3. N. luica
Joints linear-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 6 to 12 cm. long, 2 to 3 cm. Wider eine 3a. N. gawmert
Spines stouter, subulate.
Areoles with 1 or 2 spines, or spineless; joints glaucous............................. 4. N. auberr
Areoles with 2 to 4 spines; joints green.
Joints linear or linear-oblong, 4 to 7 times as long as wide........... eRe aha ced Oeics 5. WN. dejecta
Joints oblong or oblong-obovate, 2 to 4 times as long as wide.
SHiwMas 2 (OAS HOCUS we Ula, 4 ogWobakeoocevecaoscccwgcooovscmouzoac” 6. N. karwinskiana
Spines 4 to 12; joints strongly tuberculate.....................)............ 7. NN. inaperta
1. Nopalea cochenillifera (Linnaeus) Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 64. 1850.
Cactus cochenillifer Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 468. 1753.
Opun‘ia cochinelifera Miller, Gard. Dict. ed. 8. No. 6. 1768.
Often tall plants, 3 to 4 meters high, with trunks up to 2 dm. thick; branches of ascending or
spreading oblong joints, sometimes 5 dm. long, green, bright green at first; spines none or rarely
minute ones develop on the older joints; glochids numerous, caducous; leaves small, awl-shaped,
soon deciduous; flowers appearing from the tops of the joints, usually in great abundance; flower,
from base of ovary to tip of style, 5.5 em. long; ovary nearly globular, 2 cm. long, with low diamond-
shaped tubercles, its areoles bearing many glochids; sepals broadly ovate, acute, scarlet; petals a
little longer than the sepals, otherwise similar, persistent; stamens pinkish, exserted 1 to 1.5 cm.
beyond the petals; stigma-lobes 6 or 7, greenish, exserted beyond the stamens; style swollen just
above its base into a broad disk; fruit red, about 5 cm. long, rarely maturing in greenhouse plants;
seeds about 5 mm. long and 3 mm. wide.
Ty pe locality: Jamaica and tropical America.
Distribution: Cultivated in the West Indies and tropical America; its original habitat
unknown.
Opuntia magnifolia Noronha (Verhandl, Batay. Genootsch. 5': 22. 1790), published
without description, is referred to this species by Schumann and others. The name
Opuntia mexicana, although it has been used for more than one species, first appeared in
Pfeiffer’s Enumeratio (p. 150. 1837) as a synonym of O. cochenillifera. Cactus subinermis
Link (Steudel, Nom. ed. 2. 1: 246. 1840) is given as a synonym of Opuntia cochenillifera.
The specific name of this plant was given because it is one of the species of cactus from
which cochineal was obtained. Cochineal was long supposed to be a vegetable product;
it was not until 1703 that, by the aid of the microscope, it was definitely determined to be
of insect origin. The cochineal industry is of prehistoric origin. The Spaniards found it well
established when they conquered Mexico in 1518, and began at once to export the product.
As early as 1523 Cortez was ordered to obtain and send to Spain as much as he possibly
could, while during the early colonial days it was one of the chief articles of tribute to the
crown. From Mexico and Peru the industry was taken to southern Spain, India, Algiers,
South Africa, New Granada (Colombia), Jamaica, and the Canary Islands. The industry
grew rapidly and was very profitable. The greatest source of the cochineal was probably the
Canary Islands. In about the year 1868 more than 6,000,000 pounds, valued at $4,000,000,
were exported from these islands alone, of which the largest part was sent to England.
The cochineal insects were placed on the joints or branches of the cactus plants, where
they rapidly multiplied and in about four months were collected by brushing them off
into baskets or bags. ‘Then, after being dried in various ways, they became the cochineal
of commerce. ‘Two or three such collections were made each year.
a a a
BRITTON AND ROSE PLATE IV
M. E. Eaton del.
1. Upper part of flowering joint of Nopalea cochenillifera. 3. Fruit of WMopalea aubert.
2. Upper part of flowering joint of Mopalea aubert.
(All natural size.)
=
Flowering joint of Mopalea dejecta.
NOPALEA. 35
The cactuses upon which the cochineal was raised were often grown in large planta-
tions called nopalries, sometimes containing 50,000 plants in rows about 4 feet apart.
Since the introduction of the aniline dyes, the cochineal industry has almost dis-
appeared. ‘The cochineal colors, while brilliant and attractive, are not very permanent.
According to J. J. Johnson, this plant was introduced into cultivation in England,
in 1688; but according to Ray it was growing in Chelsea before that time.
Illustrations: Hernandez, Nov. Pl. Hist. 78 and 479. f. 1. 1651, as Nopalnochetzli;
Andrews, Bot. Rep. 8: pl. 533; Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 54: pl. 2741, 2742; Descourtilz, FI.
Pict. Antilles 7: pl. 516, all as Cactus cochenillifer. Cycl. Amer. Hort. Bailey 1: 205.
f. 308; Gard. Chron. III. 34: 92. f. 41; Pfeiffer and Otto, Abbild. Beschr. Gact. 1: pl. 24,
all as Opuntia cochenillifera; Forster, Handb. Cact. ed. 2. f. 3, as Opuntia coccifera;
Dillenius, Hort. Elth. pl. 297, as tuna, etc.; Agr. Gaz. 25: pls. opp. p. 884; Amer. Garden
11: 457; Martius, Fl. Bras. 4°: pl. 60. Schumann Gesamtb. Kakteen f. 109, B.
Plate iv, figure 1, shows a plant which flowered in the New York Botanical Garden
in IgI2. ‘
2. Nopalea guatemalensis Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 330. 1907.
Tree-like, 5 to 7 meters high, branched, sometimes nearly to the base; joints bluish green, ovate
to oblong, 15 to 20 cm. long; areoles numerous, filled with short white wool; spines 5 to 8, unequal,
nearly or quite porrect, white or sometimes rose-colored, the longest 2.5 to 3 cm. long; leaves small,
linear, reflexed; flower, including ovary, 5 to 6 cm. long; sepals ovate, thickened; petals red; fruit
4 to 5 cm. long, clavate, red, more or less tuberculate, deeply umbilicate, without prominent glochids;
seeds irregular, 4 mm. broad.
Type locality: E1 Rancho, Guatemala.
Distribution: Arid valleys of Guatemala.
Illustrations: Safford, Ann. Rep. Smiths. Inst. 1908: f. 13, 14; Smiths. Misc. Coll.
50: pl. 41, 42.
Figure 39 illustrates joints of a plant obtained from Frank Weinberg in 1910.
—~ &
yo E
Se eo :
g .
\ N y y ort
eZ, © Sr
eS
WS
ft af Awe
Wo
Fic. 40.—Nopalea lutea. Xo.4.
Fic. 39.—Nopalea guatemalensis. Xo.4.
3. Nopalea lutea Rose, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: 405. 1909.
More or less arborescent, 5 meters high or less, with a short, definite trunk and several large,
lateral, more or less spreading branches; joints obovate to elliptic or oblong, ro to 22 cm. long, pale
green, slightly glaucous; areoles about 2 cm. apart, large, filled with short brown wool; spines weak,
yellow, acicular or bristle-like, the longest 4 cm. long; flowers 5 cm. long; petals red, 2 cm. long;
36 THE CACTACEAE.
ovary with numerous prominent areoles filled with yellow bristles; fruit red, 4 cm. long; seeds 4 to
5 mm. in diameter.
Type locality: Near El Rancho, Guatemala.
Distribution: Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
This species, although not discovered until 1907, is very common, extending from
altitude 300 meters at El Rancho to altitude 1,100 meters near Aguas Calientes. Accord-
Fic. 41.—Nopalea dejecta.
ing to Mr. Charles C. Deam, who has explored extensively in Guatemala, the plant when
growing on river sand-bars is low, but in rich soil is tall.
Our reference of this species to Nicaragua is based on a specimen collected by A. S.
Oersted in 1845-1848 between Granada and Tipitapa. The joints of this, however, are
nearly orbicular or a little longer than broad, with numerous brown spines and glochids.
More material may show that this specimen should be referred elsewhere.
Illustration: Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: pl. 58.
Figure 40 shows a joint of a plant from Guatemala, received from F. Eichlam in rort.
NOPALEA. aa
3a. Nopalea gaumeri sp. nov. (See Appendix, p. 216.)
4. Nopalea auberi (Pfeiffer) Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1840. 64.
Opuntia aubert Pfeiffer, Allg. Gartenz. 8: 282. 1840.
Often 8 to 10 meters high, with a cylindric, jointed trunk, never very spiny, but the areoles
bearing tufts of brown glochids; branches often at right angles to the stem; joints narrow, thick,
3 dm. long, bluish green and glaucous; areoles circular, about 2 mm. broad, bearing short white wool
and later a tuft of brown glochids; spines, when present, 1 or 2, subulate, the upper one about twice
as long as the other, white or nearly so, with brownish tips, the longest one 2 to 3 cm. long; flowers
from base of ovary to tip of style about 9 cm. long; petals erect, closely embracing the stamens,
rose-pink, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 2 to 3.5 cm. long; filaments 12 to 15 mm. longer than the
petals, white below, but the exposed parts pinkish; anthers dehiscing before maturing of stigma;
style stout, light pink with a large, white, circular disk just above the constricted base; stigma-
lobes green; ovary 4 cm. long, with low but very distinct tubercles and a deep umbilicus, its areoles
bearing many brown glochids, these sometimes 10 mm. long.
1850.
oS
Dy =
@
J ow {
. ,
Sy) d
ay S
Wy >
ry)
= j aS
py sh
C1 oF
Vic. 44.—Nopalea inaperta.
0.5.
Fic. 43.—Nopalea karwinskiara.
Xo.5
Fic. 42.—Nopalea
dejecta. 0.33.
Type locality: Erroneously cited as Cuba.
Distribution: Central and southern Mexico.
Illustration: Addisonia 1: pl. ro.
Plate Iv, figure 2, represents a flowering joint of a plant obtained by W. E. Safford at
Guadalajara, Mexico, in 1907; figure 3 shows young fruit of the same plant; plate v is
from a photograph taken by Dr. MacDougal near Mitla, Mexico, in 1906.
5. Nopalea dejecta Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 64. 1850.
Opuntia dejecta Salm-Dyck, Hort. Dyck. 361. 1834.
Plant 1 to 2 m. high, with a definite trunk, very spiny, the old areoles often bearing 6 or 8 spines;
joints narrow, 10 to 15 cm. long, only moderately thick, often drooping, bright green even in age,
bearing usually two somewhat spreading spines at an areole; spines at first pale yellow or pinkish,
in age gray, the longest 4 cm. long; flower, including ovary and style, 5 cm. long; sepals obtuse; petals
erect, dark red; stamens long-exserted, dark red.
Type locality: Erroneously cited as Havana, Cuba.
Distribution: Common in cultivation in tropical America; perhaps native in Panama.
Opuntia diffusa and O. horizontalis are both given by Pfeiffer (Enum. Cact. 159.
1837) as synonyms of this species.
38 THE CACTACEAE.
Illustrations: Agr. Gaz. N. S. W. 25: pl. opp. p. 138; Roig, Cact. Fl. Cub. pl. [6], this
last as Nopalea aubert.
Plate tv, figure 4, shows a flowering joint of a plant obtained from Mr. S. F. Curtis in
1897. Figure 41 is from a photograph taken by Dr. Juan T. Roig in the Havana Botanical
Garden, Cuba; figure 42 shows a joint of a plant collected by Mr. J. F. Cowell at Panama
in 1905.
6. Nopalea karwinskiana (Salm-Dyck) Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 752. 1898.
Opuntia karwinskiana Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 239. 1850.
A tree, 2 meters high or more, with a definite jointed terete spiny trunk; joints oblong, 1.5 to 3
dm. long, light dull green, only slightly glaucous; leaves elongated, acute; areoles distant; spines 3
to 7 from an areole, porrect, 1 to 2 cm. long, pale yellow to nearly white; glochids yellow, numerous,
caducous; flowers red, 11 to 12 cm. long; ovary deeply umbilicate, 3 cm. long.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Mexico.
Fics. 45, 46.—Flower of Tacinga funalis. Xo.9. Fics. 47, 48.—Tacinga funalis. Xo.6.
Drawing by A. Lofgren.
This species was sent from Mexico by Karwinsky, who supposed it was an Opuntia.
When described by Salm-Dyck in 1850 it had not flowered. It was re-collected by
Edmund Kerber near Colima, Mexico, and flowered for the first time in cultivation in 1879.
Our description is drawn chiefly from a plant now in the New York Botanical Garden,
obtained from M. Simon, of St. Ouen, Paris, France. In the original description it is
stated that the young spines are 2 to 4 and rose-colored, but afterwards 18 to 20, gray and
deflexed. O. nopalilla Karwinsky (Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 68. 1850) was
first given as a synonym of this species.
Figure 43 represents a joint with young fruit, from a plant sent by M. Simon, St. Ouen,
Paris, France, in rgor.
7. Nopalea inaperta Schott in Griffiths, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 23: 139. 1913.
Described as 5 to 7 meters high, but in cultivation much smaller, diffusely branched, often
bush-like; trunk very spiny; terminal joints rather small, obovate, 6 to 17 cm. long, strongly
tuberculate, bright green; spines usually 3 to 6 at areoles of young joints, more at old ones, yellowish
PLATE V
BRITTON AND ROSE
Nopalea auberi as it grows near Mitla, Mexico.
Photograph by D. T. MacDougal.
u
TACINGA. 39
brown, 2 cm. long or less; flowers rather small, including ovary and stamens 4 cm. long; filaments
numerous, long-exserted; style much longer than the stamens; stigma-lobes 5, green; fruit small,
red, 1.5 cm. long.
Type locality: In Yucatan, Mexico.
Distribution: Yucatan.
Dr. Griffiths states that he found this species in the Albert S. White Park, Riverside,
California, in 1904. Inthe Bulletin of the New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station
No. 60 he describes and illustrates it, but without specific name. Later he identified it as
the same as one of Schott’s specimens from Yucatan, and then published it as above.
Dr. Griffiths compares it with NV. auberi, but its nearest relative is N. karwinskiana,
from which it differs in its smaller and more tuberculate joints and much smaller flowers.
Illustration: N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 60: pl. 3, f. 1, as Nopalea.
Figure 44 shows a joint from a plant obtained by Dr. David Griffiths at Riverside.
4. TACINGA gen. nov.
Long, clambering or climbing cacti, more or less branched; old stems smooth, brown; branches
faintly ribbed, terete; young branches green, each tipped with a tuft of long wool or soft hairs; are-
oles small but conspicuous, black, the margin giving off long, white, cobwebby hairs; leaves minute,
soon deciduous, 3 to 4 mm. long; spines sometimes present, on young joints 2 or 3, reflexed,
appressed, brown, 2 to 3 mm. long, not seen on old branches; glochids from the upper parts ofjthe
areoles, pale yellow, numerous, caducous, falling in showers at the slightest jarring of the branch;
flower-buds acute; flowers usually terminal, opening in the evening or at night; ovary narrow,
bearing numerous areoles, the umbilicus very deep; petals few, spreading or recurved; a row of hairs
between the petals and the stamens; stamens and style erect, much longer than the petals; fruit
oblong, the upper half sterile, bearing areoles but no spines; seeds nearly globular, white, covered
with a bony aril.
This genus is intermediate between
Opuntia and Nopalea, having the erect,
non-sensitive stamens of the latter,
and the areoles, leaves, and glochids of
the former. From Opuntia it differs in
its narrow, green, recurved petals, in
having one or possibly more rows of
hairs between the stamens and the
petals, in the clambering or climbing
habit, and its very caducous glochids.
Only one species is known, this
a common and characteristic plant of
the catinga* in Bahia, Brazil, whence
the anagramatic name.
1. Tacinga funalis sp. nov.
At first erect, then climbing over shrubs
or through trees, 1 to 12 meters long, some-
what branching; old stems woody, slender;
branches usually reddish, the areoles borne
on low ribs; glochids short; flower, includ-
ing ovary, 7 to 8 cm. long; sepals about 10,
short, ovate, acute, 5 to15 mm. long; petals Fic. 49.—Tacinga funalis. Showing how it climbs over bushes.
about 7, green, 4 cm. long, acute, revolute;
stamens erect, connivent, not sensitive; anthers narrow, elongated; style elongated, thread-like,
most slender below, a little longer than the stamens, 4.5 cm. long, cream-colored; stigma-lobes 5,
green; fruit 4 to 5 cm. long; seeds 3 to 4 mm. broad.
* Catinga or caatinga is the common Brazilian name for the thorn-bush desert region in Bahia, Brazil. Dr-
Albert Lofgren says that the name (best spelled caatinga) is of Indian origin, meaning caa = wood, fozest; tinga = white,
clear; a forest in which one can see far.
40 THE CACTACEAE.
Common in the dry parts of Bahia, Brazil, where it was collected by Rose and Rus-
sell in 1915 (No. 19723, type). Dr. Zehntner thinks there may be a second species, as he
has found one with purple flowers; specimens from southern Bahia had purple buds, but
the open flowers were not seen. The type comes from Joazeiro, northern Bahia.
Dr. Rose studied this species in the field and believed it to be new. On reaching
Rio de Janeiro, he found that Dr. A. Lofgren had also studied it, referring it, however,
to Opuntia, using the above specific name.
Figures 45 and 46 are copied from drawings of the flowers given to Dr. Rose by Dr.
Lofgren; figures 47 and 48 are from twigs of the plant grown at the New York Botanical
Garden; figure 49 is from a photograph of the type plant.
5. MAIHUENIA Philippi, Gartenflora 32: 260. 1883.
Plants low, cespitose, often forming small, dense mounds; stems jointed; joints small, globular
or short-cylindric; leaves small, usually terete, persistent; leaves of seedlings terete, ascending,
with 2 long white bristles in the axils; areoles filled with white wool; spines 3, the central one
elongated, the 2 lateral ones small and very short; glochids wanting; flowers large for the size of the
plant, yellow or red, usually terminal; petals distinct; flower-tube none; stamens and sty’e much
shorter than the petals; fruit juicy (described as dry in one species), oblong to obovoid, bearing
small scattered, ovate, persistent leaves; wall of fruit thin; cotyledons linear; seed black, shining,
with a brittle testa.
Fic. 50.—Maihuenia valentinii.
Type species: Opuntia poeppigit Otto.
There are five species described, rather closely related, natives of the high mountains
of Chile and Argentina.
The generic name is derived from maihuen, the native name of the plant.
This is a small, localized genus; it is perhaps nearest Opuntia, but is without glochids
and has different seeds. ‘The first species was described in 1837, and a second in 1864,
both as Upuntia. Weber in 1898 transferred them to Pereskia, proposing a new subgenus
for them, but they are much less like Pereskia than Opuntia, for, except as to the seeds,
they have little in common with Pereskia; in habit, leaves, spines, flowers, and fruits they
are quite unlike any of the pereskias.
MAIHUENIA. 4l
Key TO SPECIES.
Jomtsisubsloboseseeeree eerie ere oon 1. M. patagonica
Joints oblong to cylindric.
Leaves linear, 4 to6 mm. long............. 2. M. poeppigit
Leaves ovate to subulate, 2 to 4 mm. long.
Joints spineless below.................. 3. M. brachydelphys
Joints spiny all over.
Leaves on the ovary with white hairs
imMAtheineaxi] Sherer ae ese 4. M. valentinii
Leaves on the ovary without hairs in
Phere ail Sey eM Men nate beng col yen ce tey ea 5. M. tehuelches
1. Maihuenia patagonica (Philippi).
Opuntia patagonica Philippi, Linnaea 33:82. 1864.
Pereskia philippit Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 939. 1808.
Maithuenia philippii Weber in Schumann, Gesamtb. Kak-
teen 757. 1898.
Low, much branched, and dense, resembling Sem pervi-
vum tomentosum in habit; joints subglobose, 1 to 1.5 em. in ate Ahh
diameter; leaves subulate, green; young areoles bearing !6- 51-—Maihuenia poeppigii. Xo.75.
6 3 5 : Fic. 52.—Maihuenia brachydelphys. Xo.75.
white hairs; spines weak, hardly pungent, white, the longest
ro to 15 mm. long; flowers 2.8 to 3 cm. long; fruit 8 to ro mm. long, thicker than long; leaves on
the ovary ovate to lanceolate, fleshy, naked in their axils, except some of the upper ones; seeds
round, 3 to 4 mm. in diameter.
Ty pe locality: In southern Argentina.
Distribution: Near snow-line on southern mountain ranges of Argentina and Chile.
Opuntia philippii Haage and Schmidt, without description, is given by Weber (Dict.
Hort. Bois 939. 1898) as a synonym of this species.
This is called by the natives espina blanca.
2. Maihuenia poeppigii (Otto) Weber in
Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 755.
1898.
Opuntia poeppigii Otto in Pfeiffer,
Enum. Cact. 174. 1837.
Opuntia maihuen Remy in Gay, Fl.
Chilena 3: 29. 1847.
Pereskia poeppigit <alm-Dyck, Cact.
Hort. Dyck. 1849. 252. 1850.
Shrubby, much branched, prostrate,
forming dense cespitose masses 1 meter
broad; joints spiny to the bases, cylin-
dric, 6 cm. long or more, 1.5 cm. in diam-
eter; leaves cylindric, green, 4 to 6 mm.
long; spines 3 from each areole, the 2 late-
rals very short, the central one 1.5 to 2
cm. long; flowers terminal, yellow; fruit
oblong to obovoid, about 5 cm. long and
3 cm. thick.
Type locality: In Chile, without
definite locality.
Distribution: High mountains of
Chile.
Illustrations: Schumann, Ge-
samtb. Kakteen f. 108, B, ¢.; Gar-
embilort, 38 fol cra, 1, i WO Ay aS
Opuntia poeppigii; Dict. Gard. Nich-
olson 3: f. 82, as Pereskia poeppigii.
Figure 51 is from a fruit obtained
by Dr. Rose at the National Museum
of Chile, Santiago, in r914.
Fic. 53.—Maihuenia tehuelches
42 THE CACTACEAE.
3. Maihuenia brachydelphys Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 756. 1898.
Cespitose, prostrate; joints cylindric or nearly ellipsoid, naked below, 2 cm. long; spines 2 or 3,
one much stouter and longer, yellow except at base and there brown; leaves terete, 2 to 3 mm. long;
areoles circular, full of white wool; flowers usually from the tips of joints, red, 3.5 cm. long.
Type locality: Pasco Cruz, Argentina, 34° south latitude, province of Mendoza.
Distribution: Western Argentina.
Opuntia brachydelphys Schumann is mentioned by Kuntze (Rev. Gen. Pl. 3”: 107.
1898) by name only.
Illustration: Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen f. 108, A.
Figure 52 is copied from Schumann’s illustration above cited.
4, Maihuenia valentinii Spegazzini, Anal. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires II. 4: 289. 1902.
Shrubby, 1 to 2.5 dm. high, dull green; joints cylindric, somewhat clavate, 1 to 3.5 em. long;
leaves ovate, small; spines 3, the central much larger, 2 to 6 cm. long; flowers from near the ends of
the branches, 2 cm. broad, the sepals reddish, the petals white to light yellow; stamens indefinite;
filaments white; style 6 mm. long, white, longer than the stamens; stigma-lobes 5, short, 2 mm.
long, purplish; ovary globular to obconic, 5 to 8 mm. long, bearing numerous triangular fleshy
leaves with long white hairs and sometimes I or 2 spines in their axils; fruit unknown.
Type locality: Near Trelew, Chubut, Argentina.
Distribution: ‘Territory of Chubut, southern Argentina.
Related to M. tehuelches and M. poeppigit, but said to be very distinct.
Figure 50 is from a photograph furnished by Dr. Carlos Spegazzini.
5. Maihuenia tehuelches Spegazzini, Anal. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires II. 4: 288. 1902.
Shrubby, 2 to 3 dm. high, with many intricate branches, dull green; joints cylindric, ellipsoid
to somewhat clavate, 2 to 8 cm. long by 10 to 12 cm. in diameter; leaves ovate, small, 2 to 4 mm.
long; spines 3, the central one erect, 2 to 4 cm. long, the 2 lateral ones only 5 to 10 mm. long; flowers
at the apex of the branches, 35 to 45 mm. broad, white to yellowish white; fruit globose, naked, dry,
2 cm. in diameter; seeds black, 3 mm. broad.
Type locality: Between San Julian and Rio Deseado, Argentina.
Distribution: Dry, rocky deserts, southwestern Argentina.
Figure 53 is from a photograph furnished by Dr. Carlos Spegazzini.
6. OPUNTIA (Tournefort) Miller, Gard. Dict. Abridg. ed. 4. 1754.
Cactodendron Bigelow, Pac. R. Rep. 3: 102; 4:7, 11, ili. 1856.
Consolea Lemaire, Rev. Hort. 1862: 174. 1862.
Tephrocactus Lemaire, Cact. 88. 1868.
Ficindica St. Lager, Ann. Soc. Bot. Lyon 7: 70. 1880.
Cacti, sometimes with definite trunks, or more often much branched from the base, the branches
often spreading, reclining, or prostrate, sometimes clambering, but never climbing (one species
known with annual stems); roots fibrous or rarely tuberous and large and fleshy; ultimate branches
(joints or pads) cylindric to globose or flattened, usually very fleshy, sometimes woody; areoles
axillary, bearing spines, barbed bristles (glochids), hairs, flowers, and sometimes glands; leaves
usually small, terete, mostly early deciduous; spines solitary or in clusters, terete or flattened,
naked or sheathed, variously colored; glochids usually numerous, borne above the spines; flowers
usually one at an areole; ovary inferior, one-celled, many-ovuled, bearing leaves, the areoles often
with spines and glochids; sepals green or more or less colored, usually grading into the petals;
petals usually of various shades and combinations of green, yellow, and red (rarely white), widely
spreading; stamens much shorter than the petals, sensitive; style single, thick; stigma-lobes short;
fruit a berry, dry or juicy, often edible, spiny or naked, globular, ovoid or ellipsoid; seed covered
by a hard, bony aril, white, flattened; embryo curved; cotyledons 2, large.
The species grow naturally from Massachusetts to British Columbia south to the
Strait of Magellan. Several have been naturalized and have become very abundant
locally in the Old World and in Australia.
OPUNTIA. 43
The type species is Cactus opuntia Linnaeus.
Karl Schumann recognized 131 species in his “‘Gesamtbeschreibung der Kakteen,”’
published during the years 1897 and 1898. Many have been described since this mono-
graph was published.
The name Opuntia was that of a town in Greece, where some cactus-like plant is said
to have grown.
The genus is important economically. It furnishes the well-known tuna fruit largely
imported into our eastern cities from Italy and which is common in the markets of Mexico.
Some species are used for hedges, the branches of others are cooked like spinach, and still
others furnish forage for stock.
The species are numerous and very diverse, and have at various times been grouped
by authors into several genera, while other species, now referred by us to Nopalea,
Mathuenia, and Pereskiopsis, were included in Opuntia.
The following genera now referred to Opuntia have been regarded as distinct from it:
Consolea was described by Lemaire in 1862. He described five species, of which
C. rubescens is the first and therefore the type. This group is a striking one, characterized
by a pronounced cylindric trunk in old plants, with an unjointed central woody axis,
peculiar semaphore-like branches at the top, and very small flowers. There are eight species
of this group, described under our series Spinosissimae. ‘They are confined to the West
Indies, although C. rubescens, the spineless race of Opuntia catacantha, was originally
described as from Brazil—doubtless erroneously.
Tephrocactus was described by Lemaire in 1868, and to it he referred eight species of
Opuntia. T. diadematus is the type species. Schumann included it in Opuntia as a sub-
genus, with 15 species. They are all South American, chiefly in Argentina and Bolivia.
Ficindica was established by St. Lager in 1880, based on Opuntia ficus-indica, which
is clearly congeneric with Opuntia opuntia.
In 1856 the name Cactodendron was proposed in an account of Whipple’s Expedi-
tion, published in volumes 3 and 4 of the Pacific Railroad Reports. It was apparently
not intended to be a formal publication, but as a definite species is indicated, the name
is published. It will be of interest to record here the evidence upon which we reach
this conclusion:
Cactodendron Bigelow Pac. R. Rep. 3: 102; 4: 7, 11; Additional Notes and Corrections iii. 1856.
“There are * * * Opuntia of many varieties; some with wide leaf-like joints, others of
shrubby form and woody fibre, which the botanist proposes to name Cactodendron.’”’ Pac. R. Rep.
BB 12s
“Immediately on our entrance into this valley (November 19 [1856]) we found and collected a
new species of Opuntia, with prostrate, nearly terete joints, entirely devoid of woody fibre; * * *.
Lieutenant Whipple discovered the first specimen of our new Cactodendron, as we were pleased to
call it, to distinguish it from the O. arborescens.”” Pac. R. Rep. 4: 7.
The arborescent Opuntia, first found near Zuni, which, to distinguish from the true O. arbores-
cens, we called Cacto-dendron, finds its western limits near the termination of this region.’’ Pac.
R. Rep. 4: 10.
ae ‘New arboresent Opuntia,’ called also ‘our new Cactodendron,’ pages 7 and 11, is Opuntia
whipplei, KE. & B., new species.”” Pac. R. Rep. 4: Additional Notes and Corrections iii.
Opuntias are known under a great variety of names. Among the names for the flat-
jointed species, the most common are: prickly pear in the United States; tuna in Mexico;
sucker and bullsucker in the Lesser Antilles. For the round-stemmed forms we have:
cane cactus, and such Mexican names as cholla and tasajo. Dr. David Griffiths has
published a list of names used in Mexico.
The genus Opuntia, as understood by us, is composed of at least 250 species, but more
than 900 names are to be found in literature. No type specimens of many of the species
AA THE CACTACEAE.
were preserved by their authors, some have, apparently, been lost, and some, which are
probably preserved, we have been unable to study.
The genus shows a great range in stem structure, varying from cylindric to broad and
flat. These extremes suggest different generic types, but these characters can not be used
except in the most general way, for some species have both rounded and flattened stems.
Some with round stems have flowers which suggest a closer relationship with the species
with flattened stems.
The habits of some of the species are very characteristic, while others show a wide
range of forms. Many of the erect or tree-like forms, when grown from cuttings, develop
bushy habits much unlike their normal shapes.
The spines, while somewhat constant in color in some species, vary considerably in
others, and the number of spines is rather inconstant. Species which are normally abun-
dantly spined are sometimes naked when cultivated, while species which are normally
naked sometimes develop spines in cultivation; cultivated specimens usually have weaker
spines and sometimes decidedly different ones from wild plants.
The flowers often vary greatly in color, as is seen especially in O. versicolor and O.
lindheimeri, which show wide ranges of color forms. Some flowers vary in color during
the day.
We group the species known to us into 3 subgenera, 46 series, and with the following
characteristics:
Key To SUBGENERA AND SERIES OF OPUNTIA.
A. Joints all terete, elongated or short, cylindric to globose.
B. Branches several, many-jointed........................... Subgenus 1. CyLINDROPUNTIA
C. Spines with papery sheaths.
D. Spines, at least some of them, solitary, sometimes several,
acicular; ultimate branches slender, rarely more
than 1 cm. thick.
FE. Stem and branches conspicuously marked by flattened,
diamond-shaped tubercles; fruit dry, covered with
long bristle-like spines....................... Series 1. Ramosissimae (N. A
EE. Tubercles not flattened nor diamond-shaped; fruit
usually a naked berry..............)......... Series 2. Leptocaules (N. A.)
DD. Spines always more than 1; ultimate branches stouter.
E. Ultimate branches not over 2 cm. thick............... Series 3. Thurberianae (N. A.)
EE. Ultimate branches 2 cm. thick or more.
SER ii liye erate nicisescrnenciee ts creates tas siaa a tr nat Slane ROA ar Ege Series 4. Echinocarpae (N. A.)
FF. Fruit fleshy.
G. Tubercles of young joints scarcely longer than broad. Series 5. Bigelovianae (N. A.)
GG. Tubercles distinctly longer than broad.
H. Tubercles narrow, high, laterally flattened...... Series 6. Imbricatae (N. A.)
HH. Tubercles broad, low......................... Series 7. Fulgidae (N. A.)
CC. Spines without sheaths.
D. Joints not tuberculate, or with broad or flat tubercles.
E. Areoles long-woolly or with weak hairs (without hairs
a QO), DANA ANOD) oc csocvesonacoccnboceoccod Series 8. Vestitae (S. A.)
EE. Areoles neither long-woolly nor long-hairy. :
Hoints) clayateoncrestede eee aanne eerie eeerinoe Series 9. Clavarioides (S. A.)
FF. Joints neither clavate nor crested. \
G. Low, slender species, scarcely, if at all, tuberculate.. Series 10. Salmianae (S. A.)
GG. Tall, stout species, the tubercles broad or flat;
leavestlarg ec yenra rmdir at yae earns rath Series 11. Subulataz (S. A.)
DD. Joints strongly tuberculate, the tubercles elevated.
E. Tall, shrubby species; joints cylindric................ Series 12. Miquelianae (S. A.)
EE. Low, prostrate species; joints clavate (transition to
Me PRLOCACLUS) I Take See He ee teres ee Series 13. Clavatae (N. A.)
BB. Branches 1 to few-jointed, the short joints usually clustered.... Subgenus 2. TEPHROcAcTUs (S. A.)
C. Joints, at least some of them, cylindric, tuberculate, the
tubercles contiguous (transition to Cylindropuntia) Series 1. Weberianae
CC. Joints globose to oblong, mostly little, if at all, tuberculate.
D. Areoles normally bearing many long white hairs, which
often cover the whole plant....................... Series 2. Floccosae
DD. Areoles without hairs.
FE. Spines, when present, at least some of them, modified
into/fiat, papery processeS............5...-++-.5-0- Series 3. Glomeratae
EE. Spines, when present, all subulate or acicular, terete or
somewhat hattencderncneernT riemete emir: Series 4. Pentlandianae
OPUNTIA. 45
Key To SUBGENERA AND SERIES OF OpuNTIA—continued.
AA. At least some of the joints flat or compressed.................... Subgenus 3. PLATYOPUNTIA
B. Stems perennial, stout or slender.
C. Plants branching from near or at the base, not forming erect,
cylindric unjointed trunks; flowers mostly large.
D. Epidermis glabrous or pubescent, not papillose-tuberculate
when dry.
E. Flowers perfect; petals obovate to oblong.
F. Fruit a juicy berry (exceptions in Series 5, Basilares).
G. Joints readily detached.
H. Joints very readily detached; low, mostly small-
‘ jointed species.
I. Joints little flattened, subterete (transition to
CMERUPOPOTHO) o cododscasscvagddargevesod~ Series 1. Pumilae (N. A.; S. A.)
II. At least the ultimate joints distinctly flattened.
J. Ultimate joints or all joints turgid.......... Series 2. Curassavicae (N. A.; S. A.)
JJ. Ultimate joints flat and thin............... Series 3. Aurantiacae (S. A.)
HH. Joints less readily detached; mostly taller and
larger joimtedispecieseeae hiner tannic eon Series 4. Tunae (N. A.; S. A.)
GG. Joints not readily detached, persistent.
H. Areoles small, 1 to 2 mm. in diameter, not ele-
vated, mostly close together................ Series 5. Basitlares (N. A.)
HH. Areoles larger, mostly distant.
I. Prostrate or spreading species; joints relatively
small. (QO. austrina suberect.)
J. Joints not tuberculate.
K. Flowers small, brick-red................ Series 6. Inamoenae (S. A.)
KK. Flowers large, yellow................... Series 7. Tortispinae (N. A.)
JJ. Joints strongly tuberculate................ Series 8. Sulphureae (S. A.)
Il. Bushy, depressed or tall species.
J. Spines, when present, brown or yellow (white
in O. setispina).
K. Spines brown, at least at the base or tip.
IL. Bushy or depressed species.
MERE ttthyenyasinallemem eerie ae: Series 9. Strigiles (N. A.)
MM. Fruit large.
We Qolnes ACCME. So oudscosacacnanc Series 10. Selispinae (N. A.)
NIN, Somes Gel wlM@,oecacsocavouonone Series 11. Phaeacanthae (N. A.)
LL. Tall species, sometimes with a definite
trunk (O. galapageia sometimes de-
pressed).
M. Spines several at each areole........ Series 12. Elatiores (N. A.; S. A.)
MM. Spines, when piesent, 1 to few at each
areole aM any ese vacreats eiakod tor Series 13. Elatae (S. A.)
KK. Spines, if any, yellow, at least partially.
L.. Epidermis glabrous.
M. Areoles close together, bearing long
LO wlWOOlAMee eens arn Series 14. Scheerianae (N. A.)
MM. Areoles distant, without long wool. Series 15. Dillenianae (N. A.)
LL. Epidermis, at least that of the ovary,
pubescentia-Wia sosc se eee eee Series 16. Macdougalianae (N. A.)
JJ. Spines, when present, white (or faintly yellow).
K. Epidermis pubescent.
L. Spines, when present, acicular.......... Series 17. Tomentosae (N. A.)
LL. Spines several, setaceous, flexible........ Series 18. Leucotrichae (N. A.)
KK. Epidermis glabrous.
L. Areoles bearing long, soft hairs......... Series 19. Orbiculatae (N. A.)
LL. Areoles without long hairs.
M. Joints green or bluish green.
N. Spineless, or with few, usually short,
SPINES MH Meter oe A aT tee Series 20. Ficus-indicae (N. A.; S. A.)
NN. Spiny, atleast old jointsso........ Series 21. Streptacanthae (N. A.; S. A.)
MM. Joints blue..... apehta tae ahta abe ieee Saeco Series 22. Robustae (N. A.)
JIN, INE Chay, WO TUNAVccoogoddcccuccunobodnoDdDoooUoN Series 23. Polyacanthae (N. A.)
EE. Flowers dicecious; petals very narrow................ Series 24. Stenopetalae (N. A.)
DD. Epidermis densely papillose-tuberculate when dry........ Series 25. Palmadorae (S. A.)
CC. Plants with erect, unjointed trunks, the branches with flat
joints; flowers mostly small.
D. Flowers small; joints spreading.
E. Joints all flat, relatively thick....................... Series 26. Spinosissimae (N. A.)
EE. Some joints terete, others flat and very thin.......... Series 27. Brasilienses (S. A.)
DD. Flowers large; joints ascending.....................-.- Series 28. Ammophilae (N. A.)
ID, Suews choca, weny Senret os onococncaccoevcouneocunueonDs Series 29. Chaffeyanae (N. A.)
46 THE CACTACEAE.
Subgenus 1. CYLINDROPUNTIA.
Includes the many-jointed species in which none of the joints is at all flattened.
Series 1. RAMOSISSIMAE.
The series consists of a single bushy species, with slender joints, the nearly flat tubercles
diamond-shaped and contiguous, the acicular spines, when present, usually only 1 at an areole.
1. Opuntia ramosissima Engelmann, Amer. Journ. Sci. II. 14: 339. 1852.
Opuntia tessellata Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 309. 1856.
Frutescent, bushy, sometimes 2 meters high, the branches gray, often widely spreading, and 9 cm.
long; tubercles low, slightly convex, 4-angled to 6-angled, giving the surface an appearance of being
covered with diamond-shaped plates; leaves ovoid,
1 to 3 mm. long, acute; areoles on young shoots
circular, with white or tawny wool and pale glochids,
the upper part in age compressed into the narrow
slit between the two adjoining tubercles, the lower
part depressed-linear, with a slightly elevated border;
spines often wanting, but when present abundant,
usually one at each areole, rarely 2, porrect, acicular,
sometimes 6 cm. long, usually reddish when young,
covered by loose, yellow, papery sheaths; flowers,
including ovaries, 3 to 4 cm. long; sepals subulate,
similar to the leaves of the ovary, but longer; petals
greenish yellow, tinged with red, obovate, aristulate,
about 1 cm. long; stamens greenish yellow; anthers
orange-colored; style and stigma-lobes cream-colored;.
ovary narrowly obconic, covered with emarginate
tubercles, the areoles bearing wool and long glochids,
but no spines; fruit dry, obovate, 2 to 2.5 cm. long,
covered with clusters of weak, slender spines, appear-
ing like a bur; seeds few, white, 5 mm. broad.
Type locality: In California, near the Colo-
rado River.
Distribution: Southern Nevada, western
Arizona, southeastern California, northwestern
Sonora and probably northeastern Lower Cali-
fornia.
The flowers of this species have been described as purple, apparently erroneously.
This species is found in the most arid deserts of the southwestern part of the United
States, usually growing on low hills, and is confined chiefly to the lower Colorado; it is
here rather inconspicuous and might easily be overlooked. It is one of the least succulent
species of the genus, the terminal shoots soon becoming hard, and hence the plant is
difficult to propagate from cuttings, and is rarely found in greenhouse collections.
Opuntia tessellata cristata Schumann (Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 8:70. 1898) is a striking
monstrosity which Schumann has described and figured.
Illustrations: Cact. Journ. 1: pl. [1]; Cycl. Amer. Hort. Bailey 3: f. 1549; Pac. R. Rep.
4: pl. 21; 24, f. 20, all as Opuntia tessellata.
Figure 54 represents a spiny branch drawn from a specimen sent by Mr. S. B. Parish
from Barstow, California, in 1915; figure 55 shows a portion of an unarmed branch sent
by the same collector from the same locality.
Fics. 54, 55.-—Opuntia ramosissima. 0.75.
Series 2. LEPTOCAULES.
Bushy species, with slender joints, the ultimate ones 4 to 15 mm. thick, often readily detached;
the flowers small.
Inhabitants of the southwestern United States, Mexico, northern South America, and
one species in Santo Domingo.
OPUNTIA. 47
KEY TO SPECIES.
Ultimate joints short, usually at right angles to the branches, 4 to 7 mm. thick.
Bushy plants, 1.5 meters high or less; fruit small, fertile.
Branches scarcely if at all tuberculate.
Leaves ovoid to ovoid-subulate; young areoles long-hairy........................... 2. O. mortolensis
Weayes linear wareolesmotlong-hainyeee er ene coer ae eee 3. O. leptocaulis
BranichesHongatuberctila tees ruscce we reu ree aera eI ee ease, cee Seed See ese 4. O. tesajo
Elongated plants, up to 2 meters long; fruit larger, sterile.........................2.0-0-. 5. O. caribaea
Ultimate joints longer, 8 to 15 mm. thick, usually at an acute angle to the branches.
Jomtslonlyislighthyptuberculatests sage hese es ru ere ate na ee Ee ae ee iene 6. O. arbuscula
Jointsymanitestivatubercilatenceyay 1 yor eicrar ei eerie clon Ne ee elec on ea seteierac 7. O. kleiniae
2. Opuntia mortolensis sp. nov.
Slender, 6 dm. high or less, dull green, with dark blotches below the areoles, the ultimate twigs
short, sometimes only 2 cm. long, 4 to 5 mm. thick, scarcely tuberculate; leaves ovate to ovate-
subulate, 2 to 4 mm. long, green, with acute bronze-colored tips; young areoles with numerous, early
deciduous, weak white hairs sometimes longer than the leaves, and several brown glochids; areoles
of old branches with solitary acicular spines 3 to 5 cm. long, these with tightly fitting brownish sheaths;
flowers and fruit unknown.
Described from No. 25360, New York Botanical Garden, received from the garden of
Sir Thomas Hanbury, La Mortola, Italy, in 1906. Mr. Berger has referred this specimen
to Opuntia leptocaulis longispina, but this was considered by Dr. Engelmann as the “usual
western form” of O. leptocaulis.
An herbarium specimen collected by Rose, Standley, and Russell at Empalme, Sonora,
Mexico, March 11, 1910 (No. 12644), appears to be referable to this species.
The short leaves and long-hairy young areoles appear to distinguish this plant from
O. leptocaulis.
Illustration: Gard. Chron. III. 34: f. 37, as Opuntia leptocaulis longis pina.
Plate vi, figure 1, represents a branch of a plant sent from La Mortola, Italy, in 1906;
figure 2 shows a leafy twig of the same plant.
3. Opuntia leptocaulis De Candolle, Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 17: 118. 1828.
Opuntia ramulifera Salm-Dyck, Hort. Dyck. 360. 1834.
Opuntia gracilis Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 172. 1837.
Opuntia fragilis frutescens Engelmann, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 5: 245. 1845.
Opuntia virgata Link and Otto in Forster, Handb. Cact. 506. 1846.
Opuntia vaginata Engelmann in Wislizenus, Mem. Tour North. Mex. 100. 1848.
Opuntia frutescens Engelmann, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 6: 208. 1850.
Opuntia frutescens brevispina Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 309. 1856.
Opuntia frutescens longispina Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 309. 1856.
Opuntia leptocaulis brevispina S. Watson, Bibl. Index 1: 407. 1878.
Opuntia leptocaulis vaginata S. Watson, Bibl. Index 1: 407. 1878.
Opuntia leptocaulis stipata Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 456. 1896.
Opuntia leptocaulis longispina Berger, Bot. Jahrb. Engler 36: 450. 1905.
Usually bushy, often compact, 2 to 20 dm. high, but sometimes with a short, definite trunk 5 to 8
cm. in diameter, dull green with darker blotches below the areoles, with slender, cylindric, ascending,
hardly tuberculate branches; branches, especially the fruiting ones, thickly set with short, usually
spineless joints spreading nearly at right angles to the main branches, very easily detached; leaves
green, awl-shaped, 12 mm. long or less, acute; spines usually solitary at young areoles, very slender,
white, at areoles of old branches 2 or 3 together, 2 to 5 cm. long or less; sheaths of spines closely fit-
ting or loose and papery, yellowish brown to whitish; areoles with very short white wool; flowers
greenish or yellowish, 1.5 to 2 cm. long including the ovary; sepals broadly ovate, acute, or cuspidate;
ovary obconic, bearing numerous small woolly brown areoles subtended by small leaves, its glochids
brown; fruit small, globular to obovate or even clavate, often proliferous, red or rarely yellow, ro
to 18 mm. long, turgid, slightly fleshy; seeds compressed, 3 to 4 mm. broad, with narrow, often
acute, margins.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Southwestern United States and Mexico.
This species has a wide distribution for an Opuntia, extending from southern United
States to Puebla, Mexico.
48 THE CACTACEAE.
The great variation in the length of the spines and in the character of the spine sheaths
has led to the description of several varieties. These all seem to us to merge into the one
species, as above indicated. It sometimes hybridizes with O. imbricata. See C. B.
Allaire’s plant from San Antonio, New Mexico.
The following names, Opuntia leptocaulis laetevirens Salm-Dyck (Hort. Dyck. 184.
1834), O. gracilis subpatens Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 73: 1850), and O. lepto-
caulis major Toumey (Cycl. Amer. Hort. Bailey 3: 1152. 1901) are printed but not described.
Illustrations: Bull. Torr. Club 32: pl. 10, f. 9; Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: pl. 21, in part;
Safford, Ann. Rep. Smiths. Inst. 1908: f. 12; Emory, Mil. Reconn. app. 2. i, 12s IPAS. R.
Rep. 4: pl. 20,f. 1; pl. 24, f. 13 to 15, all as Opuntia vaginata. Cact. Journ. 1:154, as Opuntia
Fic. 57—Opuntia leptocau- FIG. 58.—Opuntia ca-
Tlic. 56.—Opuntia leptocaulis in the foreground. lis. X0.4. ribaea. X0.66.
frutescens. Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 20, f. 4, 5; pl. 24, f. 19, all as Opuntia frutescens brevis pina.
Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 20, f. 2, 3; pl. 24, f. 16 to 18, all as Opuntia frutescens longis pina.
Plate vi, figure 3, represents a fruiting branch from a plant collected by Dr. Rose near
Sierra Blanca, Texas, in 1913; figure 4 shows a fruiting branch from another Texas plant
obtained by the same collector. Figure 56 is from a photograph taken by Dr. MacDougal
near Tucson, Arizona, in 1913; figure 57 represents a branch with young leafy shoots, of a
specimen collected by Dr. Rose in 1913 at Laredo, Texas.
4. Opuntia tesajo Engelmann in Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 448. 1896.
Bushy, 3 dm. broad and high; joints slender, indistinctly tuberculate, 2 to 5 cm. long; areoles
5 to 6 mm. apart; leaves awl-shaped, 2 to 4 mm. long, often red; spines at first 2, small, dark brown,
4 to 8 mm. long, either erect or reflexed; later a long central spine develops, this porrect, 5 cm. long,
yellow near the tip; flowers yellow, small, 1.5 to 1.8 em. long, including the ovary; style whitish;
stigma-lobes 5, yellowish.
Type locality: In Lower California.
Distribution: Central part of Lower California.
The type of this little-known species should be in the herbarium of the Missouri
Botanical Garden, at St. Louis, but it can not now be found. The species has been in
cultivation at La Mortola, Italy, but it does not do well under cultivation. Dr. C. A.
Purpus, who has collected the plant in Lower California, regarded it as related to O.
ramosissima, Claiming that the stems have the peculiar marking of that species. This
BRITTON AND ROSE PLATE VI
M. E. Eaton del.
1, 2. Branches of Opuntia morxtolensts.. 5. Flowering branch of Opuntia arbuscula.
3, 4. Branches of Opuntia leptocaulis. 6. Flowering branch of Opuntia kleiniae.
(All natural size. )
50 THE CACTACEAE.
6. Opuntia arbuscula Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 309. 1856.
Opuntia neoarbuscula Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: 260. 1908.
Forming a bush 2 to 3 meters high, often with a rounded, very compact top with numerous
short branches; trunk short, 10 to 12 em. in diameter, with several woody branches; ultimate joints
5 to 7.5 cm. long, 8 mm. in diameter, with low, indistinct tubercles; leaves small; spines usually 1,
but sometimes several, especially on old joints, porrect, up to 4 cm. long, covered with loose straw-
colored sheaths; flowers greenish yellow tinged with red, 3.5 cm. long; fruit often proliferous, some-
times only one-seeded.
Fic. 60.—Opuntia arbuscula.
Type locality: On the lower Gila near Maricopa village.
Distribution: Arizona and Sonora.
Opuntia congesta Griffiths (Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: 88, pl. 2, f. 4, 7; pl. 8; pl. 13, f. 5.
1909), from the description, is near this species and probably a race of it.
Races of the species differ in size, in armament, in the length of the tubercles, and in
size and shape of the fruit.
Illustrations: Ariz. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 67: pl. 6, f. 2; Bull. Torr. Club 33 Toll @, ts 38
Plant World t1'°: f. 11; Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: pl. 22; 19: pl. 23, in part, this last 25
Opuntia neoarbuscula; Carnegie Inst. Wash. 260: pl. r1, f. 95.
; Plate vi, figure 5, represents a flowering branch from Professor J. W. Toumey’s collec-
tion at Tucson, Arizona. Figure 60 is from a photograph taken by Dr. MacDougal near
Tucson, Arizona, in 1906; figure 61 is from a photograph taken by George B. Sudworth in
Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona; figure 62 shows a fruiting branch from the same collection.
BRITTON AND ROSE ¢ PLATE VII
M. E. Eaton del. 1, 3, 4
Krieger del. 2,5
1. Leafy branch of Opuntia kleiniae. 4. Flowering branch of Opuntia echinocarpa.
2. Terminal branch of Opuntia vivipara. 5. Fruiting branch of Opuntia versicolor.
3. Branch of Opuntia parryi. (All natural size. )
OPUNTIA. 51
7. Opuntia kleiniae De Candolle, Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 17: 118. 1828.
Opuntia wrighttt Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 308. 1856.
Opuntia caerulescens Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: 86. 1909.
Stems pale, glaucous, sometimes 2.5 meters tall, woody at base; tubercles long; areoles large,
a little longer than wide, filled with white wool from the very first; spines usually 1, but sometimes
more, from the base of the areole, covered with yellow sheaths, on old joints accompanied by several
bristle-like spines from the lower margin of the areole; glochids yellow to brown; leaves linear, 15 cm.
long, acute; flowers 3 cm. long, purplish; petals broad, rounded at apex; fruit red, 2 to 2.5 cm. long,
long persisting; seeds 4 to 5 mm. biog:
Fic. 61.—Opuntia arbuscula. Tic. 62.—Opuntia arbuscula. 0.75.
Type locality: In Mexico. ;
Distribution: Texas to central Mexico.
Opuntia kleiniae was originally described as without tubercles on the stems, which has
raised the question whether the plant bearing this name is properly referred; in this
respect O. arbuscula answers the description better, but it is very doubtful whether O.
arbuscula could have been known at that time.
Opuntia kleiniae has long been in cultivation and is to be seen in most collections.
In 1910 Dr. Rose collected near Alamos, Mexico, an Opuntia very similar in habit
and joints to O. kleiniae, but much more spiny.
Opuntia kleiniae cristata (Cat. Darrah Succ. Manchester 55. 1908) is a garden form.
O. kleiniae laetevirens Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 73. 1850) is only a name.
Illustrations: Abh. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. Miinchen 2: pl. 1, sec. 7, f. 9; Rep. Mo. Bot.
Gard. 19: pl. 21, in part; 20: pl. 6, in part, this last as Opuntia caerulescens.
Plate vi, figure 6, represents a flowering branch of a specimen obtained from M.
Simon, of St. Ouen, Paris, France, in 1901; plate vu, figure 1, represents a leafy branch
of a specimen collected by Dr. Rose at Ixmiquilpan, Mexico, in 1905.
Two remarkable opuntias were collected in Lower California by Dr. Rose in 1911,
but as they were not in flower or fruit, and have not developed flowers since they were
brought into cultivation, we are unable to describe them fully; they are doubtless of
this relationship and their characters are given as follows:
OPUNTIA sp.
Stems 1.3 to 2 meters high, rather weak, often clambering over bushes, 10 mm. in diameter,
woody below, pale, when dry the white epidermis peeling off; lateral branches numerous, horizontal,
52 THE CACTACEAE.
short (2 to 6 cm. long); areoles on old stems bearing 3 or 4 long (2 to 4 cm. long) needle-like brownish
spines; young areoles usually with a single spine each, filled with brown wool; glochids brown, numer-
ous sheaths on young spines straw-colored, soon deciduous; flowers and fruit unknown.
Description based on field notes and on living and herbarium specimens.
Collected by Dr. Rose on Santa Cruz Island, Gulf of California, April 1, 1911 (No. 16845).
OPUNTIA sp.
Procumbent, forming an indeterminable mass of spiny branches, 3 to 10 dm. in diameter; old
stems woody, smooth, brown, and shiny, 2 cm. in diameter; branches ro to 20 em. long, bluish green;
spines of two kinds; the 2 to 4 principal ones long (2 to 3 cm. long), needle-like, at first covered with
thin yellow sheaths, straw-colored when young, becoming purplish, finally fading to gray; secondary
spines 4 to 6, radial, inconspicuous; glochids brownish; flowers and fruit unknown.
Description based on field notes and living and herbarium specimens.
Collected by Dr. J. N. Rose on East San Benito Island, off the coast of Lower Cali-
fornia, March 9, 1911 (No. 16085). ‘This is, doubtless, the plant referred to by Walton
(Cact. Journ. 2: 137. 1899) as Q. ramosissima, but it is not that species.
Series 3. THURBERIANAE.
Bushy, arborescent, or depressed species, with slender joints, the ultimate ones tuberculate,
about 2 cm. thick or less, the areoles bearing several spines. We recognize 8 species, 7 of them
natives of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, and 1 in Lower California.
KEY TO SPECIES.
Bushy or arborescent species, 6 dm. high or higher.
Tubercles narrowly oblong, 1 cm. long or more.
Jomts:readilyadetached). 73h sch 5 oe no Re gave nuit aera eee eye eee pe Sa nee Aare Nec 8. O. vwipara
Joints not readily detached.
Longer spines 2.5 cm. long or longer.
Plowerstoran se: torscarletiis Wii ssp Secrest ec ae eaten dE On re ee en 9. O. tetracantha
Jalle yy eres O16) 9) a eRenter Meera Reet Grae bape ee taba serene a eh AE. ot ac talinta) aloto.c 10. O. recondita
Spines;2s Cm Mlon stor lessy peepee Leal cee aise are a er RS EERE Cane 11. O. thurberi
IiHoETGES lon, Cows, © ido) Sim NOS. sons gesacocoosssscscoe ssc segnvoddcdLcusseoeentes 12. O. clavellina
Depressed species, 6 dm. high or less.
Spines yellow or brown; flowers green or tinged with yellow.
Spines yellow, up to 5 cm. long; petals 1 to 1.5 em: long............................ 13. O. davisit
Spines brown, 2.5 cm. long or less; petals 2 to 2.5 em. long......................... 14. O. viridiflora
Spines WHILE seHOWELS SVE] lows cre eaters eiv eee ie yee Se oe ee eS rere 15. O. whipplet
8. Opuntia vivipara Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 52: 153. 1908.
Plant 2 to 3.5 meters high, usually several strong branches from the base, 8 to 10 cm. in diame-
ter, much branched above, but not compactly so; old stems with rather smooth bark; young branches
bluish green, slender, 1 to 2 cm. long, 10 to 12 mm. in diameter; tubercles low, oblong, 15 to 20 mm.
long; areoles when young bearing a dense cushion of yellow wool with few or no glochids; spines
1 to 4, 2 cm. long or less, porrect or ascending, covered with straw-colored sheaths; leaves small, terete,
acutish, purple; flowers numerous, borne in clusters at the top of the branches, purplish; ovary
strongly tuberculate, bearing white deciduous bristles; fruit oblong, 4 to 6 cm. long, smooth, with a
somewhat depressed umbilicus, yellowish green, spineless; seeds white, very thick, 5 mm. long.
Type locality: Near Tueson, Arizona.
Distribution: Known only from type locality.
The relationship of this species is doubtful; it resembles certain garden forms of
O. tetracantha, but differs from typical forms of that species in its much larger fruit and
seeds, different armament, and habit. “The type grew associated with O. spinosior and
O. versicolor, but there is no indication that it is the result of hybridization of those species.
Illustrations: Smiths. Misc. Coll. 52: pl. 12; Plant World 111°: f. 12.
Plate vil, figure 2, represents a branch drawn by L. C. C. Krieger at the Desert
Botanical Laboratory, Tucson, Arizona; plate vi, figure 1, is from a photograph of
the type plant taken by Dr. MacDougal in 1908.
PLATE VIII
BRITTON AND ROSE
HP
2
)
eu
LS
a
Type plant of Opuntia vivipara, near Tucson, Arizona.
A much-branched plant of Opuntia versicolor.
i.
Dre
OPUNTIA. 53
9. Opuntia tetracantha Toumey, Gard. and For. 9: 432. 1896.
Low bush, 5 to 15 dm. high, branching; central stem woody, 5 to 8 cm. in diameter; young
joints 23 to 30 cm. long, 10 to 15 mm. in diameter, purplish; tubercles at first prominent, elongated,
16 to 22 mm. long; areoles bearing wool, light brown glochids, prominent glands and spines; spines
3 to 6, usually 4, slender, somewhat deflexed, 2 to 3.5 cm. long; flowers greenish purple, 1.5 to 2 cm.
broad; fruit 2 to 2.5 cm. ong, yellowish orange to “‘scarlet,’’ nearly smooth, but rarely bearing a few
spines, deeply umbilicate; seeds 3 to 5 cm. broad, with irregular faces and a thick, spongy commissure.
Type locality: Five miles east of Tucson, Arizona.
Distribution: Known only from the region about Tucson, Arizona.
The species was originally compared by Mr. Toumey with O. thurberi, with which he
thought it to be closely associated, but differing in “its longer, more strongly deflexed spines,
smaller and different-colored flowers.”’
The type specimen was not indicated, but Toumey’s own plant, collected in 1895, which
was recently purchased by the U. S. National Herbarium, is doubtless the type.
Illustration: Bull. Torr. Club 32: pl. 9, f. 2.
Plate rx, figure 1, shows a joint painted by L. C. C. Krieger at the Desert Botanical
Laboratory, Tucson, Arizona.
10. Opuntia recondita Griffiths, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 23: 131. 1913.
“A stout broad-branched shrub, 1 to 1.5 meters in height; trunk cylindric, 4 to 7 cm. in diam-
eter, with constrictions corresponding to each year’s growth, with gray bark, and having a few lateral,
easily detachable, weakly spined joints about 10 cm. long, the remaining joints being 20 to 30 cm.
long, very spiny, in the second year about 2 cm. in diameter, tuberculate; tubercles forming a ridge,
flattening out below, above extending precipitously, about 2 to 5 cm. long, 5 to 6 mm. wide, and 4
to 5 mm. high, remaining recognizable three years, and then disappearing; areoles broadly obovate,
5 to 6 mm. in the longest diameter, in age becoming larger and more prominent, forming new wool
for several years; glochids yellow, in a thick 3 mm. long
cluster on the upper part of the areole, also smaller clusters
on the other parts of the areole, mostly at the base of the
longest and most central spine; spines first 2 to 4, later 6 to
8 or 10, upr ght, spreading, 2.5 to 5 cm. long, in cross-sec-
tion weakly circular, gray at the base, becoming deep red-
dish brown at the tips, surrounded the entire length by a
loose, comparatively bright sheath; between the spines are
scattered a few dirty-black, sheathless bristles about 6 mm.
long; leaves subulate, finely tipped, terete, 12 to 20 mm. long.
“Flowers bright purple, when open about 2.5 cm. in
diameter; petals finely and irregularly serrate, inconspic-
uously but finely irregularly notched; sepals thick, trian-
gular pointed, greenish purple; anthers greenish with purple
tinge; pistil greenish at base, with purple tinge above;
stigma-lobes 6, white; ovary obovoid, tuberculate, with small
areoles, 2 mm. in diameter, short greenish brown glochids
1 to 2 mm. long, and 1, 2, or 3 brown, caducous spines
sheathed in part; fruit not deciduous, 3 to 3.5 by 2 to 2.4
em., large, greenish yellow with a reddish tinge on the outer-
most side, only weakly tuberculate in the second year, with
projecting brownish glochids 3 mm. long; seeds white, thick,
mostly flat but often lightly angled with narrowly thickened
edges, and often somewhat concave.”’
Type locality: a Perla, Mexico.
Distribution: Known only from type locality, and,
to us, only from the description of which the above
is a translation by Mr. Russell.
Fic. 63.—Opuntia thurberi. Natural size.
11. Opuntia thurberi Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3:308. 1856.
Large bushy plants, 2 to 4 meters high; joints slender, elongated, 1.5 to 2.5 dm. long, 10 to 12
cm. in diameter; tubercles 1.5 to 2 cm. long, flattened laterally; leaves linear, 6 to 8 mm. long, spread-
54 THE CACTACEAE.
ing; spines 3 to 5, short (10 to 12 mm. long), spreading, covered with thin, brown, papery sheaths,
the lowest one stoutest; flowers 3.5 cm. broad, brownish; fruit 2 cm. to 3 cm. long, spineless; seeds
nearly globular, 4 mm. in diameter.
Type locality: Bacuachi, Sonora, Mexico.
Distribution: Western coast of Mexico.
Opuntia thurberi has long been one of our least-known species. The type, which is
but a fragment, has not been clearly associated with any recent collections, but we are
disposed now to believe that specimens collected on the west coast of Mexico by Dr. Rose
in 1910 belong here. If we are correct, it ranges from Sonora to Sinaloa, Mexico. It is
sometimes associated with Opuntia versicolor in its northern range, but is not so stout and
has fewer and longer spines.
Figure 63 is from a photograph of the type specimen.
12. Opuntia clavellina Engelmann in Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 444. 1896.
Plant 1 meter high or less, rather openly branched; ultimate joints slender, spreading or ascend-
ing, somewhat clavate, 5 to 10 cm. long, a little over 1 cm. in diameter; tubercles prominent,
5)
elongated; spines 3 to 6 in a cluster, very long, covered with loose straw-colored or brown sheaths,
the central one much longer and porrect; flowers yellow; fruit clavate, short, tuberculate.
Type locality: Near Mision Purisima, Lower California.
Distribution: Interior of central Lower California.
The above description is based on the original one and onthe type If the plant illus-
trated as cited below belongs here, this is a very distinct species, which was referred, however,
by Mrs. Brandegee to Opuntia molesta Brandegee.
Illustration: Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. 16: pl. 129, A.
Of this series there is another peculiar Lower California species, perhaps nearest O.
clavellina, but of different habit and spines. It also suggests O. tetracantha of Arizona.
It was obtained first by Dr. Rose in 1911, but was without flowers or fruit. It may be
characterized as follows:
OPUNTIA sp.
Stems slender (1 to 1.5 cm. in diameter), weak, often clambering over bushes, pale green in
color, terete, pointed, 6 to 7 dm. long; areoles set on low tubercles, circular; chief spines 2 to 6,
only slightly spreading, nearly equal, 1.5 to 2.5 cm. long, clothed with loose straw-colored sheaths
(rose-colored when very young); accessory spines 3 or 4, almost bristle-like, borne from the lower
parts of the areoles; glochids short, greenish when young, yellow in age; flowers and fruit not seen.
Collected by Dr. J. N. Rose on Cerralvo Island, off southern Lower California, April 19,
tg11 (No. 16875), and also by Nelson and Goldman on the same island in 1906 (No. 7524).
13. Opuntia davisii Engelmann and Bigelow, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 305. 1856.
Plants low, 3 to 5 dm. high, much branched, their dense covering of straw-colored spines making
them conspicuous objects in the landscape; terminal joints slender, 6 to 8 em. long, about 1 cm. in
diameter, strongly tuberculate; spines 6 to 12, unequal, the longest ones 4 to 5 cm. long, acicular,
covered with thin sheaths; glochids numerous, yellow; flowers, including ovary, 3.5 cm. long; petals
olive-green to yellow, broad, with rounded mucronate tips; ovary with large areoles bearing a few
spines each; fruit 3 cm. long, somewhat tuberculate, naked; seeds not known.
Type locality: Upper Canadian, about Tucumcari Hills, near the Llano Estacado.
Distribution: Western Texas and eastern New Mexico.
For many years this plant was not collected and the name was confused with other
species, so that at one time it was supposed to extend as far west as California. It is now
believed to have a rather circumscribed range. It is first seen going west on the Texas &
Pacific Railroad about Colorado, Texas.
The plant was named for Jefferson Davis, who was Secretary of War when Whipple’s
report was made.
BRITTON AND ROSE — PLATE IX
Krieger del. 1, 6 AMOEN BcO
Kako Morita del. 2 to5 e : ;
1. Joint of Opuntia tetracantha. 2to 5. Flowering joints of Opuntia versicolor.
6. Proliferous fruits of Opuntia fulgida. (AI natural size.)
OPUNTIA. 55
Illustrations: Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 108: pl. 6652; Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 16.
Figure 64 is copied'from the second illustration above cited.
14. Opuntia viridiflora sp. nov.
A low, round, bushy plant 30 to 60 cm. high; terminal joints 5 to 7 cm. long, 1.5 to 2 cm. thick,
often quite fragile; areoles prominent, flattened from the sides; areoles circular, filled with short,
yellow or dull-gray wool; spines 5 to 7, somewhat spreading, the longest ones 2 cm. long, dark brown
in color; glochids numerous, very short, yellow; flowers at tips of branches in clusters of 3 to 8, 3.5
to 4.5 cm. long (including ovary), ‘green, tinged with red’’; fruit strongly tuberculate, except for a
few long, deciduous bristles, with a deep umbilicus; seeds smooth, white, 3 mm. broad.
Fic. 64.—Opuntia davisii. Xo.5 Fic. 65.—Opuntia viridiflora. Xo.5. Fic. 66.—Opuntia whipplei. Xo.5
Collected in the vicinity of Santa Fé, New Mexico, altitude about 2,225 meters, by
Paul C. Standley, July 6, 1911 (No. 6493, type) and at the same locality by T. D. A. Cock-
erell in 1912, and by J. N. Rose in 1913 (No. 18776). It is quite common on the hills just
north of Santa Fé about Fort Marcy, where it is one of the dominant plants, but it was
not observed elsewhere in that region.
This species differs from Opuntia imbricata with which it is found, in its much lower
stature, more bushy habit, in its branches, spines, and smaller, differently colored flowers,
different fruit, and smaller seeds.
Figure 65 represents two joints of a specimen collected by Dr. Rose at the type locality
in 1913.
15. Opuntia whipplei Engelmann and Bigelow, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 307. 1856.
Opuntia whipplei laevior Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 307. 1856.
Low, much branched, with long, fibrous roots; areoles prominent, flattened laterally, 10 to 15
em. long, circular, filled with light-brown wool; glochids pale yellow, short; spines about 12, the
56 THE CACTACEAE.
longest about 2 cm. long, dark brown, covered with lighter colored papery sheaths; flowers yellow,
small (2 cm. broad); young ovary bearing brown spines in the axils of the leaves; fruit strongly
tuberculate, spineless, 2.5 to 4 cm. long, with a deeply depressed umbilicus, sometimes with only
one seed but usually many; seeds small, 4 cm. broad, smooth.
Type locality: About Zuni, New Mexico.
Distribution: Northern New Mexico and Arizona to southwestern Colorado and prob-
ably southern Utah. Also reported by Coulter in southern California, Lower California,
and Sonora, but not to be expected there.
Illustration: Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 24, f. 9, 10.
Figure 66 is copied from the illustration above cited.
Fic. 67.—Opuntia acanthocarpa in the foreground. Photograph by MacDougal.
Series 4. ECHINOCARPAE.
Dry-fruited, rather stout-jointed, bushy or depressed species, the areoles bearing several
spines, the flowers red, yellow, or yellowish. Four species, inhabiting the southwestern United
States, Sonora, and Lower Californja.
KEY TO SPECIES.
Tubercles elongated, 2 to 3 times as long as wide.
LOT EtE loyNTo ony, Saowhy (HMSO. 5 ogo5ng0n6ssoccccasdsseneccvuugaueckscatcontees 16. O. acanthocarpa
INE Sion orayy, Mids TMOG, ..ccogocvev0csrSooducocoescoorneue ousssveessdnens 17. O. parryt
Tubercles short, less than twice as long as wide.
Spinespwithiwinttevorrstraw-Coloredashecith Spee eri iene reece en 18. O. echinocarpa
SHES Tele WAV INES occ bobocsccodeccousnadpaesdoauacvousonatecuchanauan 19. O. serpentina
OPUNTIA. 57
16. Opuntia acanthocarpa Engelmann and Bigelow, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 308. 1856.
Much branched, 1.5 to 2 meters high; branches becoming woody, alternate, making a narrow
angle with the trunk; terminal joints 4 to 8 cm. long, strongly tuberculate; tubercles elongated,
flattened laterally; spines 8 to 25, acicular, dark brown, covered with thin and lighter colored sheaths,
2 to 3 cm. long; glochids numerous, yellow; flowers large, red to yellow, 5 cm. long, and when fully
open nearly as broad; ovary rather short, turbinate, with few prominent tubercles; fruit dry, about
3 cm. long, naked below, tuberculate above, each tubercle crowned by a cluster of 10 to 12 stout
spines; umbilicus broad and somewhat depressed; seeds 5 to 6 cm. broad, sharply angular.
Type locality: On the mountains of Cactus Pass, Arizona, about 500 miles west of
Santa Fé, New Mexico.
Distribution: Arizona and California; reported also from Utah, Nevada, and Sonora.
Illustrations: N. Amer. Fauna 7: pl. 7,8; Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 18, f. 1 to 3; pl. 24, f. rr.
Figure 67 is from a photograph by Dr. MacDougal of a plant near Pictured Rocks,
Tucson Mountains, Arizona.
17. Opuntia parryi Engelmann, Amer. Journ. Sci. II. 14: 339. 1852.
Opuntia bernardina Engelmann in Parish, Bull. Torr. Club 19:92. 1892.
Low and bush-like, 2 to 4 dm. high; joints cylindric, 7 to 30 cm. long by 1.5 to 2 cm. in diameter,
strongly tuberculate; tubercles 1 to 1.5 cm. long; areoles rather large, bearing light-brown wool,
yellow glochids, and spines; spines about 10, dark brown, the longer ones 3 cm. long, covered with
loose sheaths; flowers, several near together at ends of branches, 4 cm. long; sepals greenish or dull
red; petals yellow, obtuse; stigma-lobes cream-colored; ovary tuberculate; fruit dry, ovoid, 2 cm. long,
strongly umbilicate, when mature and fertile plump, otherwise more or less tuberculate; areoles on
the fruit large, filled with wool and glochids, those at top of fruit often with short spines; seeds
white, 4 to 6 mm. broad, beaked, the margins channeled.
Type locality: Near San Felipe, eastern slope of California Mountains—San Jacinto
Mountains.
Distribution: Interior valleys of southern California.
This is common in some of the interior valleys of southern California, although its
range has not been very definitely determined. It was first collected by Dr. C. C. Parry
in 1851 and named for him by Dr. Engelmann in 1852; but when the latter again took up
this name a few years later, he associated it with a very different species, which most later
writers and dealers accepted as the true Opuntia parryi. Water on Dr. Engelmann segre-
gated a species which he named O. bernardina, including therein Parry’s specimen, but this
was not published until after his death. We therefore regard O. bernardina as a synonym
of O. parryi, while the O. parry: of most collections becomes O. parishit. We are under
obligation to Mr. C. R. Orcutt for first calling our attention to this confusion.
Mr. Orcutt thinks that this species is near O. serpentina; but the former has larger
flowers, different spines, much less spiny fruit, and is of different habit.
Opuntia bernardina cristata Schumann (Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 12: 20. 1902), an
abnormal form, has been described.
Plate vil, figure 3, is from a plant collected by W. T. Schaller at Pala, California, show-
ing a leafy joint.
18. Opuntia echinocarpa Engelmann and Bigelow, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 305. 1856.
Opuntia echinocarpa major Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 305. 1856.
Opuntia echinocarpa nuda Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 446. 1896.
Opuntia echinocarpa parkeri Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 446. 18096.
Opuntia. echinocarpa robustior Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 446. 1896.
Opuntia deserta Griffiths, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 23: 132. 1913.
Plant usually low, but sometimes 1.5 meters high, much branched and widely spreading, with
a short woody trunk 2 to 3 cm. in diameter, in age with nearly smooth bark; joints short, turgid,
strongly tuberculate; spines numerous, when young bright yellow, when older brownish, or in age
grayish, unequally covered with thin papery sheaths; flowers yellowish, but the sepals often tipped
with red; ovary short, turbinate, densely spiny especially in the upper part; fruit dry, very spiny;
seeds somewhat angular, 4 mm. broad. ‘
58 THE CACTACEAE.
Type locality: In the Colorado Valley near the mouth of Bill Williams River.
Distribution: Nevada, Utah, Arizona, California, and Lower California.
Coulter has described three varieties of this species, none of which is quite typical, but
without seeing more specimens we can only refer them all to the species proper. His
variety parkeri seems more like a very spiny form of O. parryi. O. parkert Engelmann
(Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 446. 1896) was published as a synonym.
Mrs. Brandegee thought Opuntia echinocarpa nuda very near O. alcahes, if not identical
with it (Erythrea 5: 122).
Illustrations: Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 18, f.5 to 10; pl. 24, f.8; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 23:
132, the last as Opuntia deserta.
Plate vu, figure 4, is from a plant collected by Dr. Rose near the Salton Sink, Cali-
fornia, showing a flowering joint.
19. Opuntia serpentina Engelmann, Amer. Journ. Sci. II. 14: 338. 1852.
Cereus californicus Torrey and Gray, Fl. N. Amer. 1: 555. 1840. Not Opuntia californica Engelmann.
1848.
Opuntia californica Coville, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 13: 119. 1899.
Ascending, erect, or prostrate; branches slender, 2 to 2.5 cm. in diameter, bluish green, strongly
tuberculate; leaves minute; tubercles elevated, 1 to 1.5 cm. long, longer than broad, flattened; spines
7 to 20, brown, covered with yellowish-brown papery sheaths about 1 cm. long; glochids light brown;
flowers close together at the top of short branches, about 4 cm. broad, greenish yellow, the outer
petals tinged with red; ovary strongly tuberculate, spiny, with a depressed umbilicus; fruit dry, very
spiny.
Type locality: Near the seacoast about San Diego, California.
Distribution: Southern California and northern Lower California.
Cactus californicus Nuttall, although given in the Index Kewensis
(1: 367), was never published by Nuttall, although he did have thename
in manuscript, asstated in Torrey and Gray’s “‘Flora”’ in the place cited
above, where it was taken up as a Cereus.
Figure 68 is from a plant collected by Mr. G. Sykes near San
Diego, California.
Series 5. BIGELOVIANAE.
We recognize two species in this series, natives of the southwestern
United States and Lower California. They are low, bushy plants, with
short definite trunks densely covered with short, stout,very spiny branches,
the spines white, straw-colored, or yellow, the tubercles, at least those of
young shoots, little if any longer than broad, and considerably elevated.
Their fruits are fleshy berries.
Key TO SPECIES.
20. Opuntia bigelovii Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 307. 1856.
Usually with a central, erect trunk, 1 meter high or less, with short yy. 68 —Opuntia ser-
lateral branches, the upper ones erect; joints usually 5 to 15 cm. long, very pentina. Xo0.66
turgid, with closely set areoles and almost impenetrable armament; tubercles
slightly elevated, pale green, somewhat 4-sided, about as long as broad,1 cm. broad or less; spines,
as well as their papery sheaths, pale yellow; flowers several, borne at the tips of the branches, 4
em. long including the ovary; sepals orbicular, about 1 cm. in diameter, tinged with red; petals
about 1.5 cm. long, pale magenta to crimson; ovary 2 cm. long, its large areoles bearing brown wool
and Soa acicular spines; fruit usually naked, strongly tuberculate, the upper tubercles larger than
the lower.
OPUNTIA. 59
Type locality: Bill Williams River, Arizona.
Distribution: Southern Nevada, Arizona, California, northern Sonora, and northern
Lower California.
Illustrations: Ann. Rep. Bur. Amer. Ethn. 26: pl 12; Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. 16: pl.
128, B; Hornaday, Camp-fires on Desert and Lava, facing p. 154; Journ. N. Y. Bot. Gard.
5: f. 16; Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 19; Plant World 11”: f. 10.
Figure 69 is from a photograph by Dr. MacDougal of a plant in Pima Canyon, Santa
Catalina Mountains, Arizona; figure 70 is copied from the Pacific Railroad Report above
cited.
21. Opuntia ciribe Engelmann in Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 445. 1896.
One meter high or less, with numerous stout branches densely armed; ultimate joints 4 to 5 cm.
in diameter, strongly and regularly tuberculate, 3 cm. in diameter; tubercles about as long as broad
ZZ
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Fic. 69.—Opuntia bigelovii. Fic. 70.—Opuntia bigelovii. 0.66.
(5 to 7 em. broad); larger spines 4 to 6, stout, 2 to 3 cm. long, covered with loose yellow sheaths,
accompanied by several bristle-like spines or hairs; glochids numerous; flowers yellow; ovary some-
what bristly; fruit strongly tuberculate, 3 to 4 cm. long, spineless.
Type locality: Comondu and Loreto northward to beyond Rosario, Lower California.
Distribution: Central Lower California.
Opuntia ciribe is near O. bigeloviz, but differs from it in having less spiny stems and
globular, slightly different fruits.
Figure 71 is from a photograph of a plant collected by Dr. Rose at the head of Con-
cepcién Bay, Lower California; figure 72 is from a drawing of a joint from the same plant.
60 THE CACTACEAE.
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Fic. 71.—Opuntia ciribe. Fic. 72.—Opuntia ciribe. Xo.8.
Series 6. IMBRICATAE.
The typical species are tall, much branched, very spiny. The terminal joints are fleshy and
strongly tuberculate, the tubercles large and flattened laterally. The fruit is either smooth or
strongly tuberculate. We recognize 8 species, natives of Mexico and southwestern United States.
KEY TO SPECIES.
Joints cylindric; tubercles much flattened laterally.
Fruit smooth or but slightly tuberculate.
ID AMIAS WHAT SOMME, G Gan, Wak OF MOWs..c0coccdcodsccoobsdsanboncensnoodoboecsace 22. O. cholla
Branches relatively slender, 2 cm. thick or less.
Planteslancoustaspinesp4yatyannaleo eam etree iri eter en en er earn raN OIG 70 ZOULC)
Plant not glaucous; spines more than 4 at an areole...............................24. O. versicolor
Fruit manifestly tuberculate. :
Tall species, up to 2 or 4 meters high.
Hlowersisinallepetalsmrese crass lon Ser ir in erin eee ae en 15 Oa OSU OSN U7)
Moers JENFHOS. TAS 'D (wo) Gi Ging WOMB osaocmosoccodsonstsoccsbogorencosoucdeaoaco™ 26. O. imbricata
Low species, 6 dm. high or less.
sO wersyyel lowe eesen i rsesrsgete rien oes ep icshay tee yc eee area Ae am alg Sentanatey et reece Tages Cela aah eye aan 27. O. tunicata
Hlowersprose- colored: 5 Sev. favoteretesck sod oieudl ee ehapetinia hoe bottus ache Masa OC RUAN ore eins aera 28. O. pallida
Jointsiclavate-) tubercles mot much flattened! laterally) sce eee eee ete ace 29. O. molesta
22. Opuntia cholla Weber, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 1: 320. 1895.
Usually tree-like, 1 to 3 meters high, with a definite trunk 7 to 15 cm. in diameter; trunk
very spiny at first and becoming more spiny each year for some time, but in age spineless and
developing a smooth, brownish yellow bark; top of plant often dense and broad; joints often in
whorls, horizontal, pale, with large compressed tubercles; spines usually numerous, more or less
porrect, covered with loose brownish sheaths; glochids numerous, yellow; flowers rather small,
3 cm. broad, deep purple; fruit often 4 to 5 cm. long, usually proliferous, often in long chains of 8
to 12 individuals or forming compound clusters; seeds numerous, very small, often abortive.
OPUNTIA. 61
Type locality: In Lower California.
Distribution: Lower California.
This is one of the commonest opuntias in southern Lower California and was usually
seen by Dr. Rose at every locality visited south of Magdalena Bay on the west coast and on
the east coast as far north as Muleje. It is undoubtedly the plant referred to O. prolifera by
Mr. Brandegee, but it differs in habit and armament from that species; the fruit of O. pro-
lifera is nearly or quite devoid of seeds, while this species often has numerous small ones.
In this species, as in a few other opuntias, the fruits are quite proliferous, hanging on for a
number of years and usually remaining green. ‘They are, however, easily detached, and
on falling to the ground, readily
take root and start new colonies.
Our illustration shows some of
the fruits which have already
rooted and have developed young
joints.
The plant here described is
the true “‘cholla” of the people
of Lower California, and is the
plant cultivated under that name
by A. Berger at La Mortola from
a cutting of Weber’s type speci-
men, and by the late Mr. Darrah
at Manchester, England.
Illustrations: ‘Contr. U. S.
Nat. Herb. 16: pl. 128, a; Kar-
sten and Schenk, Vegetations-
bilder 13: pl. 17, B.
Figure 73 is from a photo-
graph of a plant collected by Dr.
Rose at Cape San Lucas; figure
74 represents a joint of the same
plant; figures 75 and 76 repre-
sent its proliferous fruits devel-
oping new joints.
23. Opuntia calmalliana Coulter,
Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. 3: 453.
1896.
“Habit and height unknown;
joints cylindrical, 1 to 2 cm. in Fic. 73.—Opuntia cholla.
diameter, glaucous, with linear-
oblong crested (mostly distinct) tubercles 20 to 25 mm. long; pulvini densely covered with yellow-
ish wool, and with a penicillate tuft of whitish bristles at upper edge; spines usually 4, the upper
one stout and porrect, reddish with yellowish tip (as are all the spines), 2 to 2.5 cm. long (occa-
sionally 1 to 2 short upper ones added), the usually 3 (sometimes 4) lower ones more slender and
sharply deflexed, 1 to 1.5 cm. long (occasionally one of them longer); flowers apparently purple;
ovary covered with very prominent woolly pulvini which are more or less bristly and spiny, but
ripening into a smooth juicy obovate fruit; seeds discoid and beaked, irregularly angular, with
broad commissure, about 4 mm. broad.’ (Coulter, /. c.)
Type locality: Calmalli, Lower California.
Distribution: Lower California.
Type in the Brandegee Herbarium, University of California.
62 THE CACTACEAE.
Referred by Mrs. Brandegee (Erythea 5: 122) to O. molesia Brandegee. It is closely
related to O. molesta, but its spines are different, though on the same general plan, and its
seeds are quite different.
Fics. 74. 75, 76.—Opuntia cholla. Xo.66. é
24. Opuntia versicolor Engelmann in Coulter, Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. 3: 452. 1896.
Opuntia arborescens versicolor E. Dams, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 14:3. 1904.
Bush or tree-like, 2 to 4 meters high, with a large, open top sometimes 5 meters broad; trunk
and larger stems woody throughout, except the younger branches; terminal joints 10 to 20 cm.
long, 2.5 cm. in diameter, variously colored, not strongly tuberculate when living; tubercles 1.5
cm. long; spines 5 to 11, 5 to 25 mm. long, dark colored, with close-fitting sheaths; glochids red-
dish brown; flowegs variously colored, yellow, greenish, reddish, or brown, 3 to 5.5 cm. broad;
ovary tuberculate, with large areoles bearing wool, glochids, and long deciduous bristles; fruit
persisting for months, sometimes for a year, 2.5 to 4 cm. long, at first somewhat tuberculate, becom-
ing pear-shaped or globose, sometimes proliferous; seeds white, 5 mm. broad.
Type locality: Tucson, Arizona.
Distribution: Arizona and northern Mexico.
This species is common on the lower foothills and is only rarely found on the mesas.
It is of slow growth, propagating almost entirely from seed. As the name suggests, it has
flowers of many colors; each plant has its own color and the color of the flowers is to a
greater or less extent paralleled in that of the branches. The contrast in color shown by
a colony of these plants is very striking and one’s first impression is that more than one
species exists.
Named specimens of this species were distributed by the late Dr. C. G. Pringle in
1881, but the species was not published until 1896.
Illustrations: Ariz. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 67: pl. 6, f. 1; Bull. Torrey Club 32: pl. 9, f.
4 to 8; Hornaday, Camp-fires on Desert and Lava, pl. facing p. 18, 116, 320; N. Mex. Agr.
Exp. Sta. Bull. 60: pl. 6, f. 1; Plant World 11°: f. 8; Sargent, Man. Trees N. Amer. f. 561.
Plate vu, figure 5, represents a fruiting joint; plate vit, figure 2, is from a photo-
graph taken by Dr. MacDougal near the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona;
plate 1x, figures 2 to 5, are paintings made at the Desert Laboratory, Tucson, Ari-
zona, by Kako Morita, showing the range in color of the flowers.
OPUNTIA. 63
25. Opuntia lloydii Rose, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: 292. 1909.
Much branched, 2 to 3 meters high and nearly as broad; joints terete, 2 cm. in diameter;
tubercles prominent, oblong; spines few, on last year’s joints 3, reddish, 1.5 cm. long; leaves terete,
6 to 8 mm. long; flowers 3 cm. long, opening after midday; petals 15 mm. long, dull purple; fila-
ments olive-green below. purplish above; style rose-colored; stigma-lobes white; ovary yellowish,
strongly tuberculate, naked; fruit 3 cm. long, yellow to orange, slightly tuberculate.
Type locality: On foot slopes, Hacienda de Cedros, Zacatecas, Mexico.
Distribution: Central Mexico.
According to F. E. Lloyd, for whom this species was named, it is known to the Mexi-
cans as tasajo macho.
We have had this plant in cultivation for several years, but it does not grow well
under glass; these specimens have white areoles; no glochids are developed the first
Fic. 77.—Opuntia lloydii. Fic. 78.—Opuntia lloydii. Photograph by F. E. Lloyd.
year, but on old branches dark-brown bunches of glochids are developed in the upper
edges of the areoles, and the several brownish spines are acicular.
Illustration: Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: f. 34; pl. 25.
Figure 77 represents two joints of the type specimen; figure 78 is from a photograph
of the type plant.
26. Opuntia imbricata (Haworth) De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 471. 1828.
Cereus imbricatus Haworth, Rev. Pl. Succ. 70. 1821.
Cactus cylindricus James, Cat. 182. 1825. Not Lamarck. 1783.
Cactus bleo Torrey, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. 2: 202. 1828. Not Humboldt, Bonpland, and Kunth. 1823.
Opuntia rosea De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 471. 1828.
Opuntia decipiens De Candolle, Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 17: 118. 1828.
Opuntia exuviata De Candolle, Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 17: 118. 1828.
Opuntia exuviata angustior De Candolle, Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 17: 118. 1828.
Opuntia exuviata spinostior De Candolle, Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 17: 118. 1828.
Opuntia exuviata stellata Lemaire, Cact. Gen. Nov. Sp. 67. 1839.
Opuntia exuviata viridior Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck.,1844. 48. 1845.
Opuntia arborescens Engelmann in Wislizenus, Mem. Tour North. Mex. 90. 1848.
Opuntia imbricata crassior Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 249. 1850.
64 THE CACTACEAE.
Opuntia imbricata ramosior Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 73. 1850.
Opuntia imbricata tenuior Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 73. 1850.
Opuntia vexans Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22:28. 1912.
Opuntia magna Griffiths, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 27:23. 1914.
Opuntia spinotecta Griffiths, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 27:24. 1914.
Tree-like, often 3 meters high or higher, with a more or less definite woody trunk 2.5 cm. in
diameter; ultimate joints 2 to 3 cm. in diameter, strongly tuberculate; leaves 8 to 24 mm. long,
terete; tubercles 2 to 2.5 cm. long, flattened laterally; spines 8 to 30, 2 to 3 cm. long, brown, covered
with papery sheaths; flowers borne at ends of branches, 4 to 6 cm. long, sometimes 8 to 9 em. broad,
purple; ovary tuberculate, bearing a few bristles from some of the upper areoles; fruit naked, yellow,
2.5 to 3 cm. long, strongly tuberculate or, when long persistent, smooth; seeds 2.5 to 3.5 mm. in
diameter.
Type locality: Unknown; introduced into England by Loddiges in 1820.
Distribution: Central Colorado to Texas, New Mexico, and central Mexico.
The plant is hardy in southwestern Kansas, and has been recorded as a native of
that State; it has existed through three winters out of doors at the New York Botanical
Garden, but has made little growth.
We have followed Schumann and Weber in uniting Opuntia arborescens and O. imbri-
cata. As thus treated, the species has a wide geographic distribution, and in our view
con sists of many slightly differing races. In its northern limits it is much smaller than in
its southern range. ;
Opuntia cristata tenuior Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1844. 49. 1845, name only),
O. decipiens major Hort. in Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1844. 49. 1845, as synonym), O.
cristata Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 50. 1842), and O. stellata Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort.
Dyck. 50. 1842) are unpublished names. O.ruthei isa garden name mentioned by Berger.
Opuntia exuviata major (Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1844. 49. 1845) is an unpub-
lished name.
Opuntia cardenche Griffiths (Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: 259. pl. 21, in part. 1908) is
described as standing between Opuntia kleiniae and O. imbricata, being stouter than the
Fic. 79.—Opuntia imbricata.
OPUNTIA. 65
one and more slender than the other. It resembles very closely specimens collected by
Dr. Rose at Ixmiquilpan, Mexico, in 1905, which we have referred to O. kleiniae.
Opuntia galeottis de Smet (Miquel, Nederl. Kruidk. Arch. 4: 337. 1858) and O.
costigera Miquel (Nederl. Kruidk. Arch. 4: 338. 1858), if really from Mexico, may belong
here, but the descriptions are indefinite. Dr. Schumann did not know them.
Opuntia mendocienses (Cat. Darrah Succ. Manchester 56. 1908) is said to be “‘ prob-
ably only a form of O. imbricata.”
Opuntia undulata Link and Otto (Verh. Ver. Beford. Gartenb. 6: 434. 1830) was not
published. According to Pfeiffer, it is the same as O. exuviata, which we refer here.
Opuntia decipiens minor (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 172. 1837) is unpublished.
Cactus subquadrifolius Mociiio and Sessé (De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 471. 1828) was given
as a synonym of Opuntia rosea and therefore belongs here.
Fic. 80.—Opuntia tunicata. Fic. 81.—Opuntia pallida.
Illustrations: Agr. Gaz. N.S. W. 22: pl. opp. p. 696; Bull. U. S. Dept. Agr. 31: pl.
5; pl. 6, f. 1; Cact. Mex. Bound. pl. 73, f. 7, 8 ; Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 135: pl. 8290; N. Mex.
Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 60: pl. 7, f. 2; Forster, Handb. Cact. ed. 2. f. 134; Mém. Mus. Hist.
Nat. Paris 17: pl. 15; W. Watson, Cact. Cult. f. 85, the last three as Opuntia rosea. W.
Watson, Cact. Cult. f. 8, in part, this as Opuntia decipiens. Ann. Rep. Bur. Amer. Ethn.
26: pl. 8, f. a; Cact. Mex. Bound. pl. 75, f. 16, 17; Gard. Chron. III. 34: f. 36; Gard.
and For. 9: f. 1; Illustr. Fl. 2: f. 2533; ed. 2. 2: f. 2992; N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 78:
pl. [10]; Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 17, f. 5, 6; pl. 18, f. 4; pl. 24, f. 12; Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22:
pl. 7, in part; all as Opuntia arborescens. Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22: pl. 6, 7, in part, these
two as Opuntia vexans.
Plate x1, figure 1, represents a joint of a plant collected by W. L. Bray in western
Texas. Figure 79 is from a photograph taken by Professor F. E. Lloyd in Zacatecas,
Mexico, in 1908.
27. Opuntia tunicata (Lehmann) Link and Otto in Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 170. 1837.
Cactus tunicatus Lehmann, Ind. Sem. Hort. Hamb. 6. 1827.
Opuntia stapeliae De Candolle, Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 17: 117. 1828.
Opuntia hystrix Grisebach, Cat. Pl. Cub. 117. 1866.
Opuntia perrita Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22:33. 1912.
66 THE CACTACEAE.
Very variable, sometimes low and spreading from the base and forming broad clumps, at other
times 5 to 6 dm. high, with a more or less definite woody stem and numerous lateral branches; joints
easily detached, sometimes short and nearly globular to narrowly oblong, 10 to 15 cm. long, strongly
tuberculate; spines reddish, normally 6 to 10, elongated, 4 to 5 cm. long, covered with thin, white,
papery sheaths; flowers 3 cm. long, yellow; petals obtuse; ovary often bearing long spines at the
areoles, but usually naked.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Highlands of central Mexico; also in Ecuador, Peru, and northern Chile.
Opuntia stapeliae has long puzzled collectors and students of cacti. We are convinced
now that it is only starved or stunted greenhouse specimens of the common O. tunicata.
When grown in cultivation, O. tunicata takes on abnormal shapes, for the joints, which
break off easily, rarely grow to their full size. Inits native home many small dwarf plants
are found everywhere about the larger plants. We have discussed this explanation of
O. stapeliae with Mr. A. Berger, and he agrees with our conclusion.
No specimens of the type of O. stapeliae are preserved in the De Candolle Herbarium.
The plant figured as Opuntia stapelie (?) by Goebel in Pflanzenbiologische (f. 36) does not
belong here. It is erect, has strongly tuberculate joints, very short spines and narrow
elongated leaves. :
Cereus tunicatus (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 170. 1837) is given as a synonym of Opuntia
tunicata, but has never been formally taken up.
We believe Opuntia hystrix Grisebach, collected by C. Wright in Cuba, belongs here,
probably being an escape from a garden. Dr. Rose examined the specimens in the Krug
and Urban Herbarium in Berlin in 1912; the loose sheaths of the spines of these specimens
are now brown, while the flowers seemed a little smaller than those of the Mexican speci-
mens. ‘The flowers were described as red.
Opuntia furiosa Wendland (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 170. 1837) is referred to O. tunicata
by Pfeiffer, while Salm-Dyck refers it to his variety O. tunicata laevior (Cact. Hort. Dyck.
1849. 73. 1850).
Illustrations: Bull. U.S. Dept. Agr. 31: pl. 4; Cact. Journ. 1: October; The Garden 62:
425; Safford, Ann. Rep. Smiths. Inst. 1908: pl. 10, f. 5; Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen f. 2;
Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22: pl. 13, 14, these two as Opuntia perrita.
Plate x, figure 1, represents a joint of a plant collected by Dr. Rose near Cuzco,
Peru. Figure 80 is from a photograph of the same plant.
28. Opuntia pallida Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 507. 1908.
Stems 5 cm. in diameter, about 1 meter high, with widely spreading branches, the whole plant
often broader than high; old areoles very spiny, often bearing 20 spines or more, often 3 to 4 cm. long,
with white, papery sheaths; young areoles bearing few spines; ovary tuberculate, the areoles
either naked or bearing a few bristly spines; flowers pale rose-colored; petals 15 mm. long.
Type locality: Near Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico.
Distribution: State of Hidalgo, Mexico.
This species is known only from near Tula, Mexico, where it was discovered by Dr.
J. N. Rose in 1905, and afterwards collected near the same station by Mr. E. W. Nelson.
It grows interspersed with O. imbricata, but is much lower in stature and has smaller leaves
and lighter-colored flowers. It is much like O. tunicata, but that species has yellow flowers
and is always smaller.
Illustration: Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 10: pl. 17, A.
Figure 81 is from a photograph of the type specimen.
29. Opuntia molesta Brandegee, Proc. Cal. Acad. II. 2: 164. 1889.
e,. Stems I to 2 meters high, or in cultivation only 6 dm. high, with few, long, spreading branches;
joints clavate to subcylindric, 10 to 40 cm. long, sometimes as much as 4 cm. in diameter at the top,
BRITTON AND ROSE PLATE X
M. E. Eaton del. 1, 4,5
Kako Morita del. 2, 3-
1. Joint of Opuntia tunicata. 2to5. Joints of Opuntia spinosior.
(All natural size.)
OPUNTIA. 67
pale green, with low, broad tubercles, these elongated and often 4 cm. long or more; leaves linear,
10 mm. long or less; spines few, 6 to 10, unequal, the longest ones 2.5 to 5 cm. long, straw-colored,
with loose, papery sheaths; flowers purple, 5 cm. in diameter; fruit ovoid, 2.5 cm. long, somewhat
spiny or naked; seeds 6 mm. in diameter, irregular in shape.
Type locality: San Ignacio, Lower California.
Distribution: Lower California.
The type of the species is deposited in the Brandegee Herbarium, now a part of the
herbarium of the University of California. Living plants have been distributed by A.
Berger from La Mortola, Italy, and are now to be found in various collections.
In the Index Kewensis, first supplement, this species is wrongly entered as Opuntia
modesta!
Figure 82 is from a photograph of a plant sent
from La Mortola, Italy, to the New York Botanical
Garden in 1913.
Series 7. FULGIDAE.
Much branched, bushy plants, usually with the termi-
nal joints very fleshy, the tubercles broad and low, about as
broad as long. ‘The species, of which we recognize five,
inhabit the southwestern United States and western Mexico.
KEY TO SPECIES.
Joints very readily detached, freely falling....... 30. O. fulgida
Joints not very readily detached, persistent.
Spines brown or reddish, at least at base.
Branches slender; fruit not proliferous.... 31. O. spinosior
Branches stout; fruit proliferous.......... 32. O. prolifera
Spines white or yellow.
Spines white; petals greenish yellow, 1 cm.
lon gtornliessitans careers o enero neon 33. O. alcahes
Spines yellow; petals red, 2 cm. long...... 34. O. burrageana
30. Opuntia fulgida Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 306.
1856.
Opuntia mamillata Schott in Engelmann, Proc. Amer.
Acad. 3: 308. 1856.
Opuntia fulgida mamillata Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat.
Herb. 3:449. 1896.
Plant sometimes 3 meters high or even more, with a
rather definite woody trunk 10 to 20 cm. in diameter,
much branched, sometimes almost from the base, and
forming a compact flattened crown; terminal joints 10 to
20 cm. long, 3 to 5 cm.in diameter, very succulent, strongly
tuberculate, easily breaking off; spines 2 to 12, yellowish
to brown, 2.5 to 3.5 cm. long, acicular, covered with loose,
papery sheaths; glochids small, whitish to light yellow; Fic. 82.—Opuntia molesta.
flowers light rose, 2.5 to 3 cm. broad; petals few, obtuse;
stamens and style very short; fruit at first tuberculate, in age smooth, somewhat pear-shaped, 2 to
5 em. long,green, usually very proliferous; seeds rather small, 4 mm. broad, often wanting.
Type locality: Mountains of western Sonora, Mexico.
Distribution: Gravelly and sandy situations, southern Arizona, Sonora, and Sinaloa.
We consider O. mamillata as synonymous with O. fulgida; in herbarium and green-
house specimens we can find no constant differences. Professor J. J. Thornber, who has long
studied this group, says there is no difference between the flowers and fruits, and that there
is no difference in distribution (Ariz. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 67: 501). In the field, however,
one can see two rather distinct forms which differ in armament, the typical plant being
the more spiny.
This is one of the most characteristic opuntias of southern Arizona, being very abun-
dant on the valley slopes and lower foothills. It often forms dense colonies almost to the
exclusion of other cacti, or it may be associated with other species, especially of Opuntia.
68 THE CACTACEAE.
It is a most troublesome plant to come in contact with, for, as the sharp, barbed spines
pierce the flesh, the joints easily break loose from the plant and are detached with difficulty
from the unfortunate victim.
The flowering season extends from early spring to September. The fruit is markedly
proliferous, often developing in chains, and so persisting for several years, possibly eight
or ten years, as suggested by Professor D. S. Johnson. They grow in chains of 8 or 9
fruits (12 to 14 have been reported), several chains hanging from a single joint and forming
a large cluster. We have seen as many as 38 fruits (40 to 50 have been reported) in a
single cluster, and doubtless under favorable conditions many more would be found.
These juicy fruits, usually spineless, are much sought by grazing animals.
According to Professor Johnson, who has studied this species several years, the seeds
are not known to germinate in nature. Only by cutting away a part of the hard, bony coat
could they be made to germinate in the greenhouse. The species is propagated easily
by the terminal joints, which come off readily and are transported far and wide like burs,
and soon strike root on reaching the soil. New plants are also started occasionally by the
fruits themselves
This species appears to hybridize with O. spinosior.
Tilusirations: Ariz. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 67: pl. 1, f. 2; Bull. Torr. Club 32: pl. 9, f. 1;
Cact. Mex. Bound. oe 75, 1. 18; Gard. and For. 8: i. 46; Hornaday, Camp-fires on Desert
and Lava opp. p. 42, 320; Lumholtz, New Trails in Mex. opp. p. 18; Monatsschr. Kakteenk.
18: 153; Nat. Cae, Mag. 21: 710; N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 60: pl. 6, f. 2; Plant
Jorld 11°: f. 1, in part; 119: i. 9, in part; Sargent, Man. Trees N. Amer. f. 559; Ariz. Agr.
Exp. Sta. Bull. 67: pl. 5, 7. 1; Cact. Mex. Bound. pl. 75, f. 19; Lumholtz, New Trails in
Mex. opp. p. 152; Nat. Geogr. Mag. 21: 710; Plant World 11°: f. 1, in part; 117°: f. 9, in
part, the last six as Opuniia mamillaia; Carnegie Inst. Wash. 269: Frontispiece; pl. 1 to
7; pL 8, f. 76 to 79; pl. 12.
Plate 1x, figure 6, represents the proliferous fruit; plate xu, figure 1, is froma photo-
graph taken by Dr. MacDougal near Tucson, Arizona, showing the typical plant to the
leit and the less spiny plant to the right.
31. Opuntia spinosior (Engelmann) Toumey, Bot. Gaz. 25: 119. 1808.
Opuniia whipplet spinosior Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3:307. 1856.
Plants 2 to 4 meters high, tree-like in habit, with a more or less definite, woody trunk, openly
branched; ultimate joints 1 to 3 dm. long, 1.5 to 2.5 cm. in diameter, often bright purple,
strongly tuberculate; tubercles about 6 to 12 mm. long, longer than broad, more or less flattened
laterally; spines 6 to 12, but on old branches sometimes as many as 25, 10 to 15 mm. long, diver-
gent, gray to brownish, covered with thin sheaths; glochids yellowish white; flower-buds short,
acute; flowers 5 to 6 cm. broad, purple to pink, yellow, or even white; petals about 10, broad at
apex, narrowed at base; style thick, cream-colored or pinkish; ovary tuberculate, bearing small,
purple leaves and long, white, easily detached bristles; fruit strongly tuberculate, spineless, “yellow,
globose to broad y oblong, 2.5 to 4 cm. long, with a depressed umbilicus; seeds white, 4 mm. broad,
smooth, with a very indistinct marginal band.
Type locality: South of the Gila River.
Disiribuiion: Arizona, western New Mexico, and northern Mexico.
Opuntia spinosior neomexicana (Toumey, Bot. Gaz. 25: 119. 1898) seems to be a
yellow-flowered form of this species. Mr. Toumey writes that his original material of
this variety came from the low foothills north of the Rillito River near Tucson.
Opuntia spinosior was described by Engelmann in 1856 as a variety of O. whipplei, to
which it is only remotely related, but it was not separated until 1898, when it was described
as distinct by Professor J. W. Toumey.
Illustrations: Ariz. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 67: pl. 1, f. 1; pl. 5, f. 2; Gard. and For. 9: f. 1;
N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 60: pl. 7, i. 1; Plant World 11”°: f. 7; Sargent, Man. Trees
N. Amer. f. 560.
TE XI
PLAT
BRITTON AND ROSE
M. E. Eaton del.
Forms of Opuntia alcahes.
Opuntia vestita.
3) fic
35
Leafy branch of Opuntia imbricata.
Ihe
6.
Flowering branch of Opuntia prolifera.
2.
(All natural size.)
OPUNTIA. 69
Plate x, figures 2 and 3, are from paintings showing different flower-colors, made at
the Desert Laboratory, Tucson, Arizona; figure 4 represents a fruiting joint of a plant
collected by F. Gilman at Sacaton, Arizona; and figure 5 represents a leaf-bearing joint
of the same plant; plate xu, figure 2, is from a photograph of the plant in the Tucson
Mountains, Arizona, by Dr. MacDougal.
32. Opuntia prolifera Engelmann, Amer. Journ. Sci. II. 14: 338. 1852.
Stems 1 to 2 meters high, the trunk and old branches terete and woody; terminal joints 3 to
12 cm. long, easily breaking off, fleshy, covered with short, more or less turgid tubercles; spines 6
to 12, brown, ro to 12 mm. long; glochids pale; flowers small; sepals orbicular, obtuse, dark red;
petals red; filaments yellow; style stout; stigma-lobes red; ovary 1 cm. long, strongly tuberculate;
upper areoles bearing 2 to 6 reddish spines or the joints naked throughout; fruit proliferous, 3 to
3.5 cm. long and often without seeds; seeds, if present, large, regular, 6 mm. broad.
Type locality: Arid hills about San Diego, California.
Distribution: Southern California and coast of Lower California.
The range of this species is not well known. We have referred here, with some doubt,
specimens collected by Dr. Rose on Guadalupe Island, off the coast of Lower California, as
well as specimens from the south end of Lower California, but we have seen no flowers from
these Lower California collections. A peculiar form less than 5 dm. high with bluish-green
joints and small seeds, from near Newport, Orange County, California, deserves further study.
This species, although common in southern California, has never been fully and accu-
rately described. It is often confused in collections with O. serpentina, with which it grows,
although they are very different.
In greenhouse specimens the joints and spines are not well developed.
Illustration: Meehan’s Monthly 3: pl. 1. y
Plate x1, figure 2, represents a flowering joint of a plant col-
lected by E. W. Nelson and EF. A. Goldman in Lower California,
which bloomed at the New York Botanical Garden in April 1914.
Figure 83 represents a joint of a plant sent from La Mortola,
Italy, in 1912; figure 84 is from a photograph of this plant.
Of this relationship, but of very different habit, is the species
collected by Dr. Rose on West San Benito Island in 1911. Unfor-
tunately no flowers or fruits could be obtained, and hence we have
not named it here. It may be briefly characterized as follows:
OPUNTIA sp.
Low, much branched plants; joints short (10 em. long), thick, and
fleshy; leaves cylindric, 10 mm. long, acute; areoles distant, circular,
bearing brown wool, tawny glochids and numerous spines; spines 6 to
8, often 4 cm. long, slender, reddish brown, inclosed in loose, thin, brownish
sheaths. Collected by Dr. J. N. Rose on West San Benito Island, off
the west coast of Lower California, March 9, 1911 (No. 16043).
33. Opuntia alcahes Weber, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 1:321. 1895.
Plant about 1 meter high, much branched, very spiny, especially when Frye. 83.—Opuntia prolifera.
old; branches terete; spines on young joints about 12, short, covered with
white or very pale sheaths; tubercles prominent, diamond-shaped; leaves small, 1 cm. long, terete,
somewhat bronzed; sepals small, brownish, closely imbricated, hardly spreading at tips; petals
sometimes wanting, or, if present, about 1 cm. long, greenish yellow, obtuse; stamens numerous;
stigma-lobes very short, 6 to 8, at first exserted beyond the sepals, yellowish; fruit globular,
small, becoming turgid in age, yellowish, more or less proliferous, the umbilicus truncated or
slightly depressed. 4
Type locality: In Lower California.
Distribution: Lower California.
70 THE CACTACEAE.
Plate xt, figure 3, represents a leaf-bearing joint of a plant obtained by the same col-
lector on Espiritu Santo Island, Lower California; figure 4 is from a plant sent to the New
York Botanical Garden from La Mortola, Italy, in 1906. Figure 85 is from a photograph
of a plant collected by Dr. Rose at San Francisquito, Lower California.
34. Opuntia burrageana sp. nov.
Usually low and bushy, rarely 1 meter high; stems slender, r to 2 cm. in diameter, densely
spiny; leaves small, 2 mm. long, green, early deciduous; old stem and branches terete; young
Fic. 84.—Opuntia prolifera Fic. 85.—Opuntia alcahes.
joints cylindric to narrow-clavate, 15 cm. long or less; areoles closely set; tubercles rather low,
not much broader than long; spines numerous, similar, spreading, rarely 2 cm. long, all covered
with thin, bright-yellow sheaths; wool in areoles short, brown; glochids, when present, short, light
yellow; flower 3 to 4 cm. broad; petals few, brownish red with green bases; filaments green; stigma-
lobes white; ovary very spiny; fruit not proliferous, globular, 2 cm. in diameter, somewhat tuber-
culate, probably dry; seeds pale, 4 mm. in diameter.
Common on the hills along the coast of southern Lower California.
/
BRITTON AND ROSE PLATE XIl
1. Plants of Opuntia fulgida. 2. A very open plant of Opuntia spinosior.
—
OPUNTIA. 71
The following specimens were collected by Dr. J. N. Rose in 1911: Near Pichilinque
Island (No. 16533, type); near San José del Cabo (No. 16468); near Cape San Lucas
(No. 16379); on Carmen Island (No. 16630); on San Josef Island (No. 16552).
Plate xiv, figure 1, is from a plant collected by Dr. Rose on San Josef Island, Lower
California, in 1911, which flowered the next year at the New York Botanical Garden.
Series 8. VESTITAE.
The series Vestitae contains three or perhaps four species, two of which possibly represent green-
house forms of species of Tephrocactus, natives of the high Andes. ‘They are low species with elon-
gated cylindric joints sometimes arising from subglobose ones, and form a connecting link between
the true species of Tephrocactus and Cylindropuntia. Opuntia vestita in the field was supposed to
be a form of O. pentlandii, but in cultivation it has developed quite differently: O. floccosa, a Teph-
rocactus, sometimes develops like the Vestitae; one specimen which we have grown shows a slender
cylindric stem with few long hairs or none. Opuntia boliviana and O. pentlandit, both from Bolivia
and described at the same time by Salm-Dyck, and which we have united, seem to represent two
forms of the same species, O. pentlandii being the abnormal form. The same condition seems to
exist in O. verschaffeltii and its variety digitalis, the variety being the normal form. Schumann had
these species in his series Teretes (our series Subulatae), but O. subulata and O. cylindrica are tall
woody, much branched plants.
Key TO SPECIES.
Areoles with hairs; joints not or scarcely tuberculate.
Joints 1 to 1.5 cm. thick; spines 2.5 cm. long or less; fruit mostly sterile.................. 35. O. vestita
Joints 2.5 to 3 cm. thick; spines up to 5 cm. long; fruit many-seeded.................. . 36. O. shaferi
Areolesswithoutphairsss) OMltsidistine fliygtttb exert at eles rrersr eens natn evrner nee f merrier erreur tiene none 37. O. verschaffeltit
Ofrthishseries ese Gece eee say facodeg a (asc tear HL neta ti Nee leat apes ede eyrd eacrepn (eaten ste baneriabs cate 38. O. hypsophila
35. Opuntia vestita Salm-Dyck, Allg. Gartenz. 13: 388. 1845.
Opuntia teres Cels in Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 898. 1898.
Roots fibrous; stems much branched, weak, forming small clumps 3 dm. broad or less and nearly
as high, fragile; joints short or elongated, becoming in greenhouse cultivation 2 dm. long or more, ob-
long or cylindric, 1 to 1.5 cm. thick, very spiny, easily breaking apart; areoles circular, conspicuous,
bearing short wool, spines, and several long hairs; spines about 6 in each cluster, acicular, brownish,
2 to 2.5 cm. long; leaves minute, acute; flowers small, including the ovary; 2 cm. long, deep red; petals
1 cm. long; areoles on ovary conspicuous, filled with white wool and long hairs; fruit red, usually
sterile, globular or a little longer than broad, usually naked, generally truncate at apex, often bearing
small spiny joints at the areoles.
Type locality: In Bolivia.
Distribution: Common on the sterile hills about La Paz, Bolivia.
Specimens were collected by Miguel Bang some years ago and segregated as a new
species by the late Karl Schumann, but this was never published; others were obtained by
Dr. H. H. Rusby in 1885, and by R. S. Williams in 1901. It was again collected by Dr.
Rose in 1914, and living plants are now growing at the New York Botanical Garden. As
seen wild, it is a strange little plant, growing in low clumps, its fragile stems easily breaking
apart, especially at the terminal joints. The bright red fruits remain on the parent plant
until they produce a number of spiny joints, often as many as five, which, after falling
off, strike roots and start new colonies.
Dr. Rose suspected at the time he collected his material that it might be Opuntia
vestita, and suggested that it should be carefully compared with it. This he was not able
definitely to prove in the field, but the living specimens sent to the New York Botanical
Garden put out new branches which are long, slender, and cylindric, and are devoid of long
acicular spines, quite unlike the wild plants but almost identical with the specimens re-
ceived from La Mortola, Italy, some years ago as O. vestita.
Opuntia teres Cels must belong here, at least in part. Weber states that the flowers
are very similar to O. vestita, while the fruit is said to be small, red, and proliferous, just as
found in O. vestita. The leaves are described as 2 cm. long, however, and there is a pos-
sibility that O. exaltata may be partly represented in the description, as we find herbarium
material of both species, from Bolivia, mounted on the same sheet.
72 THE CACTACEAE.
Plate x1, figure 5, shows the plant collected by Dr. Rose in 1914; figure 6 is from a
plant received from La Mortola, Italy, in 1912.
36. Opuntia shaferi sp. nov.
Plants in clusters of 2 to 4, erect, about 3 dm. high; joints terete, 2.5 to 3.5 cm. in diameter,
elongated, very spiny; tubercles low, often indistinct; leaves deciduous, 6 mm. long; areoles 1 cm.
apart or less, circular, white-felted; glochids numerous, whitish from the upper margin
of the areole; spines about 6 at an areole, brownish, acicular, often 4 to 5 cm. long
and associated with long white hairs; flowers not known; fruit globular, about 2 cm.
in diameter, bearing numerous large areoles, the areoles white-felted, with glochids and
hairs, but no spines; seeds turgid, pointed at base, 4 mm. long.
A}
So
r
risus Wis a
Collected by J. A. Shafer among stones between Purmamaria and Tum-
baya, Argentina, February 6, 1917 (No. go).
Nearest O. vestita but less cespitose, taller and larger, and with fertile fruit.
37. Opuntia verschaffeltii Cels in Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 898. 1898.
Opuntia verschaffeltii digitalis Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 898. 1898.
Forms low, in dense clumps, much branched; joints globular to short-cylindric
1 to 4 cm. long, somewhat tuberculate, pale green; spines 1 to 3, yellowish, weak, A
and bristle-like, 1 to 3 cm. long; in cultivated plants joints elongated, 6 to 21 cm. AY Ne
long, slender, 1 to 1.5 cm. in diameter, strongly tuberculate, spineless; glochids few, ‘SAS
white; areoles narrow, longer than broad, filled with short white wool.
ary
Dale
SA
year
Type locality: In Bolivia.
Distribution: Bolivia.
In 1914 Dr. Rose collected this species on the barren hills about La Paz,
Bolivia, and from his observations it seemed to be only a form of Opuntia
pentlandii. In cultivation, however, it behaves very differently from his spec-
imens of the latter, and in fact has developed a phase very unlike its normal
type but identical with other greenhouse specimens sent out by Mr. Berger
some years ago under the name of O. verschaffeltit.
Opuntia digitalis Weber (Dict. Hort. Bois 898. 1898) was given as a
synonym of O. verschaffelti digitalis.
Figure 86 represents an elongated joint, from a greenhouse specimen; this f
grew from the short normal joint, collected by Dr. Rose near La Paz, Bolivia,
in 1914.
38. Opuntia hypsophila Spegazzini, Anal. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires III. 4:509. 1905.
Cespitose, branching, small, 5 to 10 cm. high, pale green; joints
globose to cylindric, 1.5 to 3 cm. long; tubercles depressed; spines 3 to
5, subulate, weak, spreading, white at first, in age brownish; flowers
and fruit unknown.
Type locality: In the Province of Salta, Argentina, in the
Andes, at an altitude of 2,500 to 4,000 meters.
Distribution: Salta, Argentina.
We do not know this species, but Dr. Spegazzini thought —
it might be a Tephrocactus and associated it with Opuntia jy, g6—Opuntia verschaffeltii.
verschaffeltrt digitalis. X0.66
Series 9. CLAVARIOIDES.
This series is the same as the Etuberculatae of Schumann and contains but a single species,
recorded as a native of Chile. According to Schumann, the stems are cylindric to clavate, not
tuberculate, the leaves are small and caducous, and the spines are very small and appressed. The
fruit is said to contain one woolly seed.
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39. Opuntia clavarioides Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 173. 1837. :
Low, much branched, grayish brown, 4 dm. high or less, truncate or cristate at apex; joints not
tuberculate, rather fragile, short-cylindric or clavate, 1.5 cm. in diameter; leaves minute, 1.5 mm.
OPUNTIA. 73
long, reddish, caducous; areoles minute, closely set, filled with wool and minute spines; spines 4 to
10, white, appressed; flowers 6 to 6.5 cm. long; sepals linear, pointed, reddish; petals light brown,
narrowly spatulate, slightly crenate; ovary bearing minute leaves with wool and short bristles in their
axils; filaments white, shorter than the petals; style white, with 7 stigma-lobes; fruit ellipsoid, 1.5
cm. long, one-seeded.
Type locality: In Chile.
Distribution: Originally described from Chile, but often referred to Mexico.
Very little is known of this species, although it was described as long ago as 1837, and
it is rare in collections. We have never seen it in flower and have seen only one record of
its flowering in cultivation. The peculiar structure of the stem, narrow petals and single
_lanate seed, join a combination of characters separating it from other opuntias, and lead
Schumann to refer it to a distinct series which he calls Eiuberculatae. ‘The question has
been raised in our own minds if this is a true Opuntia. In cultivation the plant is usually
grafted on some Platyopuntia.
Variety cristata is offered in the trade journals.
Opuntia mucrothele, Cereus clavarioides, and Cereus sericeus are usually given as
synonyms, but all these were cited by Pfeiffer (Enum. Cact. 173. 1837) as synonyms
of this species at the place commonly given as their first
publication. The varieties fasciata Schumann (Mon-
atsschr. Kakteenk. 10: 159. 1900), fastigiata Mundt
(Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 3: 30. 1893), and monstruosa
Monville (Labouret, Monogr. Cact. 489. 1853) are anom-
alous greenhouse forms.
Illustrations: Gartenflora 44: f. 7; Monatsschr. Kak-
teenk. 3: 9; 16: 169; Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen f.
104; Gard. Chron. III. 30: f. 75, this last as Opuntia
clavarioides cristata.
Figure 87 is copied from the illustration used by
Schumann cited above.
Series 10. SALMIANAE.
This series (Frutescentes of Schumann), by some supposed to
be composed of five species but here treated as containing but one, Fic. 87.—Opuntia clavarioides grafted on
is confined to central South America. It is characterized by another species.
slender, bushy, often vine-like habit, terete branches, and red
fruit, the latter crowned by proliferous spiny joints. Seeds are unknown. Greenhouse specimens
often resemble Opuntia leptocaulis, but the flowers are somewhat larger, and the spines are not
sheathed.
40. Opuntia salmiana Parmentier in Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 172. 1837.
Opuntia spegazzinii Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 898. 1898.
Opuntia albiflora Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen Nachtr. 152. 1903.
A bushy plant, 3 dm. to 2 meters high, much branched at base; branches often weak, terete,
1.5 cm. in diameter or less, often purplish, etuberculate; areoles small, bearing wool, yellow glochids,
and spines; spines sometimes wanting, usually several, 1.5 cm. long or less, white; flowers 2 to 3.5
em. broad, scattered along the stem; buds pinkish or even scarlet; petals obovate, pale yellow to
white, sometimes tinged with pink; stamens and style short; stigma-lobes yellowish green; fruits
sterile, clavate, scarlet, with few or no spines.
\
Type locality: In Brazil.
Distribution: Southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina.
After careful consideration, we have combined three species of Schumann’s series
Frutescentes into one. We have examined considerable living material and all the illus-
trations, but have found no grounds for separating the group into species. All were
described as proliferous and sterile. O. spegazzinit was supposed to be unarmed, but this
74. THE CACTACEAE.
character is not constant; flower differences are described, but these are inconstant. One
species, O. albiflora, has already been referred to synonymy.
Opuntia salmiana is said to have come from Brazil, but no definite locality is given for
it, and it has not been collected there in recent times. If really from Brazil, and there is
no good reason to question this reference, it is doubtless from the southern part, possibly
on the border of Paraguay; indeed, O. albiflora, one of the three, was described from a
Paraguay collection; the other, O. spegazzinii, is a native of the deserts of northern Argentina.
Cactus salmianus Lemaire (Cact. 87. 1868, name only) has been referred here as a
synonym; as has also O. floribunda Lemaire (Cact. Gen. Nov. Sp. 68. 1839).
Opuntia schickendantzii Weber, included by Schumann in this relationship, we refer
to our series Aurantiacae.
Fic. 89.—O. salmiana. Xo.6.
Fic. 88.—Opuntia salmiana.
Opuntia wagnert Weber in Gosselin (Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 10: 393. 1904), de-
scribed without flower or fruit, is probably to be referred here; at least Roland-Gosselin
believed it to be of this group. We have not seen any of the specimens from Chaco,
Argentina, obtained by M. Emile Wagner in 1902.
Illustrations: Bliihende Kakteen 3: pl. 123; Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 76: pl. 4542; Fl. Serr. 7:
pl. 670; Jard. Fleur. 2: pl. i94; Loudon, Encycl. pl. ed. 3. f. 19406; Pfeiffer and Otto, Abbild.
Beschr. Cact. 1: pl. 6; Castle, Cactaceous plants f. 15; Bliihende Kakteen 2: pl. 103, this
last as Opuntia spegazzinii; Hogg, Veg. King. 340. f. 111.
Figure 88 is from a plant in the greenhouses of the United States Department of Agri-
culture at Washington; figure 89 represents a joint of a plant collected by Dr. Rose at
Cérdoba, Argentina, in 1915.
OPUNTIA. 75
OPUNTIA MALDONADENSIS Arechavaleta, Anal. Mus. Nac. Montevideo 5: 286. 1905.
Cespitose, erect; branches cylindric, entangled or intertwined; joints 3 to 10 cm. long, about 2
cm. in diameter, the terminal ones obovate-spherical, dark green to olive-colored; areoles each sur-
rounded by a violet blotch, small or prominent, orbicular; spines 5 or more, stout, spreading, elon-
gated, unequal, the longest one 2 to 2.5 cm. long, reddish to brown; flowers and fruit unknown.
Type locality: Punta Ballena, near Maldonado, Uruguay.
Distribution: Uruguay.
This species, referred to the subgenus Cylindropuntia by Arechavaleta, inhabits the
coast of Uruguay and is known to us only from description; we append it to the series
Salmianae, but its nearest relationship may be elsewhere.
Series 11. SUBULATAE.
This series is confined to South America and represents a very distinct group, differing greatly
from the tall cylindric-jointed species of North America. They lack sheaths to the spines, and the
typical species has elongated persistent leaves. Although several of the species have long been in
cultivation, at least two of them being known only from garden plants; for a long time the flowers
were unknown and the plants were as frequently called Cereus or Pereskia as Opuntia.
KEY TO SPECIES.
Leaves long-persisting, elongated.
Meavesiipitor2emieslong-ispinesyellowiShiwihite ces ee iene rarer ee een 41. O. subulata
LEANIES 1 WO) 7/ Cine Ioarss Gomes luna coagadorecnssovcunubodgcudnonndondsorconabons sos 42. O. exaltata
Leaves early deciduous, short.
Shuetin 1 seer Inyo IeaNSS ZL toate, IONS 55 soon omeswnudsbboosuoKob denon enen hoon veo Debate > 43. O. pachypus
Suse G KO AL WHS lovkealnis MGENVSS WO) wo} 115} saab WOW coro oodscohoceocerbebsoudnecusunenoones 44. O. cylindrica
41. Opuntia subulata (Miihlenpfordt) Engelmann, Gard. Chron. 19: 627. 1883.
Pereskia subulata Mihlenpfordt, Allg. Gartenz. 13: 347. 1845.
Opuntia ellemeetiana Miquel, Nederl. Krudk. Arch. 4: 337. 1858.*
Opuntia segethii Philippi, Bot. Zeit. 26: 861. 1868.
Wither with a simple erect stem or with several main branches from the base, 2 to 4 meters high;
trunk 6 to ro cm. in diameter, the old bark smooth and brown, its areoles bearing clusters of 8 spines
or more; branches numerous, more or less clustered but not whorled, at first almost at right angles
to main stem but soon erect, bright green; leaves persistent, green, nearly at right angles to branch,
straight or somewhat bowed above, nearly terete, pointed, 5 to 12.5 cm. long, grooved on the under
side; tubercles large, depressed, becoming obliterated on old branches, arranged in longitudinal or
spiral lines, more or less diamond-shaped, but retuse at apex and pointed or attentuate below, 2 to
4 cm. long; areoles in the retuse grooves of the tubercles bearing a few short yellow spines or some-
times spineless, but usually having 1 or 2 slender spines; flowers borne toward the ends of the branches;
sepals reddish, minute, 4 to 8 mm. long or less; petals broader than the sepals, orange or greenish
yellow; style rose-red except the whitish base, including the stigma-lobes about 3 cm. long, about as
long as the longest stamens; stigma-lobes 5 or 6, slender, orange-yellow; fruit oblong, more or less
persistent, 6 to 10 cm. long, leafy, with a deep umbilicus, sometimes proliferous; seeds few, 10 to 12
mm. long.
Type locality: Valparaiso, Chile, but doubtless described from cultivated plants.
Distribution: Chile is usually given as the home of this plant, but it is not found wild
there. It may be a native in Argentina.
This species has long been in cultivation, it having originally been sent from Valpa-
raiso, but Dr. Rose did not find it wild there or in any other part of Chile. It is rarely seen
in cultivation in Chile. For many years it passed as a species of Pereskia, but in 1883 Dr.
George Engelmann pointed out that it could not be retained in that genus and transferred
it to Opuntia. The leaves are the largest in the genus, and it has larger seeds than any
other Opuntia.
We have referred Opuntia ellemeetiana (originally described from Chile), a species
with very long leaves, to O. subulata, although we have never seen specimens. Schumann
did not know it and only lists it.
*Schumann says 1859.
76 THE CACTACEAE.
We have been able more definitely to refer here Opuntia segethi, for we saw not only
Philippi’s type specimens in his herbarium, but also living specimens grown from Philippi’s
original stock. The type specimen was from plants cultivated at Santiago, but in a later
publication he states that his species grows spontaneously near Arequipa. A part of this
latter material is preserved in his herbarium at Santiago, which Dr. Rose was able to study;
he also examined the Arequipa plant alive, and is convinced that it is quite different, being
the plant common in Peru and Bolivia described below as Opuntia exaltata.
Illustrations: Engler and Prantl, Pflanzenfam. 3": f. 56, L; Gard. Chron. III. 34: f.
33, 38; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 8: 7; 9: 183; Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen f. 103; Neub.
Gart. Mag. 1893: 291, this as Pereskia subulata; Bot. Zeit. 26: pl. 13, C. f. 1; Gartenflora 32:
pl. 1129, f. 5, the last two as Opuntia segethit.
Figure 90 is from a photograph of a plant
at the New York Botanical Garden grown
from a cutting brought by Mrs.H. L. Britton
from the Riviera, Italy, in 1907.
42. Opuntia exaltata Berger, Hort. Mortol. 410.
1912.
Stem 2 to 5 meters high, with a definite trunk
5 to 30 cm. in diameter when well grown, much
branched; ultimate joints fleshy, easily detached,
somewhat curved upward, clavate, strongly tuber-
culate; tubercles large, 1.5 to 3 cm. long, more
or less diamond-shaped, elevated, and rounded;
areoles rounded, filled with short white wool; glo-
chids often wanting, when present brown; leaves
fleshy, terete, 1 to7 cm. long; spines on young joints
1 to 5, mostly 1 to 3, dark yellow or brownish,
unequal, the longest ones 5 cm. long; spines on old
wood numerous, sometimes 12 or more, often 13
em. long, brown, with roughened tips; flowers, in-
cluding ovaries, 7 cm. long; sepals and petals brick-
red; outer sepals ovate, small, the inner ones pass-
ing into petals; petals 2 cm. long, broadly obovate
to broadly spatulate, sometimes nearly truncate
at apex; stamens numerous, short, pinkish above,
nearly white below; style swollen below, pinkish;
stigma-lobes greenish; ovary 4 cm. long, deeply
umbilicate, with large flat tubercles; areoles on
ovary circular, filled with short brown and white
wool, long, loosely attached brown spines, and a few
shorter glochids, and subtended by small, tardily de-
ciduous leaves; fruit green, pear-shaped, 9 cm. long,
usually sterile; seeds large, irregular, 10 mm. broad.
Fic. 90.—Opuntia subulata.
Type locality: Not cited; described from cultivated plants.
Distribution: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and probably northern Chile.
This Opuntia is called pataquisca by the Cuzco and Arequipa Indians, and is also
known as espina.
This species was the most widely distributed Opuntia seen by Dr. Rose on the west
coast of South America; but it is difficult to decide whether it is really native there, for it
is widely cultivated as a hedge plant in many places. It seems to be native along the
upper Rimac of central Peru; at least it is well established on the hills. Although very
common in southern Peru and about La Paz, Bolivia, it is probably introduced for it grows
only about towns and cultivated fields and seems never to produce fertile fruit. About
Cuzco it is likewise cultivated, but maybe a native there also, for the fruit is generally fertile.
BRITTON AND ROSE PLATE XIII
1. Opuntia exaltata as seen in the highlands of Peru.
2. Clump of Opuntia floccosa as it grows in the valleys of the Andes of eastern Peru.
OPUNTIA. Lal
Opuntia maxillare Roezl (Morren, Belg. Hort. 24: 39. 1874), published without
description and probably collected in the high mountains above Lima, may belong here.
Opuntia cumingu, of European gardens, belongs here. It was briefly mentioned in
the journal of the Berlin Cactus Society (Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 7: 160. 1897), but not
formally described. Schumann referred it to O. pentlandit.
This species is near Opuntia subulata, but probably is distinct, although it is not
always easy to distinguish them in greenhouse plants. Berger speaks of the similarity
of the two as follows:
“This new species stands very close to O. subulata, and may be easily mistaken for it, but when
grown side by side the differences are quite obvious. OQ. exaltata is a taller plant with generally
longer branches, and somewhat glaucous instead of grass-green. The tubercles are more elongated
and differently marked. ‘The leaves are shorter, the spines, when young, are not white, but yellowish
brown, generally stouter and stiffer. I have not yet seen a flower of it.
It is an old inhabitant of our gardens.”’
Plate xu, figure 1, is from a photograph taken by Hiram
Bingham, July 7, 1912, near Tipon, Cuzco Valley, Peru, showing
the plant near the upper left-hand corner; plate xv, figure 1, repre-
sents a leaf-bearing joint of a plant sent to the New York Botanical
Garden from La Mortola, Italy, in 1915; figure 2 represents the
lower part of a fruiting branch obtained by Dr. Rose at Cuzco,
Peru, in 1914.
43. Opuntia pachypus Schumann, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 14:26. 1904.
Plant about 1 meter high, much branched and candelabrum-like;
branches cylindric, 3 to 5 cm. in diameter, either straight or curved, marked
with broad tubercles; leaves subulate, pointed, constricted at the base, 4
mm.long, early deciduous; areoles circular, borne at the upperedges of the
tubercles, 4 mm. in diameter, filled with short wool; spines 20 to 30, subu-
late, 5 to 20 mm. long; glochids yellow; flowers scarlet, 7 cm. long, including
the ovary; petals variable, the longest ones 1.4 cm. long; style very thick, 9
mm. long; stigma-lobes 5 mm. long; ovary more or less spiny.
Type locality: Near Santa Clara, Peru.
Distribution: Central Peru, near the coast.
We know this species only from the description and illustra-
tions. In 1914 Dr. Rose made several unsuccessful efforts to find
it at Santa Clara, the type locality.
Fic. 91.—Opuntia pachypus.
Illustrations: Engler and Drude, Veg. Erde 12: pl. 5°; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 14: 27.
Figure 91 is copied from the second illustration above cited.
44. Opuntia cylindrica (Lamarck) De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 471. 1828.
Cactus cylindricus Lamarck, Encycl. 1:539. 1783.
Cereus cylindricus Haworth, Syn. Pl. Succ. 183. 1812.
More or less branched, 3 to 4 meters high, the old trunk becoming smooth; joints cylindric,
obtuse at apex, green, with slightly elevated tubercles; leaves deciduous, 10 to 13 mm. long, terete,
acute; areoles depressed, filled with white wool, bearing some long hairs and at first 2 or 3, afterwards
more, short white spines (spines often wanting on greenhouse plants); flowers appearing just below
the ends of the terminal branches, small, inconspicuous, about 2.5 cm. broad, scarlet; petals small,
erect, obtuse; stamens numerous; style slender, 2.5 cm. long; ovary strongly tuberculate, depressed
at apex; fruit about 5 cm. long, yellowish green; seeds more or less angled, 4 to 6 mm. in diameter.
Type locality: In Peru.
Distribution: Highlands of Ecuador and Peru.
The home of this species is usually given by recent writers as Chile, but Lamarck, who
described it first in 1783, said it came from Peru. Dr. Rose, who visited Peru and Chile in
78 THE CACTACEAE.
1914, was not able to find it wild in either country but found it abundant in Ecuador
in 1918. This species was introduced into England in 1799, but flowers were not known
until about 1834.
There are two abnormal forms in cultivation which are offered under the names variety
cristata and monstruosa. Several varieties of this species are given in catalogues: cristata
(Haage and Schmidt, Haupt-Verzeichnis 1908: 228. 1908); cristata minor Haage and
Schmidt (Verzeichnis Blumenzwiebeln 1913: 37. 1913); and robustior (Haage and Schmidt,
Haupt-Verzeichnis 1908: 228. 1908).
Illustration: Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 61: pl. 3301; Carnegie Inst. Wash. 269: pl. 10, f. 88.
Plate xiv, figure 2, shows a leaf-bearing top of a plant grown at the New York
Botanical Garden.
Series 12. MIQUELIANAE.
Bushy plants, with elongated cylindric bluish joints; tubercles large, elevated; leaves minute,
early deciduous. ‘The series consists of but one species, confined to the deserts of northern Chile.
45. Opuntia miquelii Monville, Hort. Univ. 1: 218. 1840.*
Opuntia pulverulenta Pfeiffer, Allg. Gartenz. 8: 407. 1840.
Opuntia pulverulenta miqueliti Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyk. 1844. 49. 1845.
Opuntia geisset Philippi, Anal. Univ. Chile 85: 492. 1894.
Opuntia rosiflora Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 686. 1898.
Often growing in colonies 2 to 5 meters broad; stems cylindric, much branched, usually less than
1 meter high, but occasionally 1.5 meters high, with numerous lateral branches; branches rather
short, usually only 8 to 20 cm. long, thick (5 to 6 cm. in diameter); old branches bluish green, with
low tubercles sometimes 2 cm. long; young joints bright green, with high tubercles flattened laterally ;
spines tardily developing, but formidable on old branches, very unequal, in clusters of 10 or more,
the longest ones nearly 10 cm. long, whitish in age; glochids numerous, brownish, caducous; leaves
minute, 2 to 3 mm. long; areoles circular, when young filled with white wool, in age somewhat ele-
vated on the areoles; flowers rather variable in length, 4 to 8 cm. long including the ovary, rose-
colored to nearly white; petals broad, apiculate, 2 to 2.5 cm. long; filaments rose-colored; ovary
strongly tuberculate; areoles filled with numerous brown glochids and subtended by minute leaves;
style white; stigma-lobes green; fruit ovoid to oblong in outline, nearly white; umbilicus truncate;
seeds small, 4 mm. broad.
Type locality: In South America, but no definite locality.
Distribution: Province of Atacama, Chile.
Opuntia miquelit and O. pulverulenta have long been considered identical. We have
not seen the types of either, but are following such authorities as Salm-Dyck (in 1850),
Labouret (1853), and Riimpler (1885) in uniting them. They seem to have been pub-
lished in the same year.
Opuntia geissei, according to a statement made to Dr. Rose by Juan Sohrens, of San-
tiago, is the same as O. muiquelii, and this the former was able to verify by later herbarium
and field studies.
Opuntia rosiflora Schumann was based on Philippi’s unpublished name O. rosea; while
O. rosea was made by Philippi the type of O. geissei. This is clearly shown by Philippi’s
herbarium, where he has erased the name O. rosea and substituted O. geissei. Dr. Rose
also obtained from William Geisse a part of Philippi’s original specimen, which came, as the
label states, from near Bandurrias, in the valley of Carrizal, in the Province of Atacama.
Later on, while making field observations in Atacama, Dr. Rose found this species very com-
mon from north of Castillo to Vallenar. This is in the general region of O. geissei (O. rosea
and O. rosiflora) and in the river valley of the Huasco. Huasco, the type locality of
O. miquelu, is 25 miles lower down this valley, and we have no hesitancy in uniting them all.
Although this species is not uncommon in cultivation, it has rarely been seen in flower,
and we believe that the fruit has not heretofore been described.
*Schumann states that this book was published in 1839.
BRITTON AND ROSE
PLATE XIV
M. E, Eaton del.
1. Flowering branch of Opuntia burrageana. 3, 4.
2. Opuntia cylindrica. 5)
Joints of Opuntia stanlyi.
Flowering joint of Opuntia macrorhiza.
(All natural size.)
OPUNTIA. 79
Dr. Rose observed a single plant infested by Loranthus aphyllus, the parasite which is
so abundant on Cereus chiloensis.
Opuntia heteromorpha Philippi (Anal. Mus. Nac. Chile 18917: 28. 1891) we refer here
on the authority of Schumann, but we have seen no specimens, the type specimen being
missing from the Philippi herbarium in Santiago; it was collected at Chiquito, Tarapaca,
Chile.
Dr. Weber thought that Opuntia segethit belonged here, but we have referred it to
O. subulata.
Opuntia carrizalensis Philippi is only mentioned by Schumann. (Gesamtb. Kakteen
Nachtr. 152. 1903). It is doubtless to be referred here.
Plate xvi, figure 1, is from a plant collected by Dr. Rose at Vallenar, Chile, in r914.
Series 13. CLAVATAE.
Here we include nine prostrate or spreading, low species, natives of the southwestern United
States and Mexico, characterized by clavate joints and by sheathless spines, although rudimentary
sheaths have been observed on young spines in some of the species; they appear to form a transition
between the subgenus Cylindropuntiaand the South American subgenus Tephrocactus, from which they
differ essentially in having clavate joints.
KEY TO SPECIES.
Spines flattened.
Stems very stout.
Stans Inereallhy Gewenes Ovaiay Wear wellhys oncooseacuoncobonsanaunuonneeensvesesadcaes 46. O. invicta
Stemsristricthyaclavateyovanvaonlyaslichthyapri chivas eee par eae ae arian mn ene 47. O. stanlyt
Stems more slender and weak.
Sjortarss loro nay, Slsavclsse, hoyarsy (i, uo) © Cao, Mhoyats))o ose cc casucnoasokcudvondsounevsandeoneens 48. O. schottit
Spines stout, white, when old very flat.
BRAS On. Cneiny GinGl qe VAIO +- bo on owegesoddcossbangeuudndavstousabuanenupeas 49. O. clavata
IBTGHeS Ol Cyeiny EiaGl 1EABINE ROY ob coovencnencacghocsoaccudadcadcoupneboconsndnye 50. O. parishii
Spines terete, elongated, and flexible, or the central ones somewhat flattened.
Flowers pinkish or purple.
IDRCQUSS OM CHAIY TMCS, COP. 6 -ooonscnnsdoosonosoneseconvondousednonue™s 51. O. pulchella
Bristlesyon ovary Lew, y white gi ciers ine ouete che meee NIN eure eit cee hier earn RR ears 52. O. vilis
Flowers yellow.
Spinesicompanativelysshortsswollenvatibasesen iar ne entire irate 53. O. bulbispina
Spineshlonpaandatlexiblemsnotssw oll enkaityaSeerireica er: tyrone nent arene ie 54. O. grahamii
46. Opuntia invicta Brandegee, Proc. Calif. Acad. II. 2: 163. 1889.
Plants growing in large clusters 2 meters in diameter and 2 to 5 dm. high, with many ascending
or spreading branches; joints obovoid to clavate, dark green, 8 to 10 cm. long, strongly tuberculate;
tubercles large, flattened laterally, 3 to 4 cm. long; areoles large, 1 to 1.5 cm. in diameter; leaves
linear, 8 to 14 mm. long, reddish, curved, acute, deciduous; spines very formidable, when young
reddish or purple with carmine-red bases, chestnut-brown at tips and grayish between, but in age
dull in color; radial spines 6 to 10; central spines 10 to 12, much stouter than the radials, strongly
flattened; wool white; glochids few, white, 2 to 4 mm. long; flowers yellow, 5 cm. in diameter; sepals
ovate, acuminate; ovary 2 cm. in diameter, almost hidden by the numerous reddish, acicular spines;
seeds yellowish, 2 mm. broad.
Type locality: About San Juanico, Lower California.
Distribution: Central Lower California, at low elevations.
Mr. Brandegee has called attention to the strong resemblance in habit of this species
to some of the species of Echinocereus, and Dr. Rose states that when he first saw it he
supposed it to be some strange Echinocereus. It grows in great tufted masses and does
not suggest in the remotest degree any of our North American opuntias. The species
clearly belongs to Engelmann’s series Clavatae, where it was placed by Schumann, who
associated it with O. cereiformis, but it is undoubtedly much nearer to O. stanlyi. So far
as we know, the plant has never been in the trade; it does not succeed well in cultivation.
Considerable living material was brought back by the Albatross in 1911, most of which was
sent to the New York Botanical Garden; but some of the plants were sent to collections at
St. Louis, Washington, and Los Angeles.
Illustration: Cact. Journ. 1: February.
80 THE CACTACEAE.
Plate xvi, figure 2, represents a plant collected by Dr. Rose at San Francisquito,
Lower California, in 1911.
47. Opuntia stanlyi Engelmann in Emory, Mil. Reconn. 158. 1848.
Opuntia emoryi Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3:303. 1856.
Opuntia kunzet Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 505. 1908.
Stems low, usually less than 3 dm. high, much branched, creeping, forming broad, impenetrable
masses 2 to 3 meters in diameter; joints ro to 15 cm. long, clavate, more or less curved, strongly
tuberculate; tubercles 3 to 4 cm. long, flattened laterally, 4 to 6 cm. apart; spines numerous, stout,
elongated, somewhat roughened, reddish brown, the larger ones strongly flattened, 3.5 to 6 cm. long;
flowers yellow, 5 to 6 cm. broad; fruit ovate, clavate at base, yellow, 5 to 6 cm. long, very spiny,
with a depressed umbilicus; seeds flattened, 4.5 to 6.5 mm. in diameter.
Type locality: On the del Norte and Gila, New Mexico.
Distribution: Southwestern New Mexico to eastern Arizona and adjacent Mexico.
O. stanlyi was first found October 22, 1846, by W. H. Emory on his first trip across
the continent; he reported the plant as abundant on the Del Norte and Gila. There
has been much speculation as to what this species is, for no specimens were preserved. Dr.
George Engelmann, who named the species, based it upon a sketch made by the artist of
the expedition, Mr. J. M. Stanly. By a reference to Emory’s itinerary we find that on
October 22, 1846, he was in southwestern New Mexico. In 1908 Dr. Rose visited this
region where he collected the various species of cacti to be found there. The only plant
which we know from that part of New Mexico which could represent O. stanlyi is Opuntia
emory1; this was the conclusion reached by Wooton and Standley, who, in their Flora of
New Mexico, have restored the name O. stanly.
We have referred Opuntia kunzei here because recent specimens sent in by Dr. Kunze
have taken on a phase very much like the true O. stanlyi. There is a possibility that O. kunzei
should be maintained, for we are not altogether convinced that certain material we have
seen should be merged into O. stanlj1. To clear up this point, it is hoped that someone
will collect and preserve a full series of specimens showing flowers, fruits, and seeds.
Illustrations: Emory, Mil. Reconn. App. 2. f. 9; Amer. Garden 11: 531?; Cact. Journ.
1: 154; Cact. Mex. Bound. pl. 70, 71, these last three as Opuntia emoryi; Hornaday, Camp-
fires on Desert and Lava opp. p. 116, this as Opuntia kunzet.
Plate xiv, figure 3, represents a plant collected by Dr. R. E. Kunze near Gunsight
Mountains, Arizona, in 1912; figure 4 shows a leaf-bearing joint of the same plant.
48. Opuntia schottii Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 304. 1856.
Prostrate, rooting from the areoles, forming dense clusters sometimes 2 or 3 meters in diameter ;
joints clavate, curved, ascending, easily breaking off, 6 to 7 cm. long, 2 cm. in diameter at thickest
part, strongly tuberculate; leaves subulate, bronze-colored, 6 to 8 mm. long, acuminate; areoles 1
to 1.5 cm. apart; spines white and sheathed when young, soon brown, the larger ones sometimes as
many as 12, very slender, sometimes 6 cm. long, somewhat flattened; wool white when young, turning
brown; glochids white when young, turning brown, 4 mm. long or less; flowers yellow, 4 cm. long
including ovary; sepals narrow, acuminate; petals acuminate; fruit yellow, narrowly oblong in out-
line, a little narrowed at base, 4 cm. long, closely set with areoles bearing numerous short spines,
bristles, and white wool, the umbilicus depressed; seeds yellow, flattened, 4 mm. in diameter, notched
at base.
Type locality: Arid soil near the mouth of the San Pedro and Pecos, western Texas.
Distribution: Southern and western Texas and northern Mexico.
Opuntia schottit greggii Engelmann (Cact. Mex. Bound. 68. pl. 73, f. 4. 1859), which
came from near San Luis Potosi, Mexico, where it was collected by Dr. J. Gregg, in Decem-
ber 1848, is much out of the range of the normal form and probably belongs elsewhere; but
no specimens have been examined except the type, whichisfragmentary. Engelmann at
first considered it a distinct species.
Illustration: Cact. Mex. Bound. pl. 73, f. 1 to 3. ‘
Figure 92 represents joints of a plant collected by Dr. Rose at Langtry, Texas, in 1908.
BRITTON AND ROSE
t \ PLATE XV
M. . Baton del.
1, 2. Parts of joints of Opuntia exaltata. 3. Upper part of joint of Opuntia macrarthra.
4. Upper part of joint of Opuntia tortispina. (AII natural size. )
OPUNTIA. 81
49. Opuntia clavata Engelmann in Wislizenus, Mem. Tour North. Mex. 95. 1848.
‘
Plants low, not over 1.5 dm. high, much branched at base, spreading, forming large patches
sometimes 2 meters in diameter; joints short, 3 to 7 cm. long, turgid, ascending, clavate; areoles
close together; leaves subulate, 4 to 5 mm. long; spines pale, somewhat roughened, the radial ones
6 to 12, slender and acicular, 4 to 16 mm. long; central spines 4 to 7, much longer than the radials,
more or less flattened, the largest one dagger-like; glochids numerous, yellowish, 3 to 5 mm. long;
flowers yellow, 3.5 to 4 cm. long; fruit 4 to 5 cm. long, with numerous areoles filled with yellow, radiat-
ing glochids; seeds white, 5 mm. broad.
Type locality: Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Distribution: New Mexico, chiefly in the central part of the State.
This is one of the most characteristic species of the genus and has no near relative
except O. parishi, of the deserts of California and Nevada. It.is a great pest to grazing
stock.
Illustrations: Bull. Agr. Exper. Station N. Mex. 78: pl.[1, 2], Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 22,
f. 1 to 3; pl. 24, f. 6.
Figure 93 represents joints of a plant collected by W. T. H. Long at Albuquerque, New
Mexico, in 1915.
Fic. 92.—Opuntia schottii. Xo 75. Fic. 93.—Opuntia clavata. Xo.75.
50. Opuntia parishii Orcutt, West Amer. Sci. 10: 81. 1896.
Stems low, creeping, rooting along the under surface and forming dense, broad clusters; terminal
joints short, clavate, ascending but almost hidden under the dense armament; tubercles prominent
but short, 5 to 7 mm. long; spines at first reddish but soon grayish and finally nearly white; radial
spines numerous, slender; central spines about 4, strongly angled and more or less flattened, 2 to 4
cm. long; glochids numerous; flowers not known; fruit 5 cm. long, the numerous large areoles bearing
many long yellow glochids and short spines forming a radiating band about the margin; seeds dark,
4 mm. broad.
Type locality: Mohave Desert.
Distribution: Southern California and Nevada.
The species here described is the Opuntia parryi as described by Engelmann in 1856,
although he then suspected it was different from that species. It has been renamed
Opuntia parishit by Orcutt, who wrote as follows:
“We propose this name for that interesting plant of the Mohave desert region, hitherto called
O. parryi, and under which it has been well described. The Messrs. Parish have hardly earned this
light honor in many laborious trips through these desert regions, and I take pleasure in dedicating
this species to them; Opuntia parryi (type from San Felipe), along with bernardina and echinocar pa,
and a bewildering host of nameless forms, I unhesitatingly class under serpentina!”’
Illustrations: Cact. Journ. 1:132; N. Amer. Fauna 7: pl. 10; Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 22, f.
4 to 7; pl. 24, f. 7, all as Opuntia parryt.
Figure 94 represents joints of a plant collected by S. B. Parish in southern California.
82 THE CACTACEAE.
51. Opuntia pulchella Engelmann, Trans. St. Louis Acad. 2: 201. 1863.
Low, 10 to 20 cm. high, densely branched, sometimes forming compact heads 6 dm. in diameter;
main stem more or less definite, covered with areoles bearing yellow glochids 10 to 12 mm. long;
lateral joints 5 to 6 cm. long, narrowly clavate, strongly tuberculate, purplish; areoles 6 to 8 mm.
apart, 2 to 3 mm. broad; spines ro to 16, slender, reddish, the longer ones 5 to 6 cm. long, somewhat
flattened; flower 5 cm. long, when open, fully as broad; petals purple, 3 cm. long; ovary 2 cm. long,
bearing numerous areoles filled with white wool and purple glochids ro to 12 mm. long; fruit about
2.5 cm. long; seeds (according to Coulter) thick and round, 4 mm. in diameter, with broad flat com-
missure.
Type locality: Sandy deserts on Walker River, Nevada.
Distribution: Nevada and Arizona.
The plant was first collected by Henry Engelmann in 1859, and brought to his brother,
Dr. George Engelmann. ‘The species does not succeed well in cultivation under glass.
Illustration: Simpson’s Rep. pl. 3.
Figure 95 is from an herbarium specimen collected by Thomas H. Means at Fallon,
Churchill County, Nevada, in 1909.
: ual
AA Ral AN
WAS
Ne
Fic. 94.—Opuntia parishii. Xo0.66. Fic. 95.—Opuntia pulchella. 0.66.
52. Opuntia vilis Rose, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: 293. 1909.
Low, creeping, often forming mats several meters in diameter and only 10 to 15 cm. high; joints
prostrate, becoming erect or ascending, the ultimate vertical ones clavate, 5 cm. long, the others 2
to 4 cm. long, very turgid, pale green, with low tubercles; leaves terete, 2 to 3 mm. long, acute, red;
young areoles bearing white wool; radial spines upward of 12, the number increasing with age by
the addition of very small whitish ones; central spines on prostrate joints 4, reddish, white-tipped,
1 to 4 cm. long, terete, slightly scabrous, with a sheath 5 mm. long, those of clavate joints white,
reddish on the upper surface at the base, and along the whole of the lower surface flattened; flowers
4 cm. long; petals brilliant purplish, 2 cm. long; filaments bright yellow with green bases; style
white; stigma-lobes yellow; fruit pale green, blackening in drying, 2 to 2.5 cm. in diameter, 2.5 to
3 cm. long, tuberculate, especially about the margin of the umbilicus, spiny, fluted above, somewhat
dry, with large white seeds.
Type locality: Foot-slopes and plains of Zacatecas, Mexico.
Distribution: State of Zacatecas, Mexico.
Illustrations: Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: pl. 27; f. 36.
Figure 96 is from a photograph of the type plant taken by F. E. Lloyd in Zacatecas,
Mexico, in 1907.
OPUNTIA. 83
Fic. 96.—Opuntia vilis.
53. Opuntia bulbispina Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 304. 1856.
Stems low, forming wide-spreading clumps 6 to 12 dm. broad; joints ovoid in outline, 2 to 2.5
em. long by 10 to 12 mm. in diameter; tubercles prominent, 6 to 8 mm. long; radial spines 8 to 12,
acicular, 3 to 6 mm. long; central spines 4, much stouter than the radials, 8 to 12 mm. long, bulbose
at base; flower and fruit not described in original description and as yet unknown.
Type locality: Near Perros Bravos, north of Sal-
tillo, Mexico.
Distribution: Coahuila and probably into Durango,
Mexico.
The type of this species was collected by Josiah
Gregg in 1848 and it has not with certainty been found
since; it has been reported from one or two localities,
but doubtless erroneously. At one time we supposed
certain plants collected by Dr. Palmer in Chihuahua
were to be thus referred. It is possible that specimens
collected by Dr. Chaffey near Lerdo, Durango, may be
referred here, as they have the short joints of this
species, but the central spines are much longer, often
reaching 2.5 to 3.5 cm.long. ‘The type is deposited in
the Engelmann Herbarium at St. Louis, and although
the material is poor, it may yet serve to clear up this i) We. vi
species definitely. ? \ (|
As stated by Coulter, this species has been re- / \
garded as the same as O. tunicata, a plant to which it y |i
is very remotely related. a
Illustration: Cact. Mex. Bound. pl. 73, f. 5, 6.
Figure 97 is copied from the illustration above cited.
54. Opuntia grahamii Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 304. Fic. 97.—Opuntia bulbispina.
1856.
Roots at first thick and fleshy, becoming woody, 2 cm. thick or more; plant low, much branched,
spreading, forming low mounds often half buried in the sand, sometimes giving off roots at the are-
oles; terminal joints erect, clavate, bright green, 3 to 5 cm. long, with large oblong tubercles; leaves
thick, bronze-colored, ovate, acute, 3 to 4 mm. long; areoles about 3 mm. broad; wool white; spines
8 to 15, slender, slightly scabrous, terete or some of the larger ones slightly compressed, white when
young, soon reddish, the longest 3.5 to 6 cm. long; glochids numerous, slender, 4 mm. long or less,
84 THE CACTACEAE.
white, turning brown, persistent on the old stems; flowers yellow, 5 cm. broad; sepals ovate, acute,
about 5 mm. long; fruit oblong to ovoid, 3 to 4.5 cm. long, its numerous areoles bearing white glochids
and some slender spines; seeds beakless, 5 to 5.5 mm. in diameter, the commissure indistinct, linear.
Type locality: Near El Paso, Texas.
Distribution: Western Texas, New Mexico, and
adjacent parts of Mexico.
This species was named for James Duncan
Graham, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, United States
Army, who died December 28, 1865, at Boston,
Massachusetts. Colonel Graham was for a time
chief of the scientific corps of the United States
and Mexican Boundary Commission, and caused
the specimens of this plant to be transmitted to Dr. HG. 68" Omintiagrahaenit Score.
George Engelmann.
The plant succeeds rather well in cultivation under glass.
Illustrations: Cact. Mex. Bound. pl. 72; Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen f. 102.
Figure 98 represents joints of a plant collected by Dr. Rose on hills near Sierra Blanca,
Texas, in 1913.
Subgenus 2. TEPHROCACTUS.
Includes all the South American species of Opuntia which have short, oblong, or globular joints.
It is hardly to be distinguished from the North American series Clavatae. Four series are recog-
nized. ‘The plants are confined to Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina. (See key to series, p. 44.)
Series 1. WEBERIANAE.
Plants low, forming dense clumps; joints subcylindric, strongly tuberculate and bearing numer-
ous spines. This series suggests Platyopuntia, while the other series show closer relationship with
the Cylindropuntia. Only one species known, inhabiting the dry part of northern Argentina.
55. Opuntia weberi Spegazzini, Anal. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires III. 4: 509. 1905.
Densely cespitose, forming clumps 2 to 3 dm. in diameter and 10 to 18 cm. high; joints yellowish
green, erect, cylindric, strongly tuberculate, 2 to 6 cm. long, 1.5 to 2 cm. in diameter, densely spiny;
: aif \V
TES Yeo
Fic. 99.—Opuntia weberi as it grows wild.
OPUNTIA. 85
leaves described as wanting; tubercles spirally arranged, obtuse, somewhat 4-angled, 5 to6 mm.
broad; areoles somewhat depressed; spines 5 to 7, brown, 3 to 5 cm. long, flexuous, the upper ones
erect; flowers borne near the top of the plant, small, solitary; ovary somewhat woolly below and with
short spines above; flower rotate, yellow; fruit dry, white, ro mm. in diameter; seeds somewhat
contorted, bony, glabrous.
Type locality: In Sierra Pie de Palo, Province of San Juan, Argentina.
Distribution: Mountains of Provinces of San Juan and Salta, Argentina.
This description, though largely drawn from Dr. Spegazzini’s full account of this
species, has been amplified from examination made of the type. Dr. Spegazzini refers it
Fic. 100.—Opuntia weberi. Natural size.
to the subgenus Tephrocactus, and we have followed him in this; but it differs widely from
any other known species of that group and its true affinity may be elsewhere. If the plant
is leafless, as Dr. Spegazzini’s description implies, this is a most interesting exception to
the character of Opuntia.
Figure 99 is from a photograph of the plant at Molinos, Argentina; figure 100 is from a
photograph of the type specimen in the collection of Dr. Spegazzini, to whom we are
indebted for both of these illustrations.
86 THE CACTACEAE.
Series 2. FLOCCOSAE.
Low plants, forming dense clumps or mounds; joints short, thick, and fleshy, usually covered
with long, white, silky hairs. The two species are common in the high valleys of the Andes of Peru
and Bolivia.
Key TO SPECIES.
Spintessyellow s Stout ies sir cenc ears cee eee ee eee Po eae eek nro rea eR Perea ec eter 56. O. floccosa
Spines white;yacicilaris. faces ccleaner Sey one ree emo ete ie oe eich a ieee rea 57. O. lagopus
56. Opuntia floccosa Salm-Dyck, Allg. Gartenz. 13: 388. 1845.
Opuntia senilis Roezl in Morren, Belg. Hort. 24:39. 1874.
Opuntia floccosa denudata Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 897. 1898.
Opuntia hempeliana Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 690. 1898.
Plant growing in clumps or low mounds sometimes 1 to 2 meters in diameter, with hundreds of
short, erect branches; joints oblong, 5 to 10 cm. long, usually hidden under a mass of long white
hairs coming from the areoles; spines usually one from an areole, sometimes as many as three, yellow,
1 to 3 cm. long; leaves minute, green or pinkish; tubercles somewhat elevated, elongated; flowers,
small, 3 cm. long, yellow; fruit globular, 3 cm. in diameter: seeds 4 mm. in diameter, with very nar-
row margins.
Fic. ror.—Opuntia floccosa.
Type locality: Said to be from vicinity of Lima, Peru, but doubtless only from the
high mountains east of Lima.
Distribution: High mountain valleys and hills of the Andes from central Peru to
central Bolivia.
O. floccosa is one of the most unusual and striking species of all the opuntias. One
who is familiar only with the opuntias of North America would not suspect that it belongs
to the genus. It does not grow on the hot mesas in the low country, as one would expect,
but in the high, cold valleys and hills near the top of the Andes. The following paragraph,
taken from John Ball’s notes, is interesting in this connection:
Reserving some remarks on the botany of this excursion, there is yet to be mentioned here one
plant of the upper region so singular that it must attract the notice of every traveler. As we ascended
from Casapalta we noticed patches of white, which from a distance looked like snow. Seen nearer
OPUNTIA. 87
at hand, they had the appearance of large, rounded, flattened cushions, some five or six feet in diam-
eter, and a foot high, covered with dense masses of floss silk that glistened with a silvery lustre. The
unwary stranger who should be tempted to use one of these for a seat would suffer from the experi-
ment. The plant is of the cactus family, and the silky covering conceals a host of long, slender,
needle-like spines, that penetrate the flesh, easily break, and are most difficult to extract. Unfor-
tunately, the living specimen which I sent to Kew did not survive the journey.
Dr. Rose found the plant very abundant in the Andes from 3,600 ta 4,260 meters
altitude, while others have reported it as high as 4,570 meters altitude. It is very common,
forming everywhere great, conspicuous, usually white mounds. Dr. Rose also found it
quite common between Cuzco and Juliaca, in southwestern Peru.
Mr. O. F. Cook, in the Journal of Heredity (8: 113. 1917), who has named this plant
the polar bear cactus, wrote of it as follows:
Many exposed slopes on the bleak plateaus of the high Andes are dotted with clumps of pure
white cacti that look from a distance like small masses of snow. On closer view, the shaggy white
hair of these cacti make them appear like small sheep or poodle-dogs, or like reduced caricatures
of the denizens of the arctic regions. We are so accustomed to think of cacti primarily as desert
plants, peculiarly adapted to hot, dry deserts, that they seem distinctly out of place on the cold
plateaus of the high Andes of southern Peru.
While most of the plants are covered with long white hairs, plants without hairs
are not uncommon. ‘These naked plants, which are characteristic of the whole clump
or colony, appear at first sight very unlike the other forms, but they grow in the same region
and have the same kind of flowers and fruits. In cultivated plants few hairs are developed.
The variety denudata Weber seems to be only one of these naked forms.
Opuntia involuta Otto (Forster, Handb. Cact. 505. 1846) was not published, but was
given as a synonym of this species. It was used the year before (Salm-Dyck, Allg. Gar-
tenz. 13: 388. 1845) as a synonym of O. vestita.
Illustrations: Engler and Drude, Veg. Erde 12: pl. 14; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 11: 41,
44, these last two as Opuntia hempeliana; Journ. Heredity 8: f. 3 to 8.
Plate xt, figure 2, is from a photograph taken by Mr. O. F. Cook in the high moun-
tains of eastern Peru. Figure ror is from a photograph of a fragment of the plant col-
lected by Dr. Rose in 1914, at Araranca, Peru.
57. Opuntia lagopus Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen Nachtr. 151. 1903.
Plants cespitose, growing in compact mounds; joints stout, cylindric, 10 cm. long, 3 to 3.5 cm. in
diameter, densely covered with long white hairs; leaves minute, hidden under the wool, 7 mm. long;
spines solitary, white, 2 cm. long, slender; glochids white, bristle-like; flowers probably red; fruit
not known.
Type locality: Mountains of Bolivia above Arequipa, Peru.
Distribution: On the plains of the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia (altitude 4,000
meters).
This species is related to O. floccosa, with which it often grows, but it takes on a very
different habit, growing in very dense, peculiar rounded mounds much higher than those
formed by O. floccosa.
Illustration: Engler and Drude, Veg. Erde 12: pl. 14.
Figure 102 is from a photograph by H. L. Tucker, near Laxsa, Peru, in 1911.
Series 3. GLOMERATAE.
Plants low, composed of globose or oblong joints, the spines, or some of them, modified into
flat papery processes. We recognize two species, confined to western Argentina.
Kry TO SPECIES.
Centralispinespapeny,radialespimesisubul ates errr cries tte: 58. O. australis
Spines, when present, all developed into long papery processes................0 2.00 e eee eeeeaee 59. O. glomerata
88 THE CACTACEAE.
Fic. 102.—Opuntia lagopus, growing in a mound.
58. Opuntia australis Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois
896. 1808.
Pterocactus valentinii Spegazzini, Anal. Soc.
Cient. Argentina 48:51. 1899.
Plants often with large roots, these 5 to8 cm.
long by 2 to 3 cm. in diameter and larger than
the parts above ground; joints described as
cucumber-shaped, usually 6 to 8 cm. long by 1 to
2 cm. in diameter, but apparently often much
smaller, tuberculate; radial spines 10 to 15,
spreading, white, short, 3 to 4 cm. long; central
spines I or 2, much longer than the radials, 2
cm. long, erect, flattened, and somewhat papery;
flowers yellow, 2 to 3 cm. broad; seeds said to
be rugose.
Type locality: Between Santa Cruz
River and the Strait of Magellan, Argentina.
Distribution: The southernmost parts of
Argentina.
We have recently examined three col-
lections of this plant made by Carl Skotts-
berg in the Territory of Santa Cruz, which in
the main agree with Weber’s description.
We have also seen Pterocactus valentinii,
which is the same as Skottsberg’s plant.
Fic. 103.—Opuntia australis.
and flower.
Showing large roots, joints,
Natural size.
Dr. Spegazzini records this species as being in Santa Cruz, Argentina; but as he regards
the plant collected there by him as only a variety of O. darwinit, we are inclined to believe
he must have collected something else.
This species, which is found at the Strait of Magellan, extends farther south than any
other cactus known to us.
OPUNTIA. 89
Figure 103 is from a photograph of an herbarium specimen collected by Carl Skotts-
berg in the Territory of Santa Cruz, Patagonia, in 1908.
59. Opuntia glomerata Haworth, Phil. Mag. 7: 111. 1830.
Opuntia articulata Otto, Allg. Gartenz. I: 116. 1833.
Cereus articulatus Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 103. 1837.
Cereus syringacanthus Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 103. 1837.
Opuntia platyacantha Salm-Dyck in Pfeiffer, Allg. Gartenz. 5: 371. 1837.
Opuntia tuberosa spinosa Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 146. 1837.
Opuntia andicola Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 145. 1837.
Opuntia diademata Lemaire, Cact. Alig. Nov. 36. 1838.
Opuntia turpinit Lemaire, Cact. Alig. Nov. 36. 1838.
Opuntia andicola elongata Lemaire, Cact. Gen. Nov. Sp. 72. 1839.
Opuntia andicola fulvispina Lemaire, Cact. Gen. Nov. Sp. 72. 1839.
Opuntia andicola major Lemaire, Cact. Gen. Nov. Sp. 72. 1839.
Opuntia calva Lemaire, Cact. Gen. Nov. Sp. 73.1839.
Opuntia platyacantha gracilior Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1844. 43. 1845.
Opuntia platyacantha monvillei Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 71. 1850.
Opuntia platyacantha deflexispina Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 245. 1850.
Opuntia papyracantha Philippi, Gartenflora 21:129. 1872.
Opuntia syringacantha Schumann, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 6: 156. 1896.
Opuntia plumosa nivea Walton, Cact. Journ: 1: 105. 1898.
Forming low, spreading clumps, the branches either erect or prostrate; joints globular, 3 to 6
cm. in diameter, often in cultivated specimens even smaller, dull grayish brown, hardly tuberculate
except in drying; areoles large, bearing numerous long, brown glochids; spines often wanting, when
present 1 to 3, long, weak, thin and papery, hardly pungent, either white or brownish, sometimes
ro em. long; flowers light yellow, small; fruit globose, 1 to 1.5 cm. long, dry; seeds corky.
Type locality: Brazil, according to Haworth,
but erroneously.
Distribution: Western Argentina. It has also
been referred to Brazil and Chile, but surely not
found in Brazil, and we should not expect it to
inhabit Chile.
The plant figured by Nicholson (Dict. Gard.
2:f. 755) as O. platyacantha hardly belongs here.
O. glomerata, which is common on the dry
hills about Mendoza, is very variable, especi-
ally as to whether it is spine-bearing or not;
while the spines—which are really not spines but
thin ribbon-like processes—vary much as to their
color, markings, and length. These variations
are partly the cause of so many synonyms for the
species. Dr. Rose, who visited the region in
which this species grows, found wide variation in
the size of the joints, as well as in the absence or
presence of spines.
Tephrocactus diadematus Lemaire (Cact. 88.
1868), 7. turpinii Lemaire (Cact. 88. 1868), Fie. 104.—Opuntia glomerata. Xo-5.
Opuntia polymorpha Pfeiffer (Enum. Cact. 103. 1837), and Opuntia turpinii poly-
morpha Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 71. 1850) are usually given as synonyms
of Opuntia diademata, but none of them was actually published. Opuntia polymorpha
Pfeiffer was used by Pfeiffer as a synonym for Cereus articulatus Pfeiffer.
Tephrocactus andicolus, T. caluus, and T. platyacanthus, all of Lemaire (Cact. 88. 1868),
without descriptions, are referred here by inference.
Spegazzini (Anal. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires III. 4: 511. 1905) describes three varieties
of this species under O. diademata, from Argentina, as follows: imermis, oligacantha, and
polyacantha; while Weber (Dict. Hort. Bois 896. 1898) under the same name describes var.
calva, but these all seem to be forms of this very variable species.
90 THE CACTACEAE.
The following varietal names, under Opuntia glomerata var. albispina Forster (Handb.
Cact. 472. 1844), var. flavispina Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1844. 43. 1845), and var.
minor Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 71. 1850), are mentioned in the places cited,
but not described.
Opuntia horizontalis Gillies (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 145. 1837) was used as a synonym
of Opuntia andicola, and should be referred here.
Opuntia pelaguensis (Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 71. 1850) was published as
a synonym of Opuntia platyacantha deflexis pina.
Opuntia andicola minor, an unpublished variety, is mentioned by name only in Monats-
schrift fiir Kakteenkunde (10: 48. 1900).
Illustrations: Cact. Journ. 1: 100, as Opuntia andicola: Engler and Prantl, Pflanz-
enfam. 3°: f. 56, K.; Gard. Chron. III. 34: f. 39; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 13: 23, these
three as Opuntia diademata. Cact. Journ. 1: February; Dict. Gard. Nicholson Suppl.
f. 607; Forster, Handb. Cact. ed. 2. f. 125; Gard. Chron. III. 23: f. 129; 29:f. 63; Gartenflora
21: pl. 721, f. 2, all as Opuntia papyracantha; Cact. Journ. 1: 105, as Opuntia plumosa
nivea.
Figure 104 represents a plant collected by Dr. Rose at Mendoza, Argentina, in 1915.
Opuntia schumanni Spegazzini (Anal. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires III. 4: 511. 1905,
not Berger, 1904) is a homonym, and we hesitate to give it a new name until it is better
known. The type comes from Salta, Argentina, from a region where we already have a
number of species of Tephrocactus. Spegazzini, who described it, says it is related to
O.diademata, which is now referred to O. glomerata, but is very distinct. It is without spines
and the flowers are unknown.
Series 4. PENTLANDIANAE.
Plants often growing in large mounds; joints globular to oblong; spines usually slender, acicular
to subulate. Seventeen species are here recognized.
Key TO SPECIES.
Spineshvenyslongyandistont ups toms | tol2oLcrs)l on seer eee eet 60. O. aoracantha
Spines slender, 10 cm. long or less.
Spines appressed to the joints.
SPOUTS) 1) 10) DO), TilerquloyISS soLbowes) 77 Gin MONS, 6 oa acnooccgunccosecouwsceuunnccucoceane 61. O. rauppiana
SITES G Ol. F7S IOVS 4B HO) A Otis ONG sacocoacenaccdsooSodecscaonwoennanacben Seoneuee 62. O. subterranea
Spines straight, not appressed.
Spines flat or semiterete.
SDINESH7 CO) TOKCMIs ON Bee -y we pers ere nose SET en ms ne ee ea eee aaa 63. O. hickenii
Longer spines 1 to 3.
Joints ellipsoid, 4 to 5 cm. thick................ eG oe ere CEQA GENE IO tes 64. O. darwiniit
joints oblong site crrbenthi ck iegs pee aa ea Une eel oe erin 65. O. tarapacana
Longer spines 4 or 5.
SPINES pea Y See eeh Neca scutes ese ese PN Sy SUR ali LENGE lot SEE SRR a gy 66. O. atacamensis
mpinessy.ellowAl near tees er mise en weet teh rca a PeaNut ok SILA 67. O. russellii
Spines terete.
Spines white, at least when young.
Joints stuberculate yy i toe cay ee sae Ve na ain pe ie) hoe ane aa ee aes a 68. O. corrugata
Joints not tuberculate.
Joints Oblon gis s07 setae seo yer a Ue a Ss ee 69. O. ovata
loin tsielo bose oy cesta avees bit i oleate eta STC ual hg Agere orale Nes aes 70. O. sphaerica
Spines yellow to brown or nearly black.
Roots large and woody; spines nearly black....................-----e0------. 71. O. skottsbergii
Roots fibrous.
SPiInes purple-black as wpe yeas MARTH te is ee Ene Pee een 72. O. nigrispina
Spines yellow to brown.
Plants forming large clumps.
Fruit about 2.5 cm. long, nearly unarmed......................... 73. O. pentlandii
Fruit 5 to 6 cm. long, copiously armed with long spines above 74. O. ignescens
Plants isolated, not forming clumps.
Oldhjointsiglobase-ispmesiacicilars pane seen ene 75. O. campestris
jointsjalltoblongeispines|subiulate seers eee eeee nent nn 76. O. ignota
OPUNTIA. gI
60. Opuntia aoracantha Lemaire, Cact. Alig. Nov. 34. 1838.
Cereus ovatus Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 102. 1837. Not Opuntia ovata Pfeiffer, 1. c. 144.
1837.
Opuntia formidabilis Walton, Cact. Journ. 1: 105. 1898.
Usually low, cespitose, forming clumps 2 to 5 dm. in diameter and sometimes 1 to 2 dm. high;
branches grayish, either erect or prostrate, made up of 5 to 10, perhaps even more, globular joints;
joints easily detached, freely rooting and starting new colonies, 5 to 8 cm. in diameter, strongly tuber-
culate especially when young, the lower part spineless, the upper areoles large, spine-bearing; spines
brown or blackish, 1 to 7, the longer ones 13 cm. long, straight, a little flattened, roughish to the
touch; flowers white; fruit short-oblong, 3 cm. long, red, weakly tuberculate, bearing numerous
areoles, usually naked but sometimes bearing a few short spines near the top, becoming dry; umbili-
cus of fruit broad and depressed; seeds white, flattened, 4 to 5 mm. broad, the margins thick and
corky.
Fic. 105.—Opuntia aoracantha. Xo0.66.
Type locality: Not cited, but doubtless from Mendoza.
Distribution: Western provinces of Argentina, from Mendoza to Jujuy.
Opuntia gilliesii Pfeiffer (Enum. Cact. 102. 1837, as synonym) and Tephrocactus
aoracanthus Lemaire (Cact. 89. 1868) are usually given as synonyms of this species, but
they were not described in the places usually cited, and as here given. Opuntia acra-
cantha Walpers (Repert. Bot. 2: 354. 1843) is a typographical error.
O. aoracantha, although described nearly 80 years ago, is practically unknown in col-
lections and has been very poorly described. ‘The fruit has heretofore been unknown.
Dr. Rose found it in 1915 in great abundance growing on dry, rocky hills west of Mendoza,
92 THE CACTACEAE.
although in but one locality. A bountiful supply of living material was sent home, several
photographs were taken, and fruit and seeds obtained.
Opuntia tuberiformis Philippi (Anal. Mus. Nac. Chile 18917: 28. 1891), referred here
by Schumann, doubtless belongs elsewhere. It may possibly belong to some Platyopuntia,
for it is described as having ovate joints only 5 mm. thick. It comes from the foot of the
Andes in the Province of Tarapaca, Chile.
Illustrations: Gard. Chron. IIT. 34: f. 40; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 12: 172; Cact. Journ.
1: 105, the last as O. formidabilis.
Figure 105 represents a joint of a plant collected by Dr. Rose at Mendoza, Argentina,
in I9I5.
61. Opuntia rauppiana Schumann, Monatsschr. Kakteenk.9:118.
1899.
Joints ellipsoid, rounded at each end, somewhat tubercu-
late, dark green or becoming grayish green, 7 cm. long by 4 cm.
in greatest diameter; glochids yellow, 5 cm. long; spines 12 to
14, sometimes as many as 20, very weak, almost bristle-like,
2 cm. long, hardly pungent.
Type locality: In the Andes.
Distribution: Bolivia, according to Schumann.
Little is known of the habit of this plant, as only one
joint is figured and this appears to be a sickly greenhouse ae
specimen. It suggests some of the species which grow in Fic. 106.—Opuntia rauppiana.
large clumps like the one figured as Opuntia grata by Fries.
Illustrations: Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 9: 118; Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen Nachtr.
f. 36 (same).
Figure 106 is copied from the illustration above cited.
62. Opuntia subterranea R. E. Fries, Nov. Act. Soc. Sci. Upsal. IV. 11: 122. 1905.
Almost buried in the sand, simple or few-branched from a thick root 7 to 12 cm. deep: joints
terete, 2 to 4 cm. long; tubercles low; spines 1 to 7, all radial, short, whitish, recurved, appressed;
Fic. 107.—Opuntia subterranea_ Fic. 108.—Opuntia hickenii. Xo0.6.
OPUNTIA. 93
flowers lateral, brownish; ovary small, with a depressed umbilicus, its areoles bearing small glochids
and a little wool; fruit 12 to 15 mm. long; seeds 3 mm. broad, irregular.
Type locality: Near Moreno, Jujuy, Argentina.
Distribution: Northern Argentina and adjacent Bolivia.
This peculiar little plant, heretofore known only from the type collection, was obtained
by Dr. Shafer on stony plains at Villazon, Bolivia, in February 1917, but was not in bloom.
Illustration: Nov. Act. Soc. Sci. Upsal. IV. 1': pl. 8, f. 4 to 8.
Figure 107 is copied from the illustration above cited.
63. Opuntia hickenii sp. nov.
Low, cespitose, forming clusters 1 meter in diameter; joints globular, 3 to 5 cm. in diameter,
strongly tuberculate, the lower tubercles usually spineless; areoles rather large, circular; spines 2 to 5,
flat and thin, narrow, weak, pungent, 5 to 12 cm. long, silvery-colored but nearly black in age;
flowers yellow; fruit not known.
Type in United States National Herbarium, No. 603229, from Puerto Madryn, Chubut,
Argentina, collected by Crist6bal M. Hicken.
Common in Chubut and Rio Negro, southern Argentina, where it was collected several
times by Dr. Hicken.
Figure 108 represents the type specimen above cited.
A photograph of a plant from San Juan, Argentina, communicated by Dr. Spegaz-
zini, indicates another species of this relationship.
64. Opuntia darwinii Henslow, Mag. Zool. Bot. 1: 466. 1837.
Low, perhaps not more than 2 to 4 cm. high, much branched at base from a more or less elon-
gated woody root; joints normally few, nearly globular, about 3 cm. in diameter, or often nearly
cylindric, frequently numerous and small and growing out from the main axis, then only 5 to 10 mm.
in diameter; areoles large, filled with wool, the lower ones spineless; spines 1 to 3, nearly erect, the
longest one 3 to 3.5 em. long, yellow or reddish yellow, decidedly flattened; flowers originally de-
scribed as larger than the joints, but certainly often much smaller; petals yellow, broad, with a trun-
cate or depressed top and usually with a mucronate tip; ovary, in specimens seen, only 2 cm. long,
covered with large woolly areoles; styles described as stout, with 9 thick radiating stigma-lobes.
Type locality: Port Desire, Patagonia, latitude 47° south.
Distribution: Southern Argentina.
This species seems to be common in that part of Patagonia known now as the Ter-
ritory of Santa Cruz, Argentina. We have recently examined four separate collections
made in this region, especially one from about Lake Buenos Aires and on the Fenix River
by Carl Skottsberg, in 1907-1909.
The plant is in cultivation in Europe and is offered for sale by cactus dealers.
It was first collected by Charles Darwin, but only a single joint was taken, which was
described and figured by Rev. J. S. Henslow. ‘The illustration of the flowers seems too
large, but otherwise represents fairly well the plant as we know it. The following interest-
ing note is taken from Mr. Henslow’s article as it appeared in the Magazine of Zoology and
Botany, volume 1, page 467:
I have named this interesting Cactus after my friend C. Darwin, Esq., who has recently
returned to England, after a five years’ absence on board H. M.S. Beagle, whilst she was employed
in surveying the southernmost parts of South America. The specimen figured was gathered in the
month of January, at Port Desire, lat. 47° S. in Patagonia. He recollects also to have seen the
same plant in flower as far south as Port St. Julian in lat. 49°S. It is a small species growing close
to the ground on arid gravelly plains, at no great distance from the sea. The flowers had one day
arrested his attention by the great irritability which their stamens manifested upon his inserting a
piece of straw into the tube, when they immediately collapsed round the pistil, and the segments of
the perianth soon after closed also. He had intended to procure fresh specimens on the following
day, and returned to the ship with the one now figured, but unfortunately she sailed immediately
afterwards, and he was prevented from obtaining any more. The geographical position of this
94 THE CACTACEAE.
species is beyond the limits hitherto assigned to any of the order, which are not recorded as growing
much south of the tropic of Capricorn. ‘The climate is remarkably dry and clear, hot in summer,
but with sharp frosts during the winter nights. He found Cacti both abundant and of a large size,
a little farther to the north at Rio-Negro in latitude 41° S.
Illustration: Mag. Zool. Bot. 1: pl. 14, f. 1.
Figure 109 is copied from a photograph of an herbarium specimen collected by Carl
Skottsberg in Patagonia in 1908.
65. Opuntia tarapacana Philippi, Anal. Mus. Nac. Chile 1891°: 27. 1891.
Opuntia rahmeri Philippi, Anal. Mus. Nac. Chile 18917: 27. 1891.
Low, cespitose plants; joints small, ovoid, about 2 cm. long by 1 cm. thick, bearing spines from
white woolly areoles at tips; spines usually 3, straight, 12 to 15 mm. long, white with yellowish tips;
flowers yellow; petals 21 mm. long; ovary elongated, 2 cm. long.
Type locality: Calalaste, Chile.
Distribution: Known only from type locality, although Schumann in his Keys refers
this species to Bolivia.
Although the type of this species is preserved in the Museum at Santiago, Chile, it is
insufficient to enable us to give a very full description. It seems distinct from the other
species of the group.
Fic. 109.—O. darwinii. Xo0.6. Fic. 110.—O. atacamensis. X0.6. Fic. 111.—O. russellii. X<o0.6.
66. Opuntia atacamensis Philippi, Fl. Atac. 24. 1860.
? Pereskia glomerata Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact.179. 1837. Not Opuntia glomerata Haworth. 1830.
Growing in large, dense clusters sometimes 6 dm. broad and 3 dm. high; joints ovoid, 2.5 cm.
long by 2 cm. in diameter; areoles in 5 to 7 series, the lower ones with wool and very short spines;
upper areoles each bearing 1 erect central spine 18 to 25 mm. long, yellow or reddish; radial spines
2 to 4, strongly appressed, 2 mm. long; flowers yellow.
Type locality: Profetas, Chile; also Puquios, 23° 50’ south latitude.
Distribution: On the high central deserts of northern Chile at an altitude of 2,700
to 3,300 meters.
We have not seen the type of this species, and our reference of Pereskia glomerata here
may not be correct.
Illustration: Nov. Act. Soc. Sct. Upsal. IV. 1': pl. 1, as Opuntia grata.
Figure 110 represents a plant obtained by Dr. Rose at the Botanical Garden, Santiago,
Chile, in 1914.
67. Opuntia russellii sp. nov.
Forming small, compact clumps 1 to 2 dm. in diameter; joints small, globular to obovoid, dull
green to more or less purplish, 2 to 4 cm. long, very spiny near the top; leaves minute, acute, soon
falling; prominent spines 3 to 6, yellow, 2 to 3 cm. long, slightly flattened; accessory spines 1 to
OPUNTIA. 95
several, 1 cm. long or less; glochids at first inconspicuous, but in time very abundant, sometimes 2
em. long, somewhat persistent; flowers not known; fruit globular, 2 to 2.5 cm. in diameter, spineless;
seeds pale, 4 mm. broad.
Collected by J. N. Rose and Paul G. Russell on the dry hills at Potrerillos, Mendoza,
Argentina, September 2, 1915 (No. 21002).
This is a common species in the foothills of the Andes, in the Province of Mendoza,
where it forms low mounds along with other cacti.
Figure 111 represents joints of the type specimen above cited.
68. Opuntia corrugata Salm-Dyck, Hort. Dyck. 360. 1834.
Opuntia eburnea Lemaire, Cact. Alig. Nov. 35. 1838.
Opuntia retrospinosa Lemaire, Cact. Alig. Nov. 35. 1838.
Opuntia parmentiert Pfeiffer, Allg. Gartenz. 6: 276. 1838.
More or less cespitose; joints 3.5 cm. long, 8 to 12 mm. in diameter, orbicular to cylindric, often
erect, attenuate at both ends, light green, the terminal one often flattened; glochids minute, yel-
lowish; spines 6 to 8, acicular, 8 to 12 mm. long, white; flowers reddish; fruit red.
Type locality: None given.
Distribution: Northwestern Argentina, according to later writers.
Lemaire (Cact. 88. 1868) uses the names Cactus corrugatus and C. eburneus, both of
which Schumann refers here.
Tephrocactus retrospinosus Lemaire (Cact. 88. 1868) is placed by Lemaire in his third
section of Tephrocactus, but it is without description. It is doubtless the same as Opuntia
retrospinosa Lemaire, which belongs here. ,
Opuntia aulacothele Weber (Gosselin, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 10: 392. 1904),
which was described without flowers or fruit, may be of this alliance. It comes from San
Rafael, Argentina.
Opuntia cornigata, mentioned in Bailey’s Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture (4: 2367.
1916), is a misspelling of this name.
Opuntia corrugata monvillei Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 72. 1850) was not
described.
Opuntia longispina Haworth (Phil. Mag. 7: 111. 1830), when first described, was sup-
posed to have come from Brazil; the Index Kewensis refers it to Chile; while Schumann
treats it in a note under O. corrugata as an Argentine species. It may not be an Opuntia
but a Mathuenia.
69. Opuntia ovata Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 144. 1837.
Opuntia ovallei Remy in Gay, FI. Chilena 3:29. 1847.
Opuntia grata Philippi, Linnaea 30: 211. 1859.
Opuntia monticola Philippi, Linnaea 33:82. 1864.
Low, branching, cespitose plants; joints yellowish green,
some deep purple when young, subcylindric to ellipsoid, 3
cm. long; spines 5 to 9, 4 to 10 mm. long, when young brown-
ish, in age white; fruit ovoid; umbilicus curved outward.
Type locality: Mendoza, Argentina. ;
Distribution: Mountains of Argentina and Chile. PIGS TAZ re O BUR EA OV ANE 7X05:
Opuntia ovoides Lemaire (Cact. Gen. Nov. Sp. 73. 1839) and Cactus ovoides Lemaire
(Cact. 88.1868) are usually cited as synonyms for Opuntia ovata; they are unpublished names.
This species forms low clumps, each branch consisting of 2 to 5 joints. Dr. Rose found
it abundant in the Andes above Mendoza and it has also been reported from the Chilean
side of the Andes. Colonies differ in armament. In cultivation some of the joints are
elongated and club-shaped.
Illustration: Schumann Gesamtb. Kakteen f. 105, as Opuntia grata.
Figure 112 shows joints of the plant collected by Dr. Rose in 1915 at Potrerillos,
Argentina.
96 THE CACTACEAE.
70. Opuntia sphaerica Forster, Hamb. Gartenz. 17: 167. 1861.
Opuntia dimorpha Forster, Hamb. Gartenz. 17: 167. 1861.
Opuntia leonina Haage and Schmidt in Regel and Schmidt, Gartenflora 30: 413. 188r.
Opuntia leucophaea Philippi, Anal. Mus. Nac. Chile 1891°:27. 1891.
Opuntia corotilla Schumann in Vaupel, Bot. Jahrb. Engler Beibl. 111: 28. 1913.
Plants often erect, always low, usually few-branched, often forming large patches; joints usually
globular, 12 to 40 cm. in diameter; areoles large, numerous, sometimes nearly hiding the surfaces of
the joints with their short brown wool; spines variable as to number, sometimes few, sometimes
numerous, brown at first, in age sometimes gray, 1 to 4 cm. long, usually stiff; flowers 4 cm. long,
deep orange; petals obtuse; fruit globular, often very spiny; seed globular, white, 4 mm. in diameter,
surrounded by a thin, broad band.
Type locality: Near Arequipa, Peru.
Distribution: Central Peru to central Chile.
The three illustrations cited below were made from the same cultivated plant. They
look very much like a poor specimen of Opuntia glomerata, and, if such it should prove,
the name O. leonina should be re-
ferred to the synonymy of that
species.
We have referred Opuntia di-
morpha here with some hesitancy.
This plant often passes for
Opuntia ovata and, from herbarium
specimens we have seen, it has been
so identified by Rudolph Philippi.
This species is very common in
sandy places on hills, dry flats, and
in mountain valleys, often cover-
ing the ground to the exclusion of
all other plants. The joints readily
break loose and, falling to the
ground, start new colonies. We
found the species very common
both above and below Arequipa,
Peru, where it is called corotilla;
in central Chile it grows at lower
altitudes but in similar situations.
In Chile it is called leon or leoncito, which is probably the origin of the name Opuntia
leonina.
Opuntia phyllacantha Haage and Schmidt (Regel and Schmidt, Gartenflora 30: 414.
1881), if it actually came from Chile, as stated, may belong here. The joints are more
elongated, although the habit is somewhat similar. The illustration is poor and has doubt-
less been made from a greenhouse specimen. This name was given, with Salm-Dyck as
authority, by Forster (Handb. Cact. 508. 1846), but without any description.
Illustrations: Cact. Journ. 1: 100; Forster, Handb. Cact. ed. 2. f. 133; Gartenflora 30:
413, all as Opuntia leonina.
Figure 113 is from a photograph of joints of the plant collected by Dr. Rose above
Arequipa, Peru, in 1914.
Fic. 113.-—Opuntia sphaerica._
71. Opuntia skottsbergii sp. nov.
Roots thick and fleshy, sometimes 10 cm. long, the plant doubtless more or less cespitose; joints,
at least some of them, globular, 3 cm. in diameter, almost hidden by the numerous closely set spines;
areoles close together, small, at times producing long tufts of white wool; spines about 10, black
except the yellowish tips, 1 to 2 cm. long; glochids numerous, elongated; flowers, including the very
OPUNTIA. 97
spiny ovary, about 6 cm. long; petals about 3 cm. long, drying reddish or reddish green; areoles of
the ovary bearing 5 to 7 spines, which are brown or blackish below and with more or less yellowish
tips; fruit not known.
Collected near Lake Buenos Aires, Territory of Santa Cruz, Argentina, December 12,
1908, by Carl Skottsberg (No. 675); and again on the Rio Fenix, north of the locality
above given, December 10, 1908 (No. 625, type).
This species belongs to the subgenus Tephrocactus, but is not closely related to any of
the described species. The flower resembles very much the one figured by Henslow
as O. darwintt, and it is possible that he may have had some of this species in his O. dar-
winit,; the plant bodies, however, are so different that one could hardly confuse the two.
Figure 114 is copied from a photograph of the type specimen above cited.
72. Opuntia nigrispina Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 695. 1808.
Opuntia purpurea R. E. Fries, Noy. Act. Soc. Sci. Upsal. IV. 1: 123. 1905.
Described as a shrub, 1 to 2 dm. high and much branched, the branches upright; joints dull
green or reddish violet, 2 to 4 cm. long, 1 to 2 cm. in diameter, oblong-ellipsoid, terete, when young
bearing decurrent, spirally arranged tubercles; areoles 2 to 3 mm. in diameter, bearing abundant
Fic. 114.—Opuntia skottsbergii. Fic. 115.—Opuntia nigrispina. Xo.8. Fic, 116.—Opuntia pentlandii. Xo.4.
wool and glochids; spines 3 to 5 from upper areoles, 2.5 to 3 cm. long, straight, spreading, subterete,
weak, purplish black; flowers small, purple, 2.2 to 2.5 cm. long; petals spatulate, 1.5 cm. long, 6
mm. broad; stigma-lobes 5; ovary 1 cm. long, obovoid, nearly smooth. j
Type locality: On the puna of Humahuaca, Bolivia.
Distribution: Rare in stony mountains, altitude 3,500 meters, Jujuy, Argentina, and
southern Bolivia.
Figure 115 represents a fruiting joint collected by J. A. Shafer at La Quiaca, Argen-
tina, February 2, 1917 (No. 79).
73. Opuntia pentlandii Salm-Dyck, Allg. Gartenz. 13: 387. 1845.
Opuntia boliviana Salm-Dyck, Allg. Gartenz. 13: 388. 1845.
Opuntia pyrrhacantha Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 694. 1898.
Opuntia dactylifera Vaupel, Bot. Jahrb. Engler Beibl. 111: 29. 1913.
Opuntia cucumiformis Griffiths, Bull. Torr. Club 43: 524. 1916. (From the description.)
Plant much branched, forming low, rounded, compact mounds sometimes a meter broad with
hundreds of short stubby branches; joints obovoid to oblong-cylindric, plump, 2 to ro cm. long,
sometimes 4 dm. in diameter, more or less pointed, pale green or sometimes purplish, tuberculate;
areoles small, circular, filled with short wool and yellow glochids, the upper ones sometimes also
having spines; spines sometimes wanting, when present mostly from the upper areoles, erect, 2 to 10,
usually bright yellow, sometimes brownish becoming dull brown, the longest one 7 cm. long; flowers
98 THE CACTACEAE.
very variable in color and size, lemon-yellow to deep red, 2 to 3 cm. long, sometimes 5 cm. broad when
fully expanded; petals obtuse; filaments short; style thick; stigma-lobes very short; ovary short with
few areoles; areoles on ovary subtended by minute leaves, filled with short wool, the upper ones with
bristle-like spines; fruit globular to short-oblong, 2 to 3 cm. long, dry; seeds numerous, 4 to 5 mm. long.
Type locality: In Bolivia.
Distribution: Very common on the high pampas of southeastern
Peru and Bolivia, and adjacent Argentina.
Cactus pentlandii Lemaire (Cact. 88. 1868), name only, is sup-
posed to apply to this species.
This is one of the most characteristic plants of the high pampas
of the Andean region, mostly growing at elevations of 12,000 feet or
higher, forming low, broad, compact clumps, sometimes made up
of a hundred plants or more.
Illustrations: ?Dict.Gard. Nicholson 2: f.751; ?Forster, Handb.
Cact. ed. 2. f. 124; ?W. Watson, Cact. Cult. f. 77, all as Opuntia
boliviana; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 24: 175, as Opuntia dactylzfera. ENCE BU, amet”
Figure 116 represents a joint of the plant collected in landii. Xo.4.
1914 by Dr. Rose at Comanche, Bolivia; figure 117 shows a
flowering joint collected by Dr. Rosein 1914, at Juliaca, Peru.
74. Opuntia ignescens Vaupel, Bot. Jahrb. Engler Beibl. 111: 30.
1913.
Plants forming clumps 2 dm. high or less, with hundreds of
erect or spreading joints; joints bluish green, 8 to 10 cm. long, very
fleshy, naked below; upper areoles very spiny; spines 6 to 15 from
each areole, nearly equal, 4 to 5 cm. long, erect, acicular, yellow;
flowers very showy, deep red; ovary oblong, 3 to4cm. long, naked
below, but the upper areoles producing numerous spines 4 to 7 cm.
long; fruit red, 7 cm. long, spiny and tuberculate above, terete Al 7
below, with a deep umbilicus; seeds nearly globular, about 5 mm. Ht [ z
SS
Wugeed
in diameter.
Que
Type locality: Near Sumbay, southern Peru.
Distribution: On the pampas of southern Peru and —
northern Chile, at altitude of 3,000 to 3,600 meters. Fic. 118.—Opuntia ignescens. 0.5.
Fic. 119.—Opuntia ignescens forming large mounds.
BRITTON AND ROSE
PLATE XVI
M. E. Eaton del.
1. Top of Opuntia migquelii. 2. Old and young joints of Opuntia invicta.
3. Upper part of joint of Opuntia ignescens. (All natural size.)
OPUNTIA. 99
Plate xvi, figure 3, represents old and young joints of the plant collected above Ay-
rampl, Peru, by Dr. Rose in 1914. Figure 118 shows a fruit from thesame plant ; figure 119
is from a photograph taken by H. L.. Tucker at Coropuna, Peru, in 1911.
75. Opuntia campestris sp. nov.
Much branched, often forming low, dense masses, 3 to 6 dm. in diameter; terminal joints readily
breaking off; joints globular or a little longer than thick, 3 to 5 cm. long, with numerous prominent
areoles, the tubercles conspicuous when young; leaves minute, 1 to 1.5 mm. long, caducous; glochids
conspicuous, numerous, yellow; spines usually wanting at the lower areoles, present above, very
unequal, 5 to ro, acicular, the longest ones 3.5 em. long; flowers rosy white to light yellow, 2 to 3 cm.
long; ovary naked or spiny; fruit thicker than long, 2.5 cm. long, with deep umbilicus, often very
spiny.
Common just below railroad station at
Pampa de Arrieros, Peru, where it was col-
lected by Dr. Rose, August 23, 1914 (No. 18957).
Figure 120 represents joints of the type
specimen above cited.
y 4
!
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iS
V)
PS
sa
\\
\
a=
———=$——=
——
Fic. 120.—Opuntia campestris. Xo.8. Fic. 121.—Opuntia ignota. Xo.8.
76. Opuntia ignota sp. nov.
Low, much branched, spreading; joints small, narrow, 2 to 3 cm. long, more or less purplish;
leaves minute, often purplish; spines 2 to 7 from an areole, brownish, acicular, the longest ones 4 to
5 cm. long; glochids, when present, yellow; areoles large, full of grayish wool; flowers and fruit not
seen.
Collected by Dr. Rose on the hills below the railroad station at Pampa de Arrieros,
Peru, August 23, 1914 (No. 18974).
Plants grown in greenhouses are dark green and develop few spines or none.
This plant grows in the same region as O. campestris, but is quite different from it.
Figure 121 shows joints of the type specimen above cited.
Subgenus 3. PLATYOPUNTIA.
Includes all the species with flattened joints; a few species have nearly terete joints;
others have some of the joints terete. Twenty-eight series are recognized. ‘The species
are most abundant in North America, but several series are found only in South America,
while others have representatives in both Americas. (See Key to the Series, p. 45.)
I0O THE CACTACEAE.
Series 1. PUMILAE.
Low, spiny species, with slightly flattened, narrowly cylindric or linear-oblong, readily detached
ultimate joints, the main stem terete. We know three species, the typical one in Mexico and Guate-
mala, one from Oaxaca, Mexico, and one Peruvian. In the structure of their joints they form a
transitional series between Cylindropuntia and Platyopuntia, and might be included in either of these
subgenera with about equal reason.
Key TO SPECIES.
Young areoles with only 1 to 3 spines; joints 2 to 3 cm. thick.
Plant 1 to 5 meters high; joints tubercled; spines yellowish............................ 77. O. pumila
Plants about 2 dm. high; joints not tubercled; spines reddish to brown................. 77a. O. depauperata
Areoles with 3 to 7 spines; plants 1 to 4 dm. high.
Joints 1 to 1.5 cm. thick; areoles not blotched; spines brownish........................ 78. O. pubescens
Joints 2 to 3 cm. thick; young areoles dark-blotched; spines yellowish................... 79. O. pascoensis
Fic. 122.—Opuntia pumila forming low thickets.
77. Opuntia pumila Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 521. 1908.
Stems low, very much branched, the joints readily falling off when touched, 6 to 20 em. long,
velvety-pubescent, terete or sometimes slightly flattened, turgid, bearing more or less prominent
tubercles; areoles small, those of old stems bearing several slender spines, the longer ones 3 cm. long;
areoles of young joints usually bearing 2 yellowish spines; ovary pubescent, with few spines or none;
petals yellow, tinged with red, 15 mm. long; fruit globular, red, 15 mm. long.
Type locality: Near Oaxaca City, Mexico, on the road to Mitla.
Distribution: Central and southern Mexico.
When this species was described, attention was called to various forms which belonged
here or to one or more related species. ‘These we now refer to O. pubescens.
Figure 122 is from a photograph of the type; figure 123 represents joints of the same.
OPUNTIA. IOI
77a. Opuntia depauperata sp. nov. (See Appendix, p. 216.)
78. Opuntia pubescens Wendland* in Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 149. 1837.
Opuntia leptarthra Weber in Gosselin, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 10: 393. 1904.
Plants small, usually low, sometimes 4 dm. high, much branched; joints easily becoming de-
tached, nearly terete, glabrous or pubescent, 3 to 7 cm. long; spines numerous, short, brownish;
flowers lemon-yellow but drying red; filaments greenish; style white; stigma-lobes cream-colored;
fruit small, 2 to 2.5 cm. long, red, a little spiny, with a depressed umbilicus; seeds small, 3 mm. in
diameter.
Type locality: tn Mexico.
Distribution: Northern Mexico to Gua-
temala.
This species was sent to the Exposition
Universelle at Paris by the Mexican Govern-
ment in 1889, and was there seen and de-
scribed by Dr. Weber as O. leptarthra. A part
of this material finally went to the Hanbury
Garden at La Mortola, Italy, whence we
obtained specimens in 1913 which prove to
be identical with specimens obtained by Dr.
Rose and others in Mexico and Guatemala in
1905 to 1909.
This is an insignificant species and hence
has generally been overlooked in the region
wheresomany more striking species are found.
It is widely distributed, extending from the Fy ga NR PS SEN
State of Tamaulipas, in Mexico, to Guate- NG. Te lgnanta ae, os
mala, a much greater range than that of most
species. Its wide distribution is doubtless due to the fact that the joints, which are cov-
ered with barbed spines and are easily detached, fasten themselves to various animals
and are scattered like burs over the country; each little joint thus set free starts a new
center of distribution.
This is a difficult plant to grow in greenhouses, for the spreading or hanging branches
soon become entangled with other plants and break off in attempts to free or move them;
partly for this reason, doubtless, it rarely flowers in cultivation.
Opuntia angusta Meinshausen (Wochenschr. Gartn. Pflanz. 1: 30. 1858) was unknown
to Schumann. It was originally described as similar to the South American species,
O. aurantiaca, and, if so, it must be near O. pubescens, if not identical with it, being a native
of Mexico, where it was first collected by Karwinsky.
Figure 124 represents joints of the Guatemalan plant, cultivated in the green-
houses of the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, obtained in 1907.
79. Opuntia pascoensis sp. nov.
Stems erect and rigid, up to 3 dm. high; joints easily breaking apart, erect or ascending, terete
or slightly flattened, 3 to 12 cm. long, 1.5 to 4 cm. broad, puberulent, hardly tuberculate but with
faint upturned lunate depressions between the dark-blotched areoles; leaves minute; areoles some-
what elevated, filled with brown wool intermixed with longer white cobwebby hairs; spines 4 to 8
on young joints, more on older joints, acicular, yellow, 2 cm. long or less; glochids numerous, short,
yellow, tardily developing; fruit globular, 1.5 cm. in diameter, naked below, spiny above. Doubt-
less of wide distribution, for the joints are easily detached and are distributed like burs, but so far
only two collections have been reported.
*Pfeiffer (Enum. Cact. 1837) frequently refers several of Wendland’s species to Catal. h. Herrnh. 1835, but we
can find no references to Wendland having published a catalogue of the Herrenhausen Garden either in 1835 or about
ae time. We have therefore cited all of Wendland’s species so referred by Pfeiffer to the pages given in his
numatio.
102 THE CACTACEAE.
Collected by Dr. and Mrs. J. N. Rose in central and southern Peru, in 1914, first from
just below Matucana (No. 18653), and later at Pasco (No. 18812, type).
Plate xvu, figure 1, represents a joint of the type specimen above cited.
Series 2. CURASSAVICAE.
This series is composed of ro, or perhaps 11, species of low plants, characterized by their fragile
branches, the small joints separating and becoming detached very readily, more or less flattened or
subterete. ‘They mostly inhabit the southern United States and the West Indies; one is known
from Ecuador; the original home of one of the species recognized is unknown.
Key To SPECIES.
Spines acicular.
Joints oval, mostly not more than twice as long as wide; plants prostrate, little branched..... 80. O. curassavica
Joints oblong to linear, 2 to 8 times as long as wide; plants ascending or erect, much branched.
Joints narrowly linear, 1 to 2 cm. wide.............--.. 622s eect eee 81. O. taylori
Joints oblong to linear-oblong or obovate-oblong, 2 to 4 cm. wide.
Joints oblong to linear, 4 to 8 times as long as wide; spines 1 to 3 cm. long.
JOS WOE Caco coogsbencoucoeasoogcbocuoodavuboconvacandaagocadeuaane 82. O. repens
Joints tubercled, at least when young.............. noone fgequeodgavbedeaneas 82a. O. pestifer
Joints oblong to obovate-oblong, 2 to 3 times as long as wide; spines 3 to 5 cm. long.... .83. O. borinquensis
Spines subulate.
Spines white.
Roots! fibrous; spines at most of the areoles.......................................... 84. O. militaris
Roots tuberous; spines only at the upper areoles...............-....00-- eee eee e eee eee 85. O. nemoralis
Spines brown.
Joints oval to oblong.
Joints scarcely repand; plant up to 2dm..-.-........)... 2 86. O. drummondii
Jointsistronelysnepandeplantter dnine ner rrts eet serra eer reer eta: 87. O. tracyt
Jfointsmlinear-lanceolate meen mie ear ae rer icieta tke et iy tet te iene ee cen ve reir 88. O. pusilla
INGA? (OSTA, op pn vocvcoucccoNguoDsEsOMdOdoDCTOOOPHOddOBRGCdCOODOUADEBBDEO OO GITOONOUS 89. O. darrahiana
80. Opuntia curassavica (Linnaeus) Miller, Gard. Dict. ed. 8. No. 7. 1768.
Cactus curassavicus Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 469. 1753.
Stems low, 5-jointed, light green, pros-
trate and creeping or hanging over rocks; joints
oval to oblong, decidedly flattened but thick,
2to5 cm. long, glabrous; leaves minute, soon
withering; areoles small, bearing short wool
and longer, white cobwebby hairs; spines 4 to
many, acicular, 2.5 cm. long or less, yellowish,
becoming white in age; glochids tardily de-
veloping.
, Type locality: Curacao Island. Fic. 125.—Opuntia curassavica. 0.75.
Distribution: Curacao, Bonaire, and Aruba.
Haworth (Syn. Pl. Succ. 196. 1812) describes three varieties, major, media, and minor,
and later (Rev. Pl. Succ. 71. 1821) also describes the variety longa. O. curassavica elongata
Haworth (Salm-Dyck, Hort. Dyck. 184. 1834), a name only, is supposed to be the same
as var. longa.
This is one of the oldest species of Opuntia, having been described and figured as early
as 1696. For a long time it has been unknown, the name having been transferred to a
similar species, O. repens. In 1913 Dr. Britton visited Curacao, its native home, and re-col-
lected it. Its flowers have not been described, and several residents informed him that
they had never seen it in flower; Dr. Britton did not find it in flower on Curacao, nor has it
flowered with us in cultivation; Haworth, who wrote about it in 1812, speaks of its being
a shy bloomer, saying he had seen it in flower but once. In early English books it is called
pin pillow, because its turgid joints suggest pincushions filled with pins.
Illustrations: Bradley, Hist. Succ. Pl. ed. 2. pl. 4, as Opuntia minima americana, etc.;
Commerson Hort. pl. 56, as Opuntia curassavica minima; Plukenet, Opera Bot. 3: pl. 281,
f. 3, as Opuntia minor caulescens.
Figure 125 represents the plant collected on Curacao by Dr. N. L. Britton and Dr.
J. A. Shafer in 1913.
BRITTON AND ROSE PLATE XVII
bs)
oe
*
- | =
iF \
Me oN
\
A
oe |
od
M. E. Eaton del, ; y AUOEN &.Co,
es
1. Joint of Opuntia pascoensis. 3,4. Forms of Opuntia repens. 5. Flower of same.
2. Joints of Opuntia taylort. 6. Flowering joint of Opuntia drummonadit.
(All natural size.)
104 THE CACTACEAE.
the larger up to 6 cm. long, brown when young, fading white; leaves subulate, acuminate, 1 to 2 mm.
long; fruit obovoid, subtruncate, 1.5 cm. long.
Limestone swale, Morillos de Cabo Rojo, Porto Rico (Britton, Cowell, and Brown,
No. 4741), growing with O. repens Bello, from which it differs by its larger, broader, and
flatter joints and much longer spines.
The only locality known for this plant is at the extreme southwestern corner of Porto
Rico, where numerous colonies of it were observed. The region is a very dry one, rain fall-
ing there only at long intervals; the associated vegetationisof a highly xerophytic character.
Figure 126 represents joints of the type specimen above cited.
84. Opuntia militaris sp. nov.
Stems 3 dm. tall, the branches weak and more or less spreading; joints thick, narrowly oblong
to obovate, 5 to 8 cm. long, somewhat shiny when young, easily breaking apart; spines I or 2 from an
areole, occasionally more, acicular, white, 1 to 2 cm. long; flower-buds pointed; flowers small, 3 cm.
long; petals greenish to cream-colored, tinged with pink; ovary small, its small areoles without spines.
Collected by Dr. N. L. Britton, March 17 to 30, 1909, at the U. S. Naval Station,
Guantanamo Bay, Oriente, Cuba (No. 1957).
Figure 127 represents joints of the type specimen above cited.
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PN ATRC ee NSE- |
aa 47 AF ZENS AS i f he Hole
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ATVI WY uf Bint =
i “eS at WW
TU UUW UWS WS
Fic. 126.—Opuntia borinquensis. Xo.5. Fic. 127—Opuntia militaris. Xo.5.
85. Opuntia nemoralis Griffiths, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 23: 133. 1913.
Plants low, usually prostrate, forming clumps 1 meter in diameter, sometimes 3 dm. high; joints
ovate to obovate, thick, 7 to 9 em. long, green, but often with purple blotches about the areoles;
spines 1 or 2, only from the upper areoles, 2 to 2.5 cm. long, mostly erect; glochids yellow; flowers
yellow; fruit obovoid to pyriform, small, 3 cm. long, light red, truncate.
Type locality: Longview, Texas.
Distribution: Pine woods and fields about Longview, Texas.
This species in habit, joints, and spines suggests the Tortispinae; but on account of
having easily detached joints we have referred it to the Curassavicae, as indicated in the
original description, placing it between the Cuban species O. militaris and the United
States species O. drummondiu. It is known only from the type specimens.
86. Opuntia drummondii Graham in Maund, Botanist 5: pl. 246. 1846.
Opuntia pes-corvi LeConte in Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3:346. 1856.
Opuntia frustulenta Gibbes, Proc. Elliott Soc. Nat. Hist. 1: 273. 1859.
Plant prostrate or spreading, 2 dm. or less high, from thickened single or sometimes moniliform
roots; joints rather variable, narrowly linear to broadly oblong, with entire margins, sometimes 12,
em. long and 5 to 6 cm. broad, usually light green, sometimes darker about the areoles; leaves 2 to
PLATE XVIII
BRITTON AND ROSE
M. E. Eaton del. 1to3
H. A. Wood del. 4,5
1. Two plants of Opuntia drummondit. 3. Joints of Opuntia triacantha.
2. Joints of Opuntia retrorsa with flower. 4,5. Joint and section of fruit of Opuntia jamaicensis.
(All natural size.)
OPUNTIA. 105
6mm. long; spines (if present) solitary or 2 to 4, brownish red or gray, 2 to 4 cm. long; flowers yellow,
6 cm. broad; petals obovate; fruit red, juicy but insipid, obovoid to clavate, 22 to35 mm. long, 15 mm.
in diameter at thickest part, bearing few areoles and no spines; umbilicus slightly depressed in the
center; seeds 1 to 8, about 4 mm. broad.
Type locality: Apalachicola, Florida.
Distribution: Sandy soil from northern Florida to Pamlico Sound, North Carolina.
In February 1916, Dr. J. K. Small visited the coastal islands near Charleston, South
Carolina, for the purpose of collecting Gibbes’s Opuntia frustulenta. He found this species
very common on Folly Island and on the Isle of Palms, where it grows abundantly in the
sand, and also very variable as to shape and size of joints. He says the joints break off
easily and attach themselves to one’s clothing like the sand spur, making progress over these
islands difficult and painful. It is the common belief that this species rarely flowers. It
usually flowers when first brought into
cultivation, but rarely afterward, this
doubtless being due to unsuitable green-
house conditions.
The fruit described was collected by
Dr. J. K. Small, December 10, 1917, at
Apalachicola, Florida, the type locality.
According to Professor L,. R. Gibbes,
it is known as dildoes about Charleston.
Illustration: Maund, Botanist 5:
pl. 246.
Plate xvu, figure 6, represents
flowering joints of a plant sent from La
Mortola, Italy, to the New York Botani-
cal Garden in 1912; plate xviu, figure 1,
shows the plant collected by Dr. Small
on the Isle of Palms, South Carolina, in
1916.
Herbarium specimens apparently
representing a related species, were
collected by W. L. McAtee at Cameron,
Louisiana, in 1910 (No. 1955).
87. Opuntia tracyi Britton, Torreya 11: 152. Fic. 128.—Opuntia tracyi.
IgIl.
Low, diffusely much branched, pale green, about 2 dm. high or less; older joints oblong
to linear-oblong, flat, 6 to 8 cm. long, 1.5 to 2.5 cm. wide, about 1 cm. thick; young joints scarcely
flattened or terete, 1 cm. thick; areoles elevated, 5 to 10 mm. apart;spines 1 to 4, acicular, light gray with
darker tips, 3.5 cm. long or less; glochids numerous, brownish; corolla pure yellow, 4 cm. broad;
ovary 1.5 cm. long, bearing a few triangular acute scales similar to the outermost sepals, which are
2 mm. long; sepals triangular-ovate, 5 to 15 mm. long, the outer green, the inner yellowish with a
green blotch; petals obovate, apiculate, 2 to 2.5 cm. long; filaments yellow, 1 cm. long; anthers white.
In sandy soil near the coast, Biloxi, Mississippi.
Figure 128 is from a photograph of the plant collected by 5S. M. Tracy at Biloxi,
Mississippi, in 1911.
88. Opuntia pusilla Haworth, Syn. Pl. Succ. 195. 1812.
Cactus pusillus Haworth, Mise. Nat. 188. 1803.
Cactus foliosus Willdenow, Enum. Pl. Suppl. 35. 1813.
Opuntia foliosa Salm-Dyck in De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 471. 1828.
Low, usually prostrate; joints narrow, more or less flattened, sometimes nearly terete, hardly
tuberculate, light green in color; leaves 6 mm. long, linear, early deciduous; areoles remote; spines
106 THE: CACTACEAE.
I or 2, subulate, usually brownish when young, in age straw-colored; flowers pale yellow, rather
=)
large for the plant; petals few, about 8, spreading, acute.
Type locality: Not cited.
Distribution: Usually assigned to South America, but not known from any definite
locality ; Schumann, in his Keys, however, says West Indies.
This species has usually passed under the name of O. foliosa, although all writers seem
to agree that the older name, O. pusilla, was given to the same species. It may belong in
the series Aurantiacae rather than in the Curassavicae.
Specimens distributed from European gardens as O. foliosa in recent years are not
typical, and are probably referable to O. drummondi1.
Tephrocactus pusillus Lemaire (Cact. 88. 1868), an unpublished name, referred by
Lemaire to his third section of Tephrocactus, may belong here. ‘The Index Kewensis refers
it to Opuntia pusilla.
Tllustration: Pfeiffer and Otto, Ab-
bild. Beschr. Cact. 1: pl. 18, as Opuntia
foliosa.
Figure 129 is copied from the illus-
tration above cited.
89. Opuntia darrahiana Weber in Gosselin,
Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 10: 388.
1904.
Growing in masses, 2 to 2.5 dm. high
3.5 to 4 dm. broad, very much branched,
joints 7 to 8 cm. long by 4 to 5 cm. broad, bright green
to sea-green; areoles somewhat elevated, especially when
young, I cm. apart; spines 6, the two uppermost the
longest, these 4 to 4.5 cm. long, all suberect, white or
grayish white, more or less brownish at tip; glochids said
to be wanting; flowers and fruit not known.
Type locality: Turks Islands.
Distribution: Known only from the type lo-
cality.
This species is known only from the Turks
Islands, a small group at the southeastern end of
the Bahaman Archipelago. It was introduced
into Europe by the late Charles Darrah.
We know the plant only from the above-cited description, and, so far as we have been
able to learn, it is not now in cultivation, nor have we been able to find any herbarium
specimens preserved. The opuntias known to us to inhabit Turks Islands are O. dillenii,
O. nashu, and O. lucayana. ‘The description of O. darrahiana does not agree with any of
these. ‘The species is referred to the series Curassavicae with doubt, but as this series has
representatives in Florida, Cuba, and Hispaniola, the existence of one in the Bahamas is
not improbable.
Fic. 129.— Opuntia pusilla.
Series 3. AURANTIACAE.
The species of this series are low plants, mostly with readily detached joints; the main stems are
often terete or turgid, the ultimate joints narrow and flat. They inhabit southeastern South Amer-
ica. During the expedition to Brazil and Argentina conducted by Dr. Rose in the summer of 1915,
only a few of the species here grouped were found; Dr. Shafer collected several of them in the winter
of 1916-17. Dr. Spegazzini has given us photographs of several.
We recognize 8 species, and have appended another, which may belong here.
OPUNTIA. 107
KEY TO SPECIES.
Joints not conspicuously purple-blotched under the areoles.
Joints linear, elongated.
Stem terete or subterete; branches mostly flat.
Jomtsidarkjereenynottubercledeemer yet ett yeti 90. O. aurantiaca
Joints) tubercled, bluish green’ when young..-.:.-...:.--..-----s---+--2-0----- gt. O. schickendantzii
All the joints flat.
Yom Gloapmieel, ba ss spo ucooneoeee de co@auegpogee re oedooocbadoupagodsos 92. O. kiska-loro
Omus Miers son ounce coodsgsodoouNmbounnocdseduoeoowbooUnbOMoDe KORE G 93. O. canina 5
Yomi Aros, GUI. os SocdcaccaguaddecondGAoansos dona dod oguabadusoodous cc Hud nicw 94. O. montevidensis
Joints with a long purplish blotch under each areole.
Joints more or less spiny.
Joints flattened.
WGN 3 1) F-GiGins VAC. o sddtiooceccoaacued ssaqdeponnadesoguomAcPoagoUSoOOHS 95. O. retrorsa
VOI Ba) HOO Care, Wal; aa dog doncogdapsoearadescorouescpob aden oueducadod suuee 96. O. utkilio
JOS SNAG, WHC oo sc coadonooaac ene gens spebeedooEGUEDNeboC Km ag aa ous 96a. O. discolor
VOImtsispinelessee wae ee eee OE Sen Ee Crete ee ated pe nehrat ten aieze 97. O. anacantha
Perhapsvor itis ¢Seriesyampeu eer pe ane enetey ee ieeete stare ec kaye re ore one ee Te Nate even steak areas aka 98. O. grosseiana
90. Opuntia aurantiaca Lindley, Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 19:
pl. 1606. 1833.
Opuntia aurantiaca extensa Salm-Dyck in Forster, Handb.
Cact. 476. 1846.
Low, much branched, and spread-
ing; stem terete or subterete, 1 to 2
em. thick; joints very fragile, linear,
6 to 8 cm. long, 1.5 to 2.5 cm. broad,
almost terete at base, dark green, shin-
ing; areoles somewhat elevated, filled
with white wool; spines 2 or 3, brown-
ish, 1 to 3 cm. long; flowers yellow, 2.5
em. broad; fruit 2 to 2.5 cm. long.
Type locality: Chile (in error).
Distribution: Argentina and
Uruguay.
Cactus aurantiacus Lemaire
(Cact.87. 1868) is usually cited in
synonymy, but Lemaire only men-
tions the name as a species of
Cactus. Itisin fact Gillies’s man-
uscript name, first published in
the Botanical Register in 1833
as a synonym of O. aurantiaca.
O. extensa Salm-Dyck (Pfeif-
fer, Enum. Cact. 147. 1837) is also
given as a synonym.
Remy states (Gay, FI. Chilena
3: 25. 1847) that it grows in the Fic. 130—0.
central provinces of Chile, but he fori sm een Bie) 43120 : sehickendan zit
probably had in mind some other plant, as O. aurantiaca is not known to be native of Chile
by resident botanists.
Illustrations: Anal. Mus. Nac. Montevideo 5: pl. 34; Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 19: pl. 1606.
Figure 130 represents a joint from a plant found by Dr. Rose, in Argentina, in 1915.
91. Opuntia schickendantzii Weber in Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 688. 1898.
Shrub-like, 1 to 2 meters high, much branched, grayish green; branches cylindric or flattened,
somewhat tuberculate; leaves minute, 2 mm. long, reddish; spines 1 or 2, subulate, 1 to 2 cm. long;
flowers 4 cm. in diameter, yellow; fruit green, sterile.
Type locality: In Tucuman, Argentina.
Distribution: Northern Argentina.
Figure 131 is from a photograph of a plant in Argentina contributed by Dr. Spegazzini.
108 THE CACTACEAE.
Fic. 132.— Opuntia kiska-loro.
92. Opuntia kiska-loro Spegazzini, Anal. Mus.
Nac. Buenos Aires III. 4:516. 1905.
Prostrate, rooting, forming spreading
clumps 3 to 6 dm. high; joints flat, at first
very narrow, becoming lanceolate, 20 cm. long,
4 cm. broad, shining green; spines 2 to 4, un-
equal, whitish, 4 to 6 cm. long; flowers orange,
rather large, 3 to 6 cm. broad; filaments pale
orange; stigma-lobes 6, flesh-colored; fruit 5
em. long, deep violet-purple without, white
within; seeds 5 mm. broad, pubescent.
Type locality: Deserts of La Rioja,
Catamarca, Argentina.
Distribution: Northwest Argentina.
Figure 132 is from a photograph of
the type plant sent by Dr. Spegazzini.
93. Opuntia canina Spegazzini, Anal. Mus.
Nac. Buenos Aires III. 4:518. 1905.
At first erect, then decumbent, 1 to 3
meters broad; joints flat, very narrow, atten-
uate at both ends, 2.5 to3.5 dm. long, 4.5 cm.
broad, shining green; areoles on young joints
unarmed; spines of areoles of older joints 1 or
2, sometimes 3, 1.5 to 3.5 cm. long, reflexed,
subterete, grayish white with yellowish tips;
flowers numerous, medium sized; ovary obo-
void; corolla rotate, yellowish orange, 4 to 5
cm. broad; petals obovate; filaments yellow;
stigma-lobes 5; fruit obovoid, 2.6 to 2.8 cm.
long, red without, white within; seeds 4 mm.
broad, white, lanate.
Type locality: Near Pampablanca,
Jujuy, Argentina.
Fic. 133.—Opuntia canina.
Distribution: Provinces of Jujuy and Tucuman, Argentina.
Figure 133 is from a photograph sent by Dr. Spegazzini.
OPUNTIA. 109
94. Opuntia montevidensis Spegazzini, Anal. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires III. 4:515. 1905.
Cespitose, the branches 3 to 5 dm. high; joints 5 to 10 cm. long, obovate to elliptic; areoles not
very prominent; spines usually 5, 3 longer and stouter, 2 very small, reflexed, and setiform, the 2 or
3 longer ones erect or spreading, 2 to 3 cm. long; flowers 4 to 5 cm. broad, orange-colored; fruit
dark purple, clavate, 3.5 to 4 cm. long ; seeds lanate.
Type locality: Cerro de Montevideo, Uruguay.
Distribution: Cerro de Montevideo, and near La Colonia, Uruguay.
95. Opuntia retrorsa Spegazzini, Anal. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires III. 4:517. 1905.
(?) Opuntia platynoda Griffiths, Bull. Torr. Club 43: 526. 1916.
Stems prostrate, intricately branched, creeping, rooting at the nodes; joints linear-lanceolate,
more or less attenuate at each end, flattened; areoles somewhat prominent, each subtended by a
long, dull purplish blotch; spines 1 to 3, reflexed, white below, with pinkish tips; flowers yellowish,
4 to 5 cm. broad; fruit about 2 cm. long, violet-purple on the outside, light rose on the inside; seeds
2 to 2.5 mm. broad, somewhat villous.
Fic. 134.—Opuntia retrorsa.
Type locality: In the Territory of the Chaco, Argentina.
Distribution: Northern Argentina.
Plate xviu, figure 2, represents a plant from Argentina which flowered at the New
York Botanical Gardenin 1911. Figure 134 is from a photograph sent by Dr. Spegazzini.
96. Opuntia utkilio Spegazzani, Anal. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires III. 4: 516. 1905.
Low, creeping plant, rooting at the joints, with elongated branches 5 to 15 dm. long; joints flat,
elliptic-linear, 15 to 30 cm. long, 5 to 6 cm. broad; spines at first 2 or 3, the upper one longer, later
more numerous, reflexed; flowers small, 3.5 to 4 cm. broad, yellowish; ovary obovoid, somewhat
spiny; fruit small, 3 cm. long, fleshy, insipid, reddish violet both within and without; seeds sub-
orbicular, 4 mm. broad, lanate.
Type locality: Province of Tucuman, Argentina.
Distribution: Northern Argentina.
Figure 135 is from a photograph sent by Dr. Spegazzini.
96a. Opuntia discolor sp. nov. (See Appendix, p. 218.)
97. Opuntia anacantha Spegazzini in Gosselin, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 10: 391. 1904.
Usually decumbent and rooting along the under surface, sometimes ascending and clambering,
1 to 2.5 meters long; joints unarmed, dark green except for purple spots under the areoles, elliptic
to lanceolate, narrowed toward each end, 1.5 to 4 dm. long, 3.5 to 7 cm. broad; areoles small; flowers
large, numerous, yellowish orange, 4 cm. long, 5 to 6 cm. in diameter; sepals large, reddish, obtuse,
emarginate or even 2-lobed; petals 12; style white; stigma-lobes white or rose-colored; fruit 3 cm.
long, red, the pulp yellowish or white.
Type locality: In the southern Chaco, Argentina.
Distribution: Northeastern Argentina.
Figure 136 is from a photograph of a part of the type plant, received from Dr. Spegazzini.
I1IO THE CACTACEAE.
98. Opuntia grosseiana Weber in Gosselin, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 10: 391. 1904.
Described as having joints intermediate between those of Opuntia elata and O. anacantha, and
resembling these species.
Type locality: In Paraguay.
Distribution: Paraguay.
Introduced from Paraguay by Hermann Grosse; known to us only from the description.
Series 4. TUNAE.
Bushy, ascending, depressed, or erect plants, with rather large and more or less readily
detached joints, bearing acicular or subulate, often numerous, yellow or white spines. The
species inhabit the West Indies, Mexico, Guatemala, and northern South America.
Fic. 135.—Opuntia utkilio. Fic. 136.—Opuntia anacantha.
KEY TO SPECIES.
Joints glabrous.
Spines slender, acicular.
Spines white.
Joints dull.
Joints dark green, repand; areoles somewhat elevated................. 99. O. bella
Joints light green, not repand; areoles not elevated.
Spines several at the areoles; plant ascending.................... 100. O. triacantha
Spines 1 to few at the areoles or often wanting; plant erect........ 101. O. jamaicensis
Jloimts ishirin oye 9, i eee I SU A RIEL da ce enh ae ere Meee 1o1da. O. guatemalensis
Spines yellow, at least when young; plant bushy branched...................... 102. O. tuna
Spines stout, subulate.
Spines white; joints relatively, thick, turgid!.......5./0.......0.2.5..-------0- 102a. O. pennellit
Spines yellow, at least when young; joints relatively thin.
Plants low, spreading, 2 dm. high or less.
Jomntsrepandispinesjprightayellowe eee einer eee een 103. O. antillana
Joints not repand; spines pale yellow............................--- 103a. O. caracasana
Plants tall, 1 to 2 meters high.
Jjointsyobovatelonbroadlyazellipticy nee ee ece neni rience 104. O. wentiana
Joints narrowly oblong or oblong-obovate..............-..-.0..0005- 104d. O. aequatorialis
OPUNTIA. III
Joints pubescent.
Areoles surrounded by purplish spots.........-2.- 22-50. -02 2 see eee ete eee 105. O. decumbens
Areoles not surrounded by purplish spots............... 0.02.0 e cee eects 106. O. depressa
99. Opuntia bella sp. nov.
Stems low, 10 to 12 dm. high, forming thickets; joints oblong, repand, 10 to 16 cm. long, dull
dark green; areoles 1 to 2 cm. apart, somewhat elevated, small, filled with short brown wool and
glochids; leaves minute, 1.5 to 2.5 mm. long; spines white, 2 to 6, unequal, acicular, the longer ones
about 2 cm. long; flowers 5 cm. long, ‘“‘sulphur-yellow turning to orange-red;” petals 20 to 22 mm.
long; ovary deeply umbilicate; “fruit small, greenish yellow.”
137-—Opuntia bella in the foreground.
Type locality: Venticas del Dagua, Dagua Valley, western cordillera of Colombia.
Distribution: Western Colombia.
The type is based upon plants collected by Mr. Henry Pittier in the State of Cauca,
Colombia, in 1906, and grown ever since in Washington and New York. The species is
very common in Cauca, forming with other cacti impenetrable thickets.
Figure 137 is from a photograph by Mr. Pittier of the type plant, taken near Cauca,
Colombia, in 1906; figure 138 is from a photograph by the same collector, showing flowering
and fruiting joints; figure 139 represents a single joint.
112 THE CACTACEAE.
100. Opuntia triacantha (Willdenow) Sweet, Hort. Brit. 172. 1826.
Cactus triacanthos Willdenow, Enum. Pl. Suppl. 34. 1813.
Stems half procumbent or clambering over rocks, sometimes even erect but always low; joints
turgid, oblong, 4 to 8 cm. long, the terminal and often the second and third ones breaking off
easily; spines usually 3, white but often drying yellowish, 4 cm. long or less; flowers, including the
ovaries, 5 cm. long, brownish yellow to cream-colored, tinged with pink; petals obtuse; filaments and
style pale green; fruit 2.5 cm. long, red, spineless.
Type locality: Not cited; cultivated in the Berlin Garden.
Distribution: Desecheo Island, Porto Rico; Lesser Antilles, St. Thomas to Guadeloupe.
Fic. 138.—Opuntia bella. Xo.75. Fic. 139.-—Opuntia bella. Xo0.66.
When published, the origin of this species was uncertain. It has been referred to the
South American flora, but if our interpretation is correct it is a West Indian plant. It was
introduced into cultivation in 1796.
This species is very common on flats or low hills and, so far as our observation goes,
is never found very far inland in the Lesser Antilles.
Professor Schumann’s description includes two species, one of which belongs here and
one in the Strepiacanthae, perhaps as Mr. Berger thinks to O. amyclaea—and a tall plant,
3.5 meters high, is now grown in Italy under that name. The Index Kewensis refers
O. triacantha as a synonym of O. curassavica, which is erroneous if our interpretation of
it is correct.
Plate xvii, figure 3, represents joints of the plant collected on Antigua by Rose, Fitch,
and Russellin 1913. Figure 140 is from a photograph taken on St. Christopher, British West
Indies, by Paul G. Russell in 1913.
a
BRITTON AND ROSE
PLATE XIX
AHOENB co.
9 H. A. Wood del. : . . °
oa, Opuntia jamatcensis.
Plant: 2,3. Flower. 4. Longitudinal section of flower. 5, 6. Stamen. 7. Style.
OPUNTIA. 503}
_ An Opuntia collected by H. Pittier in Costa Rica and now growing in the cactus house
of the U. S. Department of Agriculture has not been identified. It resembles somewhat
Opuntia triacantha, but is much out of the range of that species and differs from it in some
important respects. The joints are small, obovate to oblong, rounded at apex, dark green
with purple blotches below the areoles, with low, broad tubercles; margin of the areole
bearing short white hairs; spines usually wanting, but cultivated specimens bear a single
short spine 6 to 7 mm. long from an areole.
Fic. 140.—Opuntia triacantha.
101. Opuntia jamaicensis Britton and Harris, Torreya 11: 130. 1911.
Erect, 1 meter high, with a short subcylindric trunk; branches several, ascending, joints dull
green, obovate, much narrowed at base, flat, rather thin, readily detached, 7 to 13 cm. long, 5 to
7.5 cm. wide; areoles about 2.5 cm. apart; spines 1 to 5, usually only 2, acicular, unequal, white,
2.5 cm. long or less; flowers 4 cm. broad; petals 16 to 18; filaments greenish white; style white;
stigma-lobes 7 or 8, creamy white; fruit pyriform, red, 3.5 to 4 cm. long; seeds 4 mm. broad.
Type locality: St. Catherine, Jamaica.
Distribution: Plain south of Spanish Town, Jamaica.
The following figures are from paintings by Miss H. A. Wood:
Plate xviul, figure 4, shows a fruiting joint; figure 5 is ofa section of the fruit; plate x1x,
figure 1, shows the type plant about one-third natural size; figures 2, 3, and 4 are of the
flowers; figures 5 and 6 show the stamens; figure 7 represents the style.
101a. Opuntia guatemalensis sp. nov. (See Appendix, p. 218.)
102. Opuntia tuna (Linnaeus) Miller, Gard. Dict. ed. 8. No. 3. 1769.
Cactus tuna Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 468. 1753.
Cactus humilis Haworth, Mise. Nat. 187. 1803.
Opuntia humilis Haworth, Syn. Pl. Succ. r89. 1812.
Opuntia polyantha Haworth, Syn. Pl. Suce. 190. 1812.
Cactus polyanthos Sims, Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 53: pl. 2691. 1826.
Opuntia multiflora Nicholson, Dict. Gard. 2: 503. 1885.
Plants 6 to 9 dm. high or less; joints usually small, but sometimes up to 16 cm. long, obovate
to oblong, light green, except above the areoles and there brownish; leaves minute, fugacious; areoles
arge; spines 2 to 6, usually only 3 to 5, slightly spreading, light yellow; glochids yellow; flowers about
5 cm. broad; sepals orbicular, yellowish, with a purple stripe along the center; petals light yellow,
Ii4 THE CACTACEAE.
slightly tinged with red, oblong, rounded at apex; filaments short, greenish below; style and stigma-
lobes cream-colored or yellowish; ovary bright green, narrowed downward; fruit red, obovoid, about
3 cm. long; seeds 3 to 4 mm. broad.
Type locality: Jamaica.
Distribution: Southern side of Jamaica, West Indies.
Opuntia tuna is one of the old Cactus species. It was described by Linnaeus as Cactus
tuna and by Philip Miller as Opuntia tuna. In the early part of the Nineteenth Century it was
renamed Opuntia humilis and also O. polyantha, and has long passed under the latter name.
Opuntia tuna, however, is one of the commonest Opuntia names in our botanical literature.
This is due partly to the fact that the name was early transferred to Opuntia dillenu, one
of the most common species, both wild and cultivated, and partly because tuna is the
. cal
¥
2 >
Fic. 141.—Opuntia tuna. Fic. 142.—Opuntia tuna. Xo.5.
common Mexican name for opuntias, and many species have therefore been identified as
O. tuna. So far as our studies indicate, this species is confined to the Jamaica lowlands.
Opuntia multiflora is referred here, although we do not know the plant. It is figured
by Nicholson (Dict. Gard. Nicholson 2: f. 754); this figure is republished by Riimpler
(Forster, Handb. Cact. ed. 2. f. 130), and by Knippel (Kakteen, pl. 28), both calling it
Opuntia polyantha; while W. Watson (Cact. Cult. f. 79) uses the same illustration, calling
it O. dillenit.
Opuntia coccinea (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 161. 1837) is given as a synonym of O. tuna,
but it was never published; it is doubtless different from O. coccinea Rafinesque (Med. FI.
U.S. 2: 247. 1830), also unpublished. ‘The following names seem to belong here, but were
not formally published: Opuntia flexibilis (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 161. 1837); O. tuna
humilis Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1844. 46. 1845); O. tuna laevior Salm-Dyck (Hort.
Dyck. 186. 1834); and O. tuna orbiculata Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1844. 47. 1845).
Illustrations: Loudon, Encycl. Pl. ed. 3. f. 6878, as Cactus tuna; Wiener Ilustr.
Gartenz. 10: f. 114, as Opuntia humilis; Bliihende Kakteen 2: pl. 75; Forster, Handb. Cact.
OPUNTIA. 115
ed. 2. f. 130; Knippel, Kakteen 2: pl. 28, these three as Opuntia polyantha; Curtis’s Bot. Mag.
53: pl. 2691, as Cactus polyanthos; De Candolle, Pl. Succ. Hist. 2: pl. 138!4), as Cactus opuntia
polyanthos; Descourtilz, Fl. Med. Antil. pl. 513, as Cactus opuntia.
Figure 141 is from a photograph of a plant collected by William Harris, near Kingston,
Jamaica, in 1913; figure 142 represents a joint of the same plant.
102a. Opuntia pennellii sp. nov. (See Appendix, p. 219.)
103. Opuntia antillana Britton and Rose, Brooklyn Bot. Gard. Mem. 1: 74. 1918.
Growing in dense clumps, often 1 meter broad, more or less prostrate; joints usually obovate,
7 to 20 cm. long, narrow and nearly terete at base; terminal joints easily breaking off; leaves conic-
subulate, about 2 mm. long; areoles large, 2 to 3 cm. apart, containing soft brown wool; spines stout,
terete, 3 to 6 at an areole, unequal, 1 to 6 cm. long, yellow but becoming gray to nearly white in age;
glochids numerous, yellow; flowers 5 to 7 cm. long; petals broad, obtuse, yellow, turning reddish in
age; fruit reddish purple, 4 cm. long.
Fic. 143.—Opuntia antillana forming thickets.
Type locality: Near Basse Terre, St. Christopher, Rose, Fitch and Russell, No. 3230,
February 2, 1913.
Distribution: St. Christopher, St. Croix, Tortola,
St. Thomas, Porto Rico, and Hispaniola.
This species is one of the most widely distributed
in the West Indies and, on some of the islands on which
it occurs, generally the most abundant. This is partly
due to the fact that the terminal joints are easily de-
tached and may thus be widely scattered.
The question has frequently been raised in our
minds whether this species may not be of hybrid origin.
It has some resemblance to O. dillenii, but has much
smaller joints and these very fragile. What the other
parent would be is not so clear. The fragile joints
would suggest O. triacantha or O. repens, but otherwise
there is no close alliance with either of these. Owing
to the fact that it is more common than any of these
species, and is often not associated with any of them, we believe it to be distinct. In the
Fig. 144.—Opuntia antillana. Xo0.33.
116 THE CACTACEAE.
desert of Azua, Santo Domingo, this is the dominant cactus, forming dense, impenetrable
thickets on the low coastal plain. In the wild state the Azua plant has the joints often
bronzed or purple. On Tortola and St. Thomas it occurs with O. dillentt and O. repens,
and is there called bull suckers.
Figure 143 is from a photograph taken by Paul G. Russell in 1913 near Azua, Santo
Domingo; figure 144 represents joints of the type plant.
103a. Opuntia caracasana Salm-Dyck. (See Appendix, p. 219.)
104. Opuntia wentiana sp. nov.
Opuntia tunoides Britton and Shafer in Boldingh, Fl. Ned. W. Ind. Eiland 300. 1913. Not O. tunoidea
Gibbes.
Plant erect, much branched, 1 to 2 meters high’ joints obovate to elliptic, rather thin, up to
25 cm. long, usually rounded at apex, pale green, slightly glaucous; terminal joints somewhat fragile;
leaves small and subulate; spines on young joints usually 3, afterwards 4 or 5, when young pale yellow
but soon white; flowers small, 6 to 7 cm. long including the ovary; petals pale yellow, 3 cm. long,
obovate, acute; style cream-colored; fruit small, red.
Type locality: Curagao.
Distribution: Venezuela, and the neighboring islands, Margarita, Bonaire, Curagao,
and Aruba.
Dr. Rose found this plant repeatedly in Venezuela and writes of it as follows: Very
common not only on the savannas along the coast but also on the neighboring hills along
with Lematreocereus, Cephalocereus, and other cactus genera; its more or less fragile joints,
yellowish spines, bushy stature, and structure of flowers ally it with the Tunae.
This species has been confused with the Jamaican Opuntia tuna (Linnaeus) Miller,
which it resembles. Named in honor of Professor F. A. F. C. Went, distinguished
Dutch botanist.
104a. Opuntia aequatorialis sp. nov. (See Appendix, p. 219.)
105. Opuntia decumbens Salm-Dyck, Hort. Dyck. 361. 1834.
Opuntia puberula Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 156. 1837.
Stems low, often creeping or trailing, rarely over 4 dm. high; joints 1 to 2 dm. long, oval to
oblong, covered with ashort, soft pubescence; areole usually small, surrounded by a purple blotch,
bearing yellow glochids and wool, the wool cobweb-like on very young joints; spines often wanting,
usually solitary but sometimes numerous, slender or rather stout, 4 cm. long and yellow; flowers
numerous, small, including the ovary about 4 cm. long; petals dark yellow; fruit deep purple, very
juicy; seeds about 4 mm. broad.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Guatemala and Mexico as far north as Mazatlan and Tamaulipas.
Opuntia repens Karwinsky (Salm-Dyck, Hort. Dyck. 361. 1834) and O. irrorata Mar-
tius are usually given as synonyms of this species, but as they were printed without
descriptions, they should hardly be referred to synonymy.
The species has long been in cultivation, a colored illustration having been published
in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine in 1841. It grows luxuriously in greenhouses, flowering
profusely in the spring.
We have referred here Opuntia puberula Pfeiffer, which seems to be different from the
plant now grown in collections under that name. Pfeiffer’s original description, based upon
sterile plants alone, may be paraphrased as follows: Joints thick, obovate, 7.5 to 12.5 cm.
long by 5 to 7.5 cm. broad, puberulent, green; areoles somewhat remote, each surrounded by
a red spot, bearing in the upper part a bunch of short glochids and below 2 to 4 slender,
white, divergent spines, the longer ones 8 mm. long; leaves 4 mm. long, acute, red at apex.
Labouret’s description of 1853, of O. puberula Pfeiffer, is very similar to Pfeiffer’s,
except that he states that the spines are 9 cm. long. Both these descriptions answer very
BRITTON AND ROSE PLATE XX
M. E. Eaton del. A MOEN B CO
1,2. Flowering and fruiting joints of Opuntia decumbens. 3. Probable hybrid,with fruit and flower.
(All natural size.)
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OPUNTIA. 117
well to the plant which we know as Opuntia decumbens, originally described from plants
growing in the Botanical Garden in Vienna.
Opuntia decumbens irrorata Forbes (Hort. Tour. Germ. 158. 1837) is doubtless the
same as O. irrorata Martius (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 154. 1837). These and O. decumbens
longispina Salm-Dyck (Haage and Schmidt, Haupt-Verzeichnis 1912: 230. 1912) pre-
sumably belong here.
Opuntia parvispina Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 238. 1850), described from
garden specimens of unknown origin, without flowers, has never been definitely placed.
Schumann lists it among his unknown species, but attributes it to Mexico. Salm-Dyck
states that it resembles O. puberula, but that it is glabrous.
Illustrations: Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 68: pl. 3914; Blithende Kakteen 3: pl. 132.
Fic. 145.—Opuntia decumbens.
Plate xx, figure 1, represents a flowering joint of a plant collected by Dr. MacDougal
and Dr. Rose at Tehuacan, Mexico, in 1906; figure 2 represents a fruiting joint of a plant
collected by William R. Maxon at El Rancho, Guatemala, in 1905. Figure 145 is froma
photograph of the plant taken at Tomellin, Mexico, by Dr. MacDougal in 1906.
106. Opuntia depressa Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 517. 1908.
Low, creeping or spreading plant, sometimes 60 cm. high and forming a patch 3 to 4 meters in
diameter; joints of a dark glossy yellowish green color, pubescent, when young, obovate, 20 cm. long,
usually with 1 long, somewhat curved spine at each areole, sometimes with 1 to 3 shorter ones, all
yellowish; old joints oblong, 30 cm. long, bearing 4 to 6 spines at each areole; flowers red; fruit small,
globular, with large clusters of brown glochids, when immature with a broad, deep umbilicus.
Type locality: Near Tehuacdn, Mexico.
Distribution: Southern Mexico.
This plant is very common about Tehuacdn, growing with species of Agave, Beau-
carnea, and Echinocactus.
Figure 146 is from a photograph taken by Dr. MacDougal of the type plant.
118 THE CACTACEAE.
Fic. 146.—Opuntia depressa, in the foreground.
Series 5. BASILARES.
We recognize eight species as forming this series. They are low or bushy, much branched
plants, with flat, thin, broad joints, the areoles small, usually numerous and close together.
Key TO SPECIES.
Joints papillose, not pubescent.
DEW g ETS [11 (cy oes U ec pk ae eg eRe See ST eR as aeiaeaes Sea cence eer ac LS 107. A eee :
Mrintdry Onmearhys Gry tes ses oie ere eres ee SITS a eee en ee ee oer 108. O. treleasez
Joints mostly manifestly pubescent.
Spines none or few.
RIG WETS LEG Fic 2 Seraye sie oee eee TS oes Ste SE Se eT SS Se ee pet a re ee tog. O. basilaris
Flowers yellow to orange.
Joints bright green.
(Sled Thy nie eeaetge tae eSa SEU eeu Ss eae ets pe boeDEs SUS eS USO adeue 110. O. microdasys
Glochids SHOrt 3: S25 ee ee ase ee ne ee ae eee ee ne ee oC eSe 111. O. macrocalyx
joints serayishiereens, \c ee no enn ae oe Fo eS Ee See EE ee Oe 112. O. rujida
Spines very numerous.
Areoles:closestogether cc, toc cco get See eee We eae US ears In eee ea eee 113. O. pycnantha
Aremles: Gister Core olay i ep ee Snr oases) OE Tease 114. O. comonduensis
107. Opuntia lubrica Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 21: 169. 1Ig10.
“A low ascending, spreading species very similar in habit to O. microdasys, frequently 4% dm.
high and when well developed to dm. or more in diameter; joints sub-circular to obovate, about 15
by 20 em., or in case of last joints of previous year about 12 by 15 cm., bright, glossy, leaf-green, very
evidently papillate but scarcely pubescent under a lens; leaves subulate, cuspidate-pointed, 6 to 9
mm. in length; areoles 15 to 22 mm. apart, 4 to 6 mm. in diameter, sub-circular, prominent; spicules
prominent, 4 to 5 mm. in length, erect, bushy, in crescentic tufts in upper portion of areoles, becom-
ing much more numerous in age, and at 2 to 4 years completely filling the areole, and, like O. rufida
and some other species, becoming very abundant and conspicuous by proliferation of areolar tissue
into short raised or columnar structures; spines exceedingly variable, sometimes nearly absent, again
quite abundant and irregularly distributed, none to many, mostly 1 to 3, becoming more numerous
with age and in scattering areoles to as high as 16, mostly about 12 mm. long, but sometimes 214 cm.,
yellowish, translucent, bonelike, sometimes darker at base; fruits decidedly acid, light red without
with yellowish green rind and red pulp; seed small, thin shelled, about 3 mm. in diameter.”
Type locality: Near Alonzo, Mexico.
Distribution: Known only from the type locality.
OPUNTIA. 119
Our examination of a painting of this plant in the collection made by Dr. Griffiths
showed it to have great similarity to Opuntia rufida.
Illustration: Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 21: pl. 23.
Figure 147 is copied from the illustration above
cited.
108. Opuntia treleasei Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3:
434. 1896.
Opuntia basilaris treleaset Toumey, Cycl. Amer. Hort. Bailey
3:1147. 1901.
Opuntia treleasei kernii Griffiths and Hare, N. Mex. Agr.
Exp. Sta. Bull. 60: 81. 1906.
Low, sometimes 3 dm. high, spreading at base, some of
the branches of 2 to 4 erect joints; joints obovate, 15 cm. long
or more, fleshy, pale bluish green, glabrous, terete at base;
areoles numerous, filled with dirty yellow glochids, usually
without spines, sometimes quite spiny; flowers rose-colored;
fruit dry, subglobose, with large areoles filled with glochids
and sometimes bearing spines; seeds large, turgid, 7 cm. in
diameter.
Type locality: Caliente, in the Tehachapi Moun-
tains, California.
Distribution: Southern California.
Figure 148 is from a photograph of the plant grow-
ing on the mesa southeast of Bakersfield, California,
taken by Dr. MacDougal in 1913.
109. Opuntia basilaris Engelmann and Bigelow, Proc. Amer.
Acad. 3: 298. 1856.
Opuntia basilaris ramosa Parish, Bull. Torr. Club 19:92. 1892.
Opuntia intricata Griffiths, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 29:
IO. I9g16.
Fic. 147.—Opuntia lubrica.
Fic. 148.—Opuntia treleasei, Southern California.
120 THE CACTACEAE.
Stems low, growing in clumps, either prostrate or erect, sometimes 12 dm. high; joints broadly
obovate, 8 to 20 cm. long, slightly pubescent or glabrous, usually highly colored; leaves 2 to 5 mm.
long, subulate; areoles numerous, filled with white to brown wool and brownish glochids; spines none
or rarely a few at upper areoles; flowers large, 6 to 8 cm. long, deep purple or sometimes white;
filaments purple; fruit dry, globular to obovoid; seeds large, thick, 6 to 10 mm. broad.
Type locality: From Cactus Pass down the valley of the Bill Williams River.
Distribution: Northern Sonora, western Arizona, southern California, Nevada, and
southern Utah.
This is a variable species as to habit, size, pubescence, and color of flowers. The
variety ramosa described by Mr. Parish is more erect than the ordinary form and glabrous.
It has large, handsome flowers, and is a splendid plant for outdoor cultivation where the
climate is suitable, but does not live long in greenhouses. It is called beaver-tail in
Arizona.
Opuntia humistrata Griffiths (Bull. Torr. Club 43: 83. 1916) we refer here from the
description; it is said to differ from O. basilaris “by its much smaller as well as different
shaped joints’; it was found in the San
Bernardino Mountains, northern California,
within the range of O. basilaris.
The following varieties are listed, but
have not been described: albiflora, coerulea,
nana, and pfersdorffit.
Opuntia basilaris cordata is a garden plant
briefly described by F. Forbes (Monatsschr.
Kakteenk. 16: 46. 1906), of which we have
seen no specimens.
Illustrations: Cact. Journ. 1: 167; Dict.
Gard. Nicholson 2: f. 750; Forster, Handb.
CAGE, G6l, Qa ii, uH0)3 IBS, IR, INGO, 418 ol, 13%, ti,
to 5; pl. 23, f.14; Riimpler, Sukkulenten f. 123;
W. Watson, Cact. Cult. f. 76; Cact. Journ. 1:
pl. October, as Opuntia basilaris var. cristata
and var. nevadensis; Alverson, Cact. Cat.
frontispiece, as Opuntia basilaris albiflora. IES Tee O)D LES aS ENaS:
Figure 149 is copied from Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 13, f. 1, an illustration cited above.
Opuntia brachyclada Griffiths (Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 27:25. 1914) is an anom-
alous plant with some of the joints terete and others somewhat flattened. It has been
suggested that it is a hybrid between a cylindric and a flat-jointed species; but, so far as
we know, natural hybrids do not occur between species of these subgenera. It is more
likely to be an anomalous form of Opuntia basilaris, a form of which is known in the same
mountains where it was found.
110. Opuntia microdasys (Lehmann) Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 154. 1837.
Cactus microdasys Lehmann, Ind. Sem. Hamburg. 16. 1827.
Opuntia pulvinata De Candolle, Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 17: 119. 1828.
Opuntia microdasys minor Salm-Dyck, Hort. Dyck. 186. 1834.
Opuntia microdasys laevior Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 241. 1850.
Often low and creeping but sometimes nearly erect and 4 to 6 dm. high; joints oblong to orbicu-
lar, 10 to 15 cm. long, soft-velvety, usually pale green, spineless; areoles conspicuous, closely set,
filled with numerous yellow or brown glochids; flowers usually produced in abundance, 4 to 5 cm.
long, pure yellow or tinged with red; sepals acuminate; petals broad, retuse; filaments and style
white; stigma-lobes 6 to 8, green; fruit dark red, juicy, nearly globular; seeds small, 2 to 3 mm. broad.
Type locality: In Mexico, but originally stated by Lehmann as coming from Brazil.
Distribution: Northern Mexico.
OPUNTIA. 121
In spite of its troublesome glochids, which easily become detached, this species has
long been a greenhouse favorite. No cactus collection, however small, lacks one or more
pots of this species, which rarely grows large in cultivation.
Opuntia microdasys is usually credited to Lehmann, but he apparently published it
as Cactus microdasys, and this is the way it is cited in the Index Kewensis. Lehmann
soon republished this species (Nov. Act. Nat. Cur. 16: 317) where it appears as Cactus
(Opuntia) microdasys. ‘The first use of the name of Opuntia microdasys was by Salm-Dyck
(Hort. Dyck. 186) in 1834, but was without description or synonymy. Pfeiffer in 1837,
however, republishes Lehmann’s description
under Opuntia and is therefore cited as the
author of the binomial. Here it is first cred-
ited to Mexico, although Lehmann stated
definitely that it comes from Brazil; this he
does also with regard to Opuntia tunicata and
Cactus brady pus, both Mexican species, while
Fic. 150.—Opuntia microdasys. Fic. 151.—Opuntia, probable hybrid.
Cactus linkii and C. ottonis, both credited to Mexico, are known only from South America.
If this Opuntia really came originally from Brazil, it might very well be the same as
Opuntia inamoena.
As shown above (p. 116), Opuntia puberula is referred to O. decumbens. The O. puberula
of our gardens, however, is quite a different plant, and in all probability is of hybrid origin.
It is almost identical with a hybrid between O. microdasys and O. cantabrigiensis which Dr.
Rose collected in Hidalgo, Mexico, in 1905, and which is now grown in the collection in
Washington and in the New York Botanical Garden.
Illustrations: Agr. Gaz. N.S. W. 25: pl. opp. p. 138; p. 138; Gard. Chron. III. 30:f. 76;
Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: pl. 28, in part; 20: pl. 12, in part; Safford, Ann. Rep. Smiths. Inst.
1908: pl. 10, f. 4; U. S. Dept. Agr. Bur. Pl. Ind. Bull. 262: pl. 5, f. 2.
Plate xx, figure 1, represents joints of the plant grown ina garden at Riverside, Cal-
ifornia, received by Dr. Rose in 1905, Figure 150 is froma photograph taken by Professor
F. E. Lloyd in Zacatecas, Mexico, in 1908.
122 THE CACTACEAE.
Plate xx, figure 3, shows a flowering joint of a plant sent to the New York Botanical
Garden by M. Simon, of St. Ouen, Paris, France, in 1901, as Opuntia puberula. Figure 151
is from a photograph of the plant sent from La Mortola, Italy, to the same institution
in 1912, as Opuntia puberula.
111. Opuntia macrocalyx Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: 268. 1908.
‘A profusely, divaricately branched, ascending or erect, spreading plant, 9 to 10 dm. high and
about the same in diameter; joints long-obovate, variable but commonly 9 by 22 cm. for last year’s
growth, gray green, pubescent, velvety to the touch; areoles subcircular, usually 2 to 3 mm. in
diameter, very close to 1 cm. apart, slightly sunken; wool tawny, prominent, as long as spicules and
occupying lower half of areole; spicules reddish brown, about 1 mm. long, occupying upper half of
areole, easily separable and causing fully as much annoyance in handling as those of O. microdasys,
in age often appearing dirty yellow im situ but distinctly reddish brown when removed; strictly
spineless; flowers yellow, green outwardly, the leaves on ovary very long subulate and changing
gradually into the sepals which are very long subulate, delicately pointed, loosely arranged or often
half recurved at apex, giving to the bud a rather ragged appearance; fruit red but both pulp and
rind greenish, long obovate to cylindrical, about 2 by 7 cm., with but few rather small seeds, about
3 mm. in diameter.”
Fic. 152.—Opuntia macrocalyx. Xo.75. Fic. 153.—Opuntia rufida.
Type locality: In cultivation at Riverside, California.
Distribution: Known only from cultivated plants; perhaps also from Coahuila, Mexico.
Illustration: Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: pl. 28, in part.
Figure 152 is drawn from a joint of the plant collected by Edward Palmer at Saltillo,
Mexico, in 1904.
112. Opuntia rufida Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 298. 1856.
Opuntia microdasys rufida Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 706. 1808.
More or less erect, 2 to 15 dm. high, with a somewhat definite trunk; joints nearly orbicular,
6 to 25 cm. in diameter, thickish, velvety-tomentose, dull grayish green; leaves subulate, caducous,
4 to 6 cm. long, green with reddish tips; areoles large, filled with numerous brown glochids; flowers
OPUNTIA. 123
yellow to orange, 4 to 5 cm. long including the ovary; petals obovate, 2 to 2.5 cm. long; filaments
greenish white, short, 1 cm. long; style 1.5 cm. long, thick, bulbous just above the base; stigma-
lobes 5, deep green; ovary globular, 1.5 cm. in diameter, umbilicate, with large areoles; fruit, accord-
ing to field observation of Dr. Griffiths, bright red.
Type locality: About Presidio del Norte, on the Rio Grande.
Distribution: Texas and northern Mexico.
This species seems much less common than O. microdasys, with which it is often con-
fused. The joints are gray or bluish green, and the glochids are brown. It does fairly well
under greenhouse conditions.
Illustration: Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: pl. 3; Carnegie Inst. Wash. 269: pl. 11, f. 94.
Figure 153 is from a photograph of a plant brought from Mexico for the New York
Botanical Garden in 1896 by Mrs. N. L. Britton.
Fic. 154.— Opuntia pyenantha. Along the coastal plain of Lower California.
113. Opuntia pycnantha Engelmann in Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 423. 1896.
Opuntia pycnantha margaritana Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 424. 1896.
Often low and creeping, but sometimes forming a clump 2 dm. high; joints oblong to orbicular,
often 20 em. long, puberulent or papillose, usually nearly hidden by the thick mass of spines; areoles
large and closely set, the upper part filled with yellow or brown glochids, and the lower part with 8
to 12 yellow or brown reflexed spines 2 to 3 cm. long; leaves and flowers unknown; fruit 4 cm. long,
very spiny; seeds 2 cm. broad, very thick.
Type locality: Magdalena Bay, Lower California.
Distribution: Southern Lower California.
Coulter’s variety margaritana is known only from Margarita Island, while the species
proper is known only from an adjacent island, Magdalena. They differ only in the color
of their spines and glochids. Both have been in cultivation in New York City and Wash-
ington, but are not well suited for indoor plants.
This species grows in one of the driest parts of Lower California on islands where there
is no surface water and where there is no rain sometimes for five or six years.
Figure 154 is from a photograph taken by Dr. Rose near Santa Maria Bay, Magda-
lena Island, Lower California, in 1911.
124 THE CACTACEAE.
114. Opuntia comonduensis (Coulter) Britton and Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 519. 1908.
Opuntia angustata comonduensis Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 425. 1896.
Low, spreading plants, sometimes 2 dm. high and forming broad clumps; joints obovate to
orbicular, 12 to 15 cm. long, softly pubescent; areoles large, filled with brown wool and yellow glo-
chids; lower areoles spineless, the upper ones bearing 1 or 2, rarely 3, or on old stems as many as 10,
slender spines, 3 to 5 cm. long or longer, yellow; flowers, including ovary, 6 cm. long, yellow; fruit
purple, 4 cm. long, spineless; seeds 4 to 4.5 mm. broad, thick.
Type locality: Comondu, Lower California.
Distribution: Southern Lower California.
As was pointed out by Mrs. K. Brandegee, this plant is not closely related to Opuntia
angustata.
Fic. 155.—Opuntia comonduensis.
This species has long been known only from herbarium specimens collected by Mr.
Brandegee in 1889. In 1911 Dr. Rose collected considerable material both near the town
of San José and on Carmen Island which has since been in cultivation in the New York
Botanical Garden and in Washington. The above description is based largely on this
collection.
This species sometimes grows with O. tapona, in fact being confused in the original
material; except for its pubescent joints, they are not readily distinguished.
Figure 155 is from a photograph by Mr. T. W. Smillie of a plant collected by Mr. E. W.
Nelson and Mr. E. A. Goldman in Lower California in 1906.
OPUNTIA. 125
Fic. 156.—Opuntia inamoena. A single plant. Photograph by P. H. Dorsett.
Series 6. INAMOENAE.
A single, prostrate or depressed, usually spineless, light-green
Brazilian species.
115. Opuntia inamoena Schumann in Martius, Fl. Bras. 47: 306.
1890.
Opuntia quipa Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 894. 1898.
Usually low, often prostrate, forming clumps 2 to 10 dm. broad,
or sometimes in sheltered situations 6 cm. high and forming dense,
extensive thickets; roots fibrous; joints bluish green, when young
bright green, orbicular to oblong, 8 to 16 cm. long, usually quite
thick, sometimes 3 cm. thick, usually quite spineless; leaves minute,
2 mm. long; areoles small, when young filled with numerous yellow-
ish-brown glochids; glochids unequal, spreading, easily becoming de-
tached; flowers small, brick-red; petals spreading; filaments orange;
style yellow; stigma-lobes pale green; fruit globular, yellowish, 2.5
to 3 cm. in diameter.
Type locality: Schumann cites Rio de Janeiro in original
description.
Distribution: Pernambuco, Bahia, and Minas Geraes, Brazil.
This plant is known as quipa in Bahia, Brazil.
This species is very common in all the dry part of Bahia and, although abundant and
mostly spineless, is avoided by all kinds of grazing animals, even when the country is devoid
of other suitable forage. It has been suggested that the plant may be bitter, or that the
glochids are troublesome; the glochids, however, are usually wanting on old joints.
The plant rarely develops acicular spines up to 3 cm. long on some joints, as shown
by specimens collected by Dr. Rose and Mr. Russell near Machado Portello, Brazil.
Figure 156 is from a photograph taken by Mr. P. H. Dorsett near Joazeiro, Brazil, in
1914; figure 157 is from a plant collected by Dr. Rose near Machado Portello, Bahia,
Brazil, in 1915.
Fic. 157.—Opuntia inamoena.
0.66.
126 THE CACTACEAE.
Series 7. TORTISPINAE.
Prostrate or spreading plants rarely erect, with mostly rather small, persistent, scarcely tuber-
culate, orbicular or oval joints, and large flowers; natives of the eastern, central, and southern
United States.
Plate 21 represents a group of hardy cacti, chiefly species of this series, at the New
York Botanical Garden.
KEY TO SPECIES.
Spines none or only 1 or 2 at an areole. }
Joints bluish green; at least when young; roots tuber-like.
Fruit clavate; joints thin.
TEREIKE DIOOUNE A145 Sid, MONS. occsccacaccscaacnacscocteonsace 116. O. allairei
TqbIhHG Wa),G/ Ga VOlans veo soc one dene ovlemannbad eoob.o 116a. O. lata
Paste Clonal? Youn wbieNGl »s-sgoedaconsedanavosovess uence 117. O. pollardii
Joints green; roots not tuberous. ‘
Flowers 8 em. broad or less.
Joints orbicular or little longer than wide.................... 118. O. opuntia
Joints oblong, much longer than wide....................... 119. O. macrarthra
WOES TO HO 13 Gin, lyoRCle oo ocaccuscsoseusagvdgseudcscasnccs 120. O. grandiflora
Spines mostly 2 or more at an areole.
Ovary obconic, 2 to 4 cm. long.
Roots tuberous.
Joints repandsplantisuberectocme cena eee oe eee. 121. O. austrina
Joints scarcely 1epand; plants nearly prostrate.............. 122. O. macrorhiza
Roots not tuberous. A
Igo Marrs Sho Toqihe GomwMlls oo 5 scacocboaacucdanobencapoeeuudc 123. O. plumbea
Flowers and fruit large.
Spines white to light brown, slender.
Seedsyacute=tmaneinecl sare i went eine earn ele 124. O. tortispina
Seeds obtuse-margined.
Fruit large, 4 to 5 em. long; spines light colored.... 125. O. stenochila
Fruit small, 2 to 3 cm. long; spines brown......... 126. O. delicata
Sones chraklonoyn, GOB ooscncdocossoucsasuccadssasen 127. O. fuscoatra Fic. 158. Opuntia
Ovary narrowly subcylindric, 5 to 6 cm. long..................... 127a. O. macateer silent, Sob
116. Opuntia allairei Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: 83. 1909.
A low, spreading, tuberous-rooted, prostrate
plant, with some of the joints ascending; joints
bluish green, obovate, usually 10 to 15 cm. long,
originally described as even longer, with or without
spines; spines, if present, 1 to 3, yellowish brown,
2.5 cm. long or less, slender but a little flattened;
glochids numerous, especially abundant at very old
areoles, yellow; leaves 6 to 8 mm. long; flowers
6 to 7 cm. broad, yellow with a red center; fruit 4 to
5 cm. long, dark red.
Type locality: Mouth of Trinity River,
Texas.
Distribution: Southern Texas and western
Louisiana.
This species is perhaps nearest O. macror-
jiza, but differs in the usual absence of spines
and in differently colored joints.
Illustrations: Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: pl.
2, f. 2; pl. 5; pl. 12, in part.
Figure 158 is copied from the second illus-
tration above cited.
116a. Opuntia lata Small, Journ. N. Y. Bot. Gard.
20:26. 1919. (See Appendix, p- 220.) Fic. 159.—Opuntia pollardii. Xo.4.
117. Opuntia pollardii Britton and Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 523. 1908.
Prostrate, tuberiferous, related to Opuntia opuntia; young joints bluish green, glaucous, 5 to 16
cm. long, 1 to 2 cm. thick; areoles 1.5 to 3 cm. apart, bearing numerous yellow glochids 2 to 3 cm.
PLATE XxXI
BRITTON AND ROSE
“Uspies) [BOIULIO ATOR MIN SY} JO SpUNOIS snososvqisy oyy Ul ‘wu7gs77.107 vYUNd_) Aj\sour ‘stead ATYoIId Aprey jo dno1yy
OPUNTIA. 127
long, those toward the top of the joint each with a single stout, stiff, pungent spine 2.5 to 4 cm.
long; fruit short-obovoid, 2.5 cm. long, 1.5 em. thick, with a few areoles bearing tufts of brownish
wool but no spines and but few glochids; flowers yellow, 6 to 8 cm. broad; sepals deltoid to rhom-
bic; fruit 2.5 to 4 cm. long; seeds 4 to 6 mm. wide, much thicker than those of Opuntia opuntia.
Type locality: Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi.
Distribution: Coastal plain, Church Island, North Carolina, to northern Florida, Ala-
bama, and Mississippi.
Figure 159 is from a photograph of fruiting joints collected by A. H. Howell on
Petit Bois Island, Alabama.
118. Opuntia opuntia (Linnaeus) Karsten, Deutsch. Fl. 888. 1882.
Cactus opuntia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 468. 1753.
Cactus compressus Salisbury, Prodr. 348. 1796.
Cactus opuntia nana De Candolle, Pl. Succ. Hist. 2: pl. 138. [A]. 1799.
Cactus humifusus Rafinesque, Ann. Nat. 15. 1820.
Opuntia vulgaris major Salm-Dyck, Observ. Bot. 3:9. 1822.
Opuntia vulgaris media* Salm-Dyck, Observ. Bot. 3:9. 1822.
Opuntia humifusa Rafinesque, Med. Fl. U. S. 2: 247. 1830.
Opuntia mesacantha Rafinesque, Bull. Bot. Seringe 216. 1830.
Opuntia caespitosa Rafinesque, Bull. Bot. Seringe 216. 1830.
Opuntia intermedia Salm-Dyck, Hort. Dyck. 364. 1834.
Opuntia nana Visiani, Fl. Dalmatica 3: 143. 1852.
Opuntia rafinesquezt} Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 295. 1856.
Opuntia rafinesquei microsperma Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 295. 1856.
Opuntia rafinesquet minor Engelmann and Bigelow, Pac. R. Rep. 4:55. 1856.
Opuntia vulgaris rafinesquet Gray, Man. Bot. ed. 2. 136. 1856.
Opuntia rafinesquet arkansana Riimpler in Forster, Handb. Cact. ed. 2. 922. 1885.
Opuntia mesacantha microsperma Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 429. 1896.
Opuntia mesacantha parva Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 429. 1896.
Opuntia vulgaris nana Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 715. 1808.
Opuntia humifusa microsperma Heller, Cat. N. Amer. Pl. ed. 2. 8. 1900.
Opuntia humifusa parva Heller, Cat. N. Amer. Pl. ed. 2. 8. 1900.
Low, spreading plants, sometimes ascending, with fibrous roots; joints orbicular to oblong,
3 to 13 cm. long, rarely longer, thick, dark green; areoles usually far apart; leaves subulate, appressed
or spreading, 4 to 8 mm. long, early deciduous; spines often wanting, when present usually one from
an areole, rarely two, 5 cm. long or less, brownish or sometimes nearly white, but on seedlings 5 to
12; glochids numerous, yellow to dark brown; flowers usually bright yellow, sometimes with reddish
centers, 5 to 8.5 cm. broad; petals 8 to 10, widely spreading; filaments yellow; stigma-lobes white;
fruit obovoid to oblong, red, juicy, 2.5 to 5 em. long, edible; seeds 4 to 5 mm. broad.
Type locality: In Virginia.
Distribution: Sandy and rocky places from Massachusetts to Virginia, the mountains
of Georgia and central Alabama extending north into southern Ontario, Canada (Point
Pelee), west in isolated colonies to northern Illinois, eastern Missouri and Tennessee, and
long established in the mountains of northern Italy and Switzerland.
Linnaeus undoubtedly had two species in his Cactus opuntia, one being the low Virginia
plant commonly known as O. vulgaris, and the other a tall, branching plant figured by
Bauhin (p. 154). Upon Bauhin’s illustration Miller based his Opuntia vulgaris, a name
which was afterwards transferred to the low, procumbent plant of the eastern United States.
For this reason Burkill (Rec. Bot. Surv. India 4: 288. 1911) would displace the name O.
vulgaris and take up the name O. nana. We are quite in agreement with him as to the
O. vulgaris Miller, but we retain for the low plant the specific name opuntia Linnaeus. The
tall species is O. monacantha, which we now call O. vulgaris, as suggested by Burkill.
It is to be noted that the southern Atlantic coast specimens of Opuntia opuntia have
yellow or greenish-yellow glochids, while those in its northern and western range have
brown glochids. Its southwestern limit is uncertain. It probably does not extend to
Texas, although two varieties have been reported from there; these we are disposed to treat
as species under the names Opuntia macrorhiza and O. grandiflora. It is reported from
*Opuntia vulgaris minor (Labouret, Monogr. Cact. 476. 1853) was doubtless intended for this name.
{Sometimes spelled rafinesquiana.
128 THE CACTACEAE.
eastern Kansas, but the plants found there are not like those found in Illinois and Indiana,
having more spines and a glaucous bloom, and are tuberous-rooted, and these are referred
by us to O. macrorhiza. The published western varieties of O. humifusa are specifically
distinct; we have referred them to O. tortispina.
Some of the joints of this plant elongate under shade conditions, reaching at least 2.5
dm. in length and not more than 5 cm. in width.
Opuntia arkansana (Hirscht, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 8: 115. 1898) has not been
formally described. The name should doubtless be referred here.
Opuntia prostrata Monville and Lemaire (Forster, Handb. Cact. 478. 1846) was given
only as a synonym of O. intermedia, while O. intermedia prostrata Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort.
Dyck 1849. 69. 1850) was based on O. prostrata.
O. rafinesquet parva Haage and Schmidt (Verzeichnis Blumenzwiebeln 1915: 29. 1915)
is a new name for O. mesacantha parva Coulter.
Under Opuntia vulgaris Michaele Gandoger in his Flora Europea (9: 145. 1886) has
proposed the following new binomials: O. recedens, O. morisit, O. cycloidea, O. inaequalis,
O. ligustica, and O. mediterranea. The following varieties cited under O. humifusa are in
the trade: cymochila, greenei, macrorhiza, oplocarpa and stenochila (Stand. Cycl. Hort.
Bailey 4: 2363. 1916.)
Fic. 160.—Opuntia opuntia in its natural surroundings on Staten Island, New York.
Illustrations: Mlustr. Fl. 2: f. 2527; ed. 2. 2: f. 2986; Curtis’s Bot. Mag. so: pl. 2393;
Loudon, Encycl. Pl. ed. 3. f. 6884, the last two as Cactus opuntia; De Candolle, Pl. Succ.
Hist. 2: pl. 138 [A]; DeTussac, Fl. Antill. 2: pl. 30, the last two as Cactus opuntia nana.
Dept. Agr. N. S. W. Misc. Publ. 253: pl. [1], f. 2; Engler and Prantl, Pflanzenfam.
3°: f. 57, G; Forster, Handb. Cact. ed. 2. f. 12; Pac. R. Re py 4chplsrOn tenis 2-94) plea hteenat
Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen Nachtr. f. 1, all as Opuntia vulgaris. Standard Cycl. Hort.
Bailey 4: f. 2602, in part as Opuntia humifusa. Amer. Entom. Bot. 2:f. 160; Amer. Gar-
den 11: 462; Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 115: pl. 7041; Dict. Gard. Nicholson 2: f. 756; Fl. Serr.
22: pl. 2328; Forster, Handb. Cact. ed. 2. f. 2; Gard. Mag. 4: 280; Gartenflora 24: 218;
Lemaire, Cact. f. 9; Meehan’s Monthly 2: pl. 6; 10: 121; Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. ro, f. 4, 5;
plzetate 7, 8; Rumpler, Sukkulenten f. 125; W. Watson, Cact. Cult. f. 84, all as Opuntia
rafinesquet; Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 11, f. x, as Opuntia rafinesquei minor; Forster, Handb.
PLATE XXII
BRITTON AND ROSE
SR tiiprcaisnneerr
ne
A.HOENA CO,
M. E. Eaton del. f
1. Joints of Opuntia microdasys. 4
Seed of same.
2. Flowering joint of Opuntia macrarthra. 5. Flowering joint of Opuntia opuntia.
3. Fruit of Opuntia macrarthra. (All natural size except 4.)
OPUNTIA. 129
Cact. ed. 2. f. 126, as Opuntia rafinesquet arkansana; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 14: 124, as
Opuntia vulgaris nana; Miller, Fig. Pl. Gard. Dict. 2: pl. 191, as Opuntia folio minori, etc.,
Dict. Hort. Bois f. 638; Rev. Hort. 40: f. 10, 11; 66:f. 59, all as Opuntia rafinesquiana.
Wiener Illustr. Gartenz. 10: f. 112, as Opuntia rafinesquiana arkansana.
Plate xxu, figure 5, represents a flowering joint of the plant which grows naturally on
schistose rocks in the New York Botanical Garden. Figure 160 is from a photograph of
the plant growing on sand dunes at Crooke’s Point, Staten Island, New York, taken by
Howard H. Cleaves in 1914.
119. Opuntia macrarthra Gibbes, Proc. Elliott Soc. Nat. Hist. 1: 273. 1859.
Stems prostrate or ascending; joints narrowly oblong to obovate, 12 to 35 cm. long, thick,
pale green, somewhat shining; leaves subulate, ro mm. long, green, sometimes with purplish tips;
areoles large, 2 to3 cm. apart, filled with brown wool; spines wanting, or sometimes 1, up to 2.5 cm. long;
glochids when present yellow; flowers not known; fruit narrowly obovoid, red, fleshy, 4 to 6 cm. long.
Type locality: Near Charleston, South Carolina.
Distribution: Coast of South Carolina.
This species, long overlooked, has recently been col-
lected by Dr. J. K.Small in the vicinity of the type locality.
This is doubtless one of the species to which Elliott
called attention and which he said he expected to publish,
but never did.* The original description long remained
unnoticed in the Proceedings of the Elliott Society of
Natural History; it is as follows:
“The second, which we will call Opuntia macrarthra, falls
under the same section with the preceding, and seems to be
near Opuntia angustata, of Engelmann, from the west of the Rio
Grande; a prostrate species, joints from ten to fifteen inches
long and three inches wide, one-third of an inch thick; no
spines, fruit two and a half inches long, slender, clavate.”
Plate xv, figure 3, represents a fruiting joint collected
by Dr. Small on James Island, South Carolina, in 1916;
plate xxul, figure 2, represents a flowering joint of the plant
collected by Dr. Small on the Isle of Palms, near Charles-
ton, South Carolina, in 1916; figure 3 shows a fruit of the
same plant and figure 4 a seed, enlarged.
120. Opuntia grandiflora Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 295.
1856.
Opuntia rafinesquei grandiflora Engelmann, Pac. R. Rep. 4:55. 1856.
Opuntia mesacantha grandiflora Coulter, Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. 3: 429. 18096.
Low, with somewhat ascending branches; joints 12.5 to 15 cm. long; areoles 2.5 cm. apart;
spines usually wanting; flowers very large, 11 to 12.5 cm. broad, yellow with a red center; petals
broad; fruit elongated, 6 cm. long.
Fics. 161, 162.—Opuntia grandiflora.
Type locality: On the Brazos, Texas.
Distribution: Eastern Texas.
Although Dr. Engelmann formally described this as a species, he introduced it as
“probably only a southern variety of O. rafinesquei.”’ A little later he actually used the
name as a variety. The position of the plant is still uncertain; if specimens collected by
Mr. Wm. R. Maxon at Victoria, Texas, and by Mr. C. V. Piper at Dallas, Texas, belong
here, as they appear to, we believe it to be a distinct species.
Illustrations: Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 11, f. 2, 3, as Opuntia rafinesquei grandiflora.
Figures 161 and 162 are copied from the illustrations above cited.
*Cactus opuntia. ‘‘Itis probable that there are now three distinct species on the sea coast of the Southern States
covered under this name.”’ Elliott, A Sketch of the Botany of South Carolina and Georgia, I: 537.
130 THE CACTACEAE.
121. Opuntia austrina Small, Fl. Southeast. U.S. 816. 1903.
Opuntia youngit C. Z. Nelson, Chicago Examiner. June 13, 1915.
Roots fusiform or tuberous, resembling sweet potatoes, often 4 to 6 cm. in diameter, 5 to 15
cm. long; stems erect or ascending; joints narrowly obovate to oblong-obovate, thick, tubercu-
late, repand, bright green, 5 to 12 cm. long; leaves soon deciduous, less than 10 mm. long; glochids
yellowish; spines usually on the upper half and margin of the joint, often Dp sometimes I to6, from
an areole, whitish or pinkish, darker at base and apex, twisted, sometimes wanting; flowers bright
yellow, 6 to 7 cm. broad; petals cuneate, truncate or retuse at apex, mucronate; fruit 2.5 to 3 cm. long.
4+
Fic. 163.—Opuntia austrina. Xo.5.
Type locality: Miami, Florida.
Distribution: Southern Florida.
Opuntia youngit C. Z. Nelson, published in a Chicago newspaper, we have referred here,
after studying a specimen sent by the author.
Opuntia spinalba Rafinesque (Atl. Journ. 1: 147. 1832) was described as from the keys
of Florida, and answers in some respects to O. austrina; but it is very unlikely that any
plants of the region inhabited by austrina were known to botanists as early as 1832.
Figure 163 represents a plant collected by Dr. Small at the type locality in 1901.
122. Opuntia macrorhiza Engelmann, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 6: 206. 1850.
Opuntia fusiformis Engelmann and Bigelow, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 297. 1856.
Opuntia rafinesquei fusiformis Engelmann, Pac. R. Rep. 4: 43. 1856.
Opuntia mesacantha macrorhiza Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 430. 1896.
Opuntia xanthoglochia Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 21: 166. 1910.
Opuntia roseana Mackensen, Bull. Torr. Club 38: 142. rort.
Plant low, usually nearly prostrate, forming a clump 1 meter in diameter, from a cluster of
tuber-like roots, these sometimes 5 to 7.5 cm. in diameter; joints orbicular to obovate, dull green,
5 to 16 cm. long, about 1 cm. thick; leaves subulate, 4 to 10 mm. long; areoles rather large, the lower
ones and sometimes all of them spineless; glochids numerous, yellow or brown; spines, when present,
1 to 4, unequal, yellow to brown, the longest 2.5 cm. long; flower yellow, with a reddish or purplish
center, 7 to 8 cm. broad; fruit narrowly obovoid, 3.5 to 5 cm. long, purple or red, with a depressed
umbilicus, not edible; seeds 5 mm. in diameter, with broad margins.
Type locality: Rocky places on the Upper Guadalupe, Texas.
Distribution: Missouri and Kansas to Texas.
Opuntia seguina C. Z. Nelson (Galesburg Register, July 20, 1915), published in a news-
paper, and said to have come from San Antonio, Texas, seems to be one of the Tortispinae,
OPUNTIA. 131
and is probably referable to O. macrorhiza. ‘Through the kindness of Mr. Nelson, we have
seen a joint of this species.
Opuntia bulbosa Engelmann (Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 297. 1856) was used by Engelmann
for O. fusiformis, but never described.
Opuntia macrorhiza, originally described by Dr. Engelmann as a species, was afterwards
(Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 296. 1856) proposed as a subspecies but not formally indicated, so
that the reference O. rafinesquei macrorhiza Coulter (Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. 3: 430. 1896)
is the proper designation if it is used as a variety.
Illustrations: Cact. Mex. Bound. pl. 69; Forster, Handb. Cact. ed. 2. f. 11, 127; Pac. R.
Rep. 4: pl. 12, f. 7, 8; pl. 23, f. 6; Suppl. Dict. Gard. Nicholson f. 606; W. Watson, Cact.
Cult. f. 82, 83; Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 21: pl. 20, in part, this last as Opuntia xanthoglochia;
Addisonia 1: pl. 19.
Plate xiv, figure 5, represents a
flowering joint of the plant collected
at Irving, Dallas County, Texas, by
Albert Ruth in 1912.
123. Opuntia plumbea Rose, Smiths.
Mise. Coll. 50: 524. 1908.
Plant low, creeping, 10 cm. high, 20
to 30 em. broad, few jointed; joints small,
nearly orbicular, 3 to 5 cm. in diameter,
of a dull lead-color, the surface some-
what wrinkled in dead specimens; areoles
rather large for the size of the joints;
spines pale brownish, slender, usually
porrect, often 3 cm. long, mostly 2 in
number, rarely as many as 4, sometimes
one or even wanting; flowers very small,
red; ovary naked; fruit 1.5 to 2 cm. long
with a few small areoles and these simply
woolly ; seeds small, rather turgid, smooth,
and with a shallow obtuse margin.
Type locality: San Carlos Indian
Reservation, Arizona. Fic. 164.—Opuntia plumbea.
Distribution: Arizona.
This is a peculiar little opuntia with very small joints and fruits. It is known only
from the original collections made by Mr. F. V. Coville in 1904.
Figure 164 is from a photograph of the type specimen.
124. Opuntia tortispina Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 293. 1856.
Opuntia tortisperma Engelmann, Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 23, f. 1 to 5. 1856.
Opuntia cymochila Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 295. 1856.
Opuntia rafinesquei cymochila Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 295. 1856.
Opuntia rafinesquei cycmochila montana Engelmann and Bigelow, Pac. R. Rep. 4: 42. 1856.
Opuntia mesacantha cymochila Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 430. 1896.
Opuntia mesacantha greenei Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 431. 1896.
Opuntia mesacantha oplocarpa Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 431. 1896.
Opuntia greenei Engelmann in Britton and Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 523. 1908.
(2?) Opuntia sanguinocula Griffiths, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 27: 26. 1914.
Prostrate and creeping; joints ascending, orbicular to obovate, 15 to 20 cm. long; areoles 1.5 to
3 cm. apart; spines several, often 6 to 8, the upper and longer ones 3 to 6 cm. long, either white, yel-
lowish, or brown; on the upper areoles one spine erect, the others spreading or with the lowermost
ones deflexed; flowers sulphur-yellow, 6 to 7.5 cm. broad; fruit rather large, 4 to 5 cm. long, 2 to 3
em. broad; seeds 4 to 6 mm. broad, thick, regular, with a slight indentation at the hilum.
Type locality: On the Camanchica Plains near the Canadian River.
Distribution: Wisconsin to South Dakota, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico.
1372 THE CACTACEAE.
This has long remained one of our least-understood species. We believe now that it
has a wide range, and that it has been referred heretofore to several species. Opuntia
cymochila does not seem to differ from it, and the two published varieties of Opuntia
mesacantha, geographically out of harmony with that species, doubtless belong here.
Opuntia oplocarpa Engelmann (Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 431. 1896) was
published only as asynonym. Opuntia rafinesquei greener (Cat. Darrah Succ. Manchester
58. 1908) is a catalogue name.
The plant is hardy at New York, flowering profusely, and also at Buck Hill Falls,
eastern Pennsylvania.
Illustrations: Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 12, f. 1 to 3; pl. 23, f. 10 to 12; Rev. Hort. Belg. 40:
after 186, all as Opuntia cymochila; Mlustr. Fl. 2:f. 2528; ed. 2. 2:f. 2987; Pac. R. Rep.
4: pl. 10, f. 3; Stand. Cycl. Hort. Bailey 4:f. 2602,
in part, these as Opuntia humifusa. Pac. R. Rep. 4:
pl. 8, f. 2, 3; pl. 23, f. 1 to 5, as O. tortisperma. Illustr.
1k ASK, Ass CGO. ASW, Aoletsr
Plate xv, figure 4, represents a flowering. and
fruiting joint of a plant from Colorado, grown at the
New York Botanical Garden.
125. Opuntia stenochila Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3:
296. 1856.*
Opuntia mesacantha stenochila Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat.
Herb. 3: 430. 1896.
Prostrate; joints obovate, 1ocm.long by 7.5 cm. broad;
leaves small, 4 to 6 mm. long; spines usually 2, sometimes
3, spreading, 1 long (2.5 to 3 cm. long), and 1 or 2 short and
reflexed, usually light-colored, sometimes nearly white; glo-
chids brown; flowers yellow, 6 cm. long; fruit very juicy,
4 to 5 cm. long or more, attenuate at base; seeds thick, quite
regular, with very narrow obtuse edges.
Type locality: Canyon of Zuni, New Mexico.
Distribution: Western New Mexico and Arizona.
This species has not been well understood. It
has usually passed as a variety of the common species
of the eastern Mississippi Valley States, but it grows
in a very different region. It is the common low,
spreading Opuntia of northwestern New Mexico and
Arizona.
Illustrations: Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 12, f. 4 to 6; pl. 23, f. 9.
Figures 165, 166, and 167 are copied from the first illustration above cited.
Opuntia stenochila,
Fics. 165, 166.—Fruits. Fic. 167.—Joint.
126. Opuntia delicata Rose, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 13: 310. rgI1.
A small, procumbent plant with rather thin, ovate, bluish, slightly glaucous joints, often only 4
to 9 cm. in diameter; areoles prominent, bearing conspicuous brown glochids; lower areoles spineless,
the upper ones bearing 1 or 2 very slender brownish spines, the longer one 3 to 4 cm. long; flowers
yellow, 5 cm. long, 5 to 6 cm. broad; fruit oblong, spineless, 2 to 3 cm. long; seeds small, about
4 mm. in diameter, nearly smooth.
Type locality: Calabasas, Arizona.
Distribution: Southeastern Arizona.
Figure 168 is from a photograph of the type plant.
*Although formally published as a species, Engelmann states that it is a form or subspecies, and hence Coulter
(Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 430. 1896) uses the synonym 0. rafinesquei stenochila Engelmann.
BRITTON AND ROSE
M. E. Eaton del.
1. Flowering joint of Opuntia fuscoatra.
2.
Upper part of joint of Opuntia sulphurea.
3. Joint of Opuntia tenuispina. (AI natural size.)
PLATE XxIll
a
OPUNTIA. 133
Fic. 168.—Opuntia delicata.
127. Opuntia fuscoatra Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 297. 1856.
Diffuse prostrate plants; joints orbicular to obovate, somewhat tuberculate, 5 to 8 cm. long,
areoles 12 to 20 mm. apart, very large for the group; spines single or in twos or threes, one rather
stout, sometimes a little flattened, 2.5 to 3 cm. long, yellow to dark brown or even nearly black;
usually from the lower areoles; glochids numerous, brown; flowers 7.5 cm. broad, yellow; petals very
broad; stigma-lobes 5; ovary 2.5 cm. long, slender; fruit 4 to 5 cm. long, red; seeds 4 mm. broad.
Ty pe locality: Sterile places of prairies west of Houston, Texas.
Distribution: Eastern Texas.
Illustrations: Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 11, f. 4.
Plate xxi, figure 1, represents a flowering joint of the plant collected by W. L. Mc-
Atee at Rockport, Texas, in 1911.
127 a. Opuntia macateei sp. nov. (See Appendix, p. 221.)
OPUNTIA RUBIFLORA Griffiths, Bull. Torr. Club 43:529. 1916.
Described as a spreading plant 3 to 4.5 dm. high and a meter broad, with obovate,
green joints 12 to 18 cm. long, few white spines up to 5 cm. long with brown or straw-
colored bases, and pink flowers. The species is based on cuttings received from European
collections, and its origin is unknown.
We have received a similar if not identical plant from Haage and Schmidt of Erfurt,
Germany, and we suspect it to be a hybrid, having one of the 7ortispinae as one of its
parents.
The specific name rubiflora was used by Davidson a few months earlier than by
Griffiths for another plant.
Series 8. SULPHUREAE.
.
Low or prostrate species, with rather thick, flat, tuberculate joints; fruit small, nearly globular.
Three species, natives of central and southern South America.
KEY TO SPECIES.
Flowers yellow.
Spinesistoutysubulate eee sicptara oe oie Seer Ie eerie astra rai ee aloe lone CRI I Ro 128. O. sulphurea
Spinesislendervaciculan so. see eae ere ace a eee ea Nena Ne mae Mes eo C an ICP IC ee 129. O. soehrensit
ESTO WETS ROC eiy eeu eNGNey fetes EU ADIN Ta RR PSALM ceva) Ura a De nat 0k Ne Bea Py Seta A nel Vil aad) eae tl enna Fe 130. O. microdisca
134 THE CACTACEAE.
128. Opuntia sulphurea G. Don in Loudon, Hort. Brit. 196. 1830.
Opuntia maculacantha Forster, Handb. Gartenz. 17: 166. 1861.
Opuntia pampeana Spegazzini, Contr. Fi. Ventana 30. 1896.
Opuntia vulpina Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 895. 1898.
Plants low and spreading, forming broad clumps 1 to 2 meters in diameter, 3 dm. high or less;
joints flattened, oblong to obovate, 12 to 25 cm. long, thick, strongly tuberculate, usually green
but sometimes purplish; terminal joints easily detached; leaves conic, about 2 mm. long; spines 2 to
8, generally straight but sometimes curved and twisted, spreading, 3 to 10 cm. long, brownish to
red, but sometimes quite pale at first; flowers about 4 cm. long, yellow; fruit with a deep umbilicus,
short, about 1 em. long.
Type locality: Cited as Chile, but doubtless wrong.
Distribution: Dry parts of western Argentina; recorded also from Chile, and perhaps
occurring in Bolivia.
This species was not seen in Chile by Dr. Rose, and we are doubtful in considering the
Bolivian material to be O. sulphurea; the joints, as shown by Dr. Rose’s specimens, col-
lected at La Paz (No. 18860), while thick, are not conspicuously tuberculate; the spines are
rather short and stiff, white at first, but somewhat yellowish or horn-colored in age.
The name Cactus sulphureus Gillies was published by G. Don at the place cited above
as a synonym of this species.
Opuntia maculacantha was first described from specimens from Buenos Aires, which
had doubtless been sent down from the desert regions to the west or northwest. Schumann
in his Monograph referred this species to Mexico, but in his Nachtrag corrects this state-
ment. Dr. Weber, with whom we are in agreement, refers the species to O. sulphurea. It
is the only species we know with such large tubercles on the joints.
Several varieties of this species, some of which have been described, are given, such as
laevior, major, minor, and pallidior.
Here probably belongs Opuntia sericea G. Don (Salm-Dyck, Hort. Dyck. 363. 1834),
also reported from Chile, but doubtless from Argentina. Cactus sericeus Gillies (Loudon,
Hort. Brit. 196. 1830) isthesame. ‘There are several varieties of O. sericea which we would
put with it: longispina Salm-Dyck (Hort. Dyck. 363. 1834); coerulea Forbes (Hort. Tour
Germ. 159. 1837) which is probably O. coerulea Gillies (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 155. 1837);
maelenit Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1844. 46. 1845) which is O. maelenti (Salm-Dyck,
Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1844. 46. 1845). Opuntia tweediei (Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 745.
1898) is given as a synonym of this species by Schumann. Opuntia albisetosa Hildmann,
a name only, belongs here according to Hirscht (Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 10: 48. 1900).
Illustrations: Blithende Kakteen 3: pl. 136; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 8: 121; Schumann,
Gesamtb. Kakteen f. 106, all as Opuntia maculacantha.
Plate xxii, figure 2, represents a flowering joint of the plant collected by Dr. Rose
near Cordoba, Argentina, in 1915.
129. Opuntia soehrensii sp. nov.
Prostrate, in masses usually 1 meter in diameter or less; joints at first erect or ascending, finally
prostrate and rooting and forming new colonies, flattened, rather thin, somewhat tuberculate, very
spiny, orbicular, 4 to 6 cm. in diameter, often purplish; spines slender, rather variable in color,
usually yellow or brown, several from each areole, sometimes as many as eight, the longest ones
5 cm. long, erect; flowers light yellow, 3 cm. long; sepals brown; filaments yellow; style white;
stigma-lobes green; fruit naked, 3 cm. long; seeds 3 to 3.5 mm. broad, ovate, thickish, with narrow
margin and roughened sides.
Highlands of southern Peru, Bolivia, and northern Argentina. Type collected by Dr.
and Mrs. J. N. Rose below Pampa de Arrieros, Peru, August 23, 1914 (No. 18967).
This species is very common in its region, but as it is cultivated somewhat for its seeds
as well as used as a protection for gardens and yards, its natural distribution is difficult to
determine. On the barren hills below La Paz, Bolivia, the species is well established and
OPUNTIA. 135
grows as if native; on some of these hills it is the dominant and sometimes exclusive plant.
In the same general region, however, one finds the plant about the houses, especially on
walls, where it has undoubtedly been planted. At Oruro, Bolivia, it was seen only in the
wild state, while at several stations along the railroad between Juliaca and Cuzco, Peru,
especially at Combatata and Tinta, Peru, it has been planted on top of many of the mud
walls about the yards. On the hills below Pampa de Arrieros, Peru, the species is extremely
common and undoubtedly native.
The plant is known everywhere by the natives as ayrampo. ‘The seeds are collected in
great quantity and dried, and may be bought in the market places, especially in Arequipa.
Indeed, there must have been a time when they were shipped by freight, for the name
Ayrampo has always appeared on the printed freight classification of the Southern Railroad
of Peru. The assistant superintendent of the road, Mr. Brown, states that, so far as he
knows, there are few or no shipments made now. One of the places in Peru where Dr.
Rose found the plant very abundant is named Ayrampal.
The dry seeds, when placed in water, yield a red substance
which is used for coloring jellies and gelatine and, according to some,
for coloring wines. In former days the Indians also used this sub-
stance in some of their carnival ceremonies. The coloring matter
does not come from the seeds themselves, but from the red juice of
the fruit which has dried on the surfaces.
Figure 169 represents a joint of this species collected by Dr.
Rose at Oruro, Bolivia, in 1914.
Fic. 169.—Opuntia soehrensii.
130. Opuntia microdisca Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 896. 18608. 0.4.
Forming small clumps, very much branched, prostrate; joints mostly obovate to oblong, 4 to
8 cm. long, usually much flattened, but sometimes nearly cylindric, grayish green; leaves minute,
purple, soon dropping off; areoles numerous, 5 to 6 mm. apart, rather large, when young densely
white-felted; spines 10 to 15, white to reddish, unequal, some of the centrals 1.5 to 2.5 cm. long;
glochids numerous, yellow; flower-buds red; flowers 2.5 cm. long, bright red; filaments purple; style
white; stigma-lobes 6 to 8, short; ovary turbinate, 16 mm. long, bearing numerous areoles sub-
tended by narrow red leaves; areoles on ovary densely felted and
bristly; fruit red.
Type locality: In Catamarca, Argentina.
Distribution: Northern Argentina.
Schumann refers this species to Platyopuntia, while Weber
referred it to Tephrocactus. It evidently belongs to our Sul-
phureae, being nearest our O. soehrensit.
Our description is drawn chiefly from specimens obtained
by J. A. Shafer between Andalgala and Concepci6n, Argen-
tina, in 1916, supplemented by a living specimen obtained by
Dr. Spegazzini in 1915. In Argentina this species also is
known as ayrampo.
Figure 170 represents a joint of the plant collected by J. A.
Shafer between Andalgala and Concepcién, Argentina, Decem-
ber 28, 1916 (No. 24).
To this relationship may belong the following species:
OPUNTIA PENICILLIGERA Spegazzini, Anal. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires !@ 170 Joint Cote ere
43291. 1902. i Re
Low, nearly prostrate; joints flattened, orbicular to broadly obovate, 10 to 12 em. long, 7 to
10 cm. broad, dull green; spines slender, twisted, one elongated and 1 to 5 cm. long, the others much
shorter, all white; glochids brownish; flowers from the lateral and marginal areoles, citron-yellow;
136 THE CACTACEAE.
ovary 3 to 3.5 cm. long, with very many areoles bearing numerous glochids; style thick; stigma-
lobes 8 to ro, greenish white; fruit reddish, clavate, 4.5 cm. long, with a depressed umbilicus; seeds
small, 3 to 3.5 mm. broad.
Type locality: Argentina, between Rio Negro and Rio Colorado.
Distribution: Southern Argentina.
According to Dr. Spegazzini, this species is not near to any of the known South Ameri-
can species, but resembles somewhat the North American species O. microdasys and O.
basilaris. We know it only from the description.
OPUNTIA CALANTHA Griffiths, Bull. Torr. Club 43:524. 1916.
A low, creeping, prostrate plant 15 cm. high, one meter in diameter; joints obovate, narrowed
above and below, inequilateral, 11 cm. long, 4 cm. broad, tuberculate-wrinkled, mostly deep green;
areoles 1 to 1.5 mm. long, obovate, at first tawny, turning gray; leaves small, subulate, cuspidate,
red. 1 mm. long; glochids yellow; spines 5 to 10, up to 5 mm. long; flowers carmine; fruit globular,
1.5 cm. in diameter.
Recorded as probably of South American origin and usually distributed as Opuntia
microdisca, but from which it is said to differ very much. The plant is known to us only
from the description of cultivated specimens.
Series 9. STRIGILES.
The series consists of a single species, native of
Texas. Itisa low, bushy plant with large joints bear-
ing many areoles, these close together, each with sev-
eral acicular, reddish brown spines; the fruit is small.
131. Opuntia strigil Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3:
290. 1856.
Suberect, 6 dm. high; joints orbicular to obovate, 10 to 12.5 cm.
long; areoles close together, prominent; spines 5 to 8, spreading, many
of them appressed to the joint and deflexed, red to reddish brown with
lighter tips, the longer ones 2.5 cm.long; glochids numerous; flowers
unknown; fruits small, nearly globular, 12 mm. in diameter, trun-
cate, red; areoles on fruit very small; seeds 3 mm. broad.
Type locality: In crevices of limestone rock, between the
Pecos River and El Paso, Texas.
Distribution: Texas.
A rare plant, first collected by Charles Wright in 1851. aa tagtos
Engelmann says in the Mexican Boundary Report that it Bae ‘ieee ss aioe
was also collected by Wright and Bigelow, but there is no
mention of it in his report on Bigelow’s plants, nor do we find specimens in the Engelmann
herbarium, so that it would appear that this reference to Bigelow was a mistake. Bigelow,
it is true, crossed the River Pecos, on which the type was found, but it was well up in New
Mexico and not in Texas, where it was crossed by Charles Wright. It was more recently
collected by Nealley somewhere in Texas. The place of collection by Wright and the later
one by Nealley are very indefinitely indicated on the labels accompanying the specimens.
Illustration: Cact. Mex. Bound. pl. 67.
Figure 171 is copied from the illustration above cited.
Series 10. SETISPINAE.
Bushy or depressed species, with tuberous or thickened roots, broad, flat, thin joints, and elon-
gated, acicular, brown spines which fade whitish; their fruits are large and juicy. We recognize
Six species, natives of the south central and southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
They approach the Tortispinae on the one hand and the Phaeacanthae on the other.
OPUNTIA. 137
KEY TO SPECIES.
Joints elongated teeny cece epee raters oe ree eal a eerie Meee SANE Lis kaa Oe oe 132. O. megarhiza
Joints obovate to orbicular.
Jenqarie yieill oacermmes area Ne ale boea Bie bninols ces mines oninlo UG MIEIa - Giatioiaia Hicks oeaier cae 133. O. ballit
Fruit large 2.5 to 6 cm. long.
HOW ETS TEUEtONp Un ple aye ted Petes er Ne ear een eee er ote eed so aNey chy Les Ya ts Bin cee pera 134. O. pottsit
Flowers yellow.
Areoles large, more or less elevated on old joints; joints glaucous, purplish about the
AT COLES Cena ae ae AUS iA yore Fumce nimaurpevay eae AN Go ete td WOK raked aie ens cy CIR 135. O. setispina
Areoles small; mature joints green throughout.
Joints usually orbicular; seeds 5 to 6 mm. broad...................0....00.. 136. O. mackensenit
Jomtsrobovate1seedseagmmm 4 broadcom leSspyss miscues eae he cen eee 137. O. tenuispina
132. Opuntia megarhiza Rose, Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. 10: 126. 1906.
Roots long and thickened, sometimes 3 to 6 dm. long, 5 to 6 cm. in diameter; stems low, 2 to
3 dm. high, much branched; lower joints elongated, 2 to 3 dm. long, cuneate below, thin, 3 cm.
broad; lateral joints appearing along the margins of the older joints and often, if not always, in the
same plane; spines 2 to 4, acicular, 1 to 2.5 cm. long, brown; leaves minute; flowers lemon-yellow,
often tinged with rose, 5 cm. broad; petals about 13, obovate, mucronately tipped; stigma-lobes 7,
greenish; ovary clavate, 3 cm. long; fruit and seeds unknown.
Type locality: Alvarez, Mexico. Bis
Distribution: San Latis Potosi, Mexico. Nie y
This species is not very closely related to the Ik B/ V Vw
other species of this series, but it is referred here on \ NZ f er
account of its very slender spines. ai yf iY” lf aif
133. Opuntia ballii Rose, Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. 13: 309. /} j i a
IQII. AN | i pa
Plants low, spreading; joints obovate, 6 to 10 cm. long, B49
thickish, pale green, glaucous; spines 2 to 4, brownish, alittle Cs 2) \
flattened, usually ascending or erect, the larger ones 4 to 7 cm. ‘ wf
long; glochids conspicuous; fruit small, about 2 cm. long, Sap’
clavate, glaucous, spineless; seeds thick, 3.5 mm. broad.
Type locality: Pecos, Reeves County, Texas. Fic. 172.—O. ballii. Part of type. Xo.5.
Distribution: Western Texas.
Wooton and Standley in their Flora of New Mexico refer this species to Opuntia filt-
pendula, but O. ballii grows in a different habitat, has smaller fruit, stouter and erect
spines, and different areoles; it grows on the dry mesa beyond Pecos, Texas.
Illustrations: Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 13: pl. 64.
Figure 172 is copied from the illustration above cited.
134. Opuntia pottsii Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 236. 1850.
Opuntia filipendula Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 294. 1856.
Low, spreading plant, 3 dm. high or less, from thickened tuberous roots 2 to 3 cm. in diameter,
these sometimes moniliform; joints broadly obovate, 3.5 to 12 cm. long, pale green to bluish; areoles
few, either small or large; spines confined to the upper and marginal areoles, 1 or 2, slender, 2 to
4 cm. long, usually white but sometimes purplish; glochids yellow, usually few but sometimes abun-
dant; flowers large, 6 to 7 cm. broad, deep purple; ovary slender, 3 to 3.5 cm. long, with only a few
scattered areoles; fruit spineless.
Type locality: Near Chihuahua City, Mexico.
Distribution: Central Chihuahua, Mexico, to Texas and New Mexico.
This species was described by Prince Salm-Dyck in 1850 from material collected by
John Potts, who was manager of the mint at Chihuahua and who sent many cacti to F.
Scheer at Kew between 1842 and 1850. No types of his species seem to have been retained.
138 THE CACTACEAE.
In 1885 C. G. Pringle again collected this species near Chihuahua City and it was dis-
tributed as O. filipendula, and there Coulter leaves Pringle’s specimen (Cont. Nat. Herb.
3:428). Dr. E. Palmer collected an abundance of material in 1908 which enabled us to
reestablish O. pottsi1, which Coulter omits and Schumann lists under unknown species.
If these Chihuahua specimens are the same as the Texas plants, as Coulter believed
and as we regard them, then Opuntia filipendula must give place to the older name of Salm-
Dyck.
Illustrations: Cact. Mex. Bound. pl. 68; Forster, Handb. Cact. ed. 2. f. 10, 131; Suppl.
Dict. Gard. Nicholson 2: f. 605; W. Watson, Cact. Cult. f. 81, all as Opuntia filipendula.
Figure 173 shows a joint of a plant collected by Dr. Rose in the valley of the Rio
Grande below El Paso, Texas, in 1913.
135. Opuntia setispina Engelmann in Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 239. 1850.
Stem branching and spreading, sometimes 9 to 12 dm. broad, with some of the branches com-
posed of 3 or 4 joints, erect and 6 dm. high; joints deep bluish green, somewhat glaucous, often
purplish at the areoles, sometimes more or less tinged with purple throughout, obovate to orbicular,
5 to 15 cm. in diameter; leaves minute, subulate; spines 1 to 6 from an areole, white, 2 to 3 cm.
long; glochids yellow, very conspicuous on old joints; flowers yellow; fruit purplish, about 4 cm. long.
Fic. 173.—Opuntia pottsii. Xo.4. Fic. 174.—Opuntia setispina. Xo.4.
Type locality: Pine woods in the mountains west of Chihuahua, Mexico (fide Engel-
mann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 294. 1856).
Distribution: Western Chihuahua, Mexico.
This species has long been known only from the type specimens; but in 1908 Dr. Rose
visited western Chihuahua, where this species is quite common; our description is based
largely upon the specimens he then collected.
Figure 174 represents a joint of the plant collected by Dr. Rose near Mifiaca, Chi-
huahua, in 1908.
136. Opuntia mackensenii Rose, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 13: 310. IQII.
Plants low, with thick, tuberous roots, spreading, usually resting on the edges of the joints, but
some of the branches often erect; joints orbicular to obovate, 10 to 20 cm. long, rarely broader than
long, pale and glaucous when young, deep green when older; areoles small, the lower ones without
spines, the upper ones with 1 to 4 spines; spines white or brown, or brown at base and white above,
somewhat flattened and twisted, slender, 5 cm. long or less; glochids brown; flowers of medium size,
7 to 8 cm. broad, yellow with a reddish brown center; stigma-lobes 7 to 9, white; fruit spineless, 4 to
6 cm. long, truncate or nearly so at apex, rose-purple; seeds suborbicular, 5 to 6 mm. broad, acute
on the margin.
OPUNTIA. 139
Type locality: Near Kerrville, Texas.
Distribution: Kerr County, Texas.
Illustrations: Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 13: pl. 67; Plant World 19: 142. f. 1; 143. f.
2, the last as O. macrorhiza.
Figure 175 is from a photograph of the type plant from near Kerrville, Texas.
Fic. 175.—Opuntia mackensensii.
137. Opuntia tenuispina Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 294. 1856.
Opuntia minor C. Mueller in Walpers, Ann. Bot. 5:50. 1858.
Low and spreading, but becoming 3 dm. high; joints obovate, attenuate at base, 7 to 15 cm.
long, light green; leaves very slender, 4 mm. long or less; spines 1 to 3 from an areole, slender, usually
white but sometimes brownish, 3 to 5 cm. long, the upper spines erect or spreading; glochids brown;
flowers yellow, 6 to 7.5 cm. broad; ovary with numerous areoles filled with brown wool and brown
glochids; fruit oblong, 2.5 to 4 cm. long, with a deep umbilicus; seeds 4 mm. broad or less, very
irregular.
Type locality: Sand hills near El Paso, Texas.
Distribution: Southwestern Texas and adjacent parts of Mexico and New Mexico,
apparently extending to Arizona.
Engelmann says that this plant grows with O. phaeacantha, but is readily distinguished
from the latter by its spines and fruit. Cultivated plants and herbarium specimens closely
resemble O. phaeacantha.
Illustrations: Cact. Mex. Bound. pl. 75, f. 14; N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 78: pl. [15].
Plate xxi, figure 3, represents a joint of the plant collected by Dr. Rose near EI
Paso, Texas, in 1913.
Series 11. PHAEACANTHAE.
Bushy or depressed species, with relatively large, flat, persistent joints, the subulate, usually
stout spines brown at least at the base, or in some species nearly white. The series is composed of
about fifteen species, natives of the south central and southwestern United States, northern and
central Mexico.
140 THE CACTACEAE.
KEY TO SPECIES.
More or less bushy plants. :
Joints thin; spines, when present, very long and confined to the upper and middle areoles.
Spines dark brown, stout, ngid.
Plant pale green to purplish; spines up to 12 em. long.........................- 138.
Plant dull) darkereen;spines)6ems longvor lessee a) seen os ie ie eee 139.
Spines pale brown, flexible or subulate.
Usnallyzabundanthyasp ity eer eerie ae eee eer eer ea ete er ere eee 140.
Usually spineless or some areoles with 1 setaceous deflexed spine................. I4t.
Joints thick; spines not confined to the upper and middle areoles.
Joints relatively small, seldom over 15 cm. broad; plants relatively low.
Joints narrowly obovate, about twice as long as Fide......................----- 142.
Joints broadly obovate to orbicular.
Flowers yellow. :
Spines subulate, brown at least in part.
Plan Hlighterecnee er wet ee ee ee a etl alteration rarer eh RTS 143.
Plant bluish green or grayish green.
Plantierect, 2imetersihighvornlesse ss eorcrceee ce eee ele ee 144.
Plantibushyararelyjovermemecenhi ghee rm wee ae ere 145.
Plantiprostrater ems eee eee ri SustSuesie uailanesnieue ye eevee mie 146.
Spinesiaciedlar near lyewlite secre ole ere rete ese eee eee 147.
iRlowers;ma genta meres ser re eerie eee ee eee eee eerie ee tere 148.
Joints relatively large, mostly over 15 em. broad; plants relatively tall.
Spinesiclear brownnearly thos houe se. eee eet eee eee eae eee eee 149.
Spines nearly white above or throughout.
Spines withidarkabrowmibases ea -ase eee eee eer eee eee 150.
Spinestwhitisht through outscsc v2 sscsesce tess epee eae Se re alan sicencie ees I51.
Smallicreepinesplan tsmcnc pete cesta ene nyc rete ep AR ROR RO Bee ee ek eet ea Ee 152.
138. Opuntia macrocentra En-
gelmann, Proc. Amer.
Acad. 3: 292. 1856.
Somewhat bushy, with as-
cending branches, 6 to 9 dm.
high; joints orbicular to oblong,
or sometimes broader than long,
ro to 20 cm. long, often bluish
or purplish, sometimes spineless
but usually bearing spines at the
uppermost areoles; spines I or2,
rarely 3 together, usually brown-
ish or black but sometimes white
above, slender, erect or porrect,
4 to 7 cm. long; flowers yellow,
often drying red, 7.5 cm. broad;
sepals ovate, acuminate; ovary
with few areoles, these bearing
brown glochids; filaments very
short; fruit 3 to 6 cm. long, pur-
ple; seeds 4 to 4.5 mm. broad.
Type locality: Sand hills
on the Rio Grande near El
Paso, Texas.
Distribution: | Western
Texas to Eastern Arizona
and Chihuahua, Mexico.
This species, especially
the forms that have bluish
and purplish joints, are very
showy. Seedlings sometimes
produce long, silky hairs from
the areoles, in this respect
resembling the Criniferae.
Fic. 176.—Opuntia macrocentra. Xo.5.
SSS)
)
S99 9 989989 96
. macrocentra
. tardospina
- gosseliniana
. Santa-rita
angustata
. atrispina
azuread
. phaeacantha
mojavensis
covillet
vaseyi
. occidentalis
. engelmannit
. discata
. rastrera
OPUNTIA. I4I
Illustrations: Cact. Mex. Bound. pl. 75, f. 8; N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 78: pl. [8].
Figure 176 represents a joint of the plant collected by Dr. Rose near the Rio Grande in
New Mexico, northwest of El Paso, Texas, in 1913.
139. Opuntia tardospina Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22: 34. 1912.
Roots fibrous; low, spreading plant, the joints usually resting on the ground; joints orbicular
to obovate, 16 to 24 cm. long; areoles large, usually distant, often 4 cm. apart; spines usually wanting
except from the upper areoles and along the upper margin, usually single, sometimes 2 from an
areole, 4 to 5 cm. long, brown, but lighter towards the apex; glochids numerous, brown, persistent;
fruit red, 6 cm. long; seeds 5 mm. broad, acute on the margin.
Type locality: Near Lampasas, Texas.
Distribution: Eastern ‘Texas.
Illustrations: Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22: pl. 11, in part; pl. 15.
Figure 177 represents a joint of the plant collected by Albert Ruth in 1912, north of
Dallas, Texas.
Fic. 177.—O. tardospina. Xo.5. Fics. 178, 179.—Cluster of spines and joint of O. gosseliniana. Xo.4.
140. Opuntia gosseliniana Weber, Bull. Soc. Acclim. France 49: 83. 1902.
One meter or more high, branching from the base, the old trunk often bearing numerous, long,
acicular spines; joints usually red or purplish, usually very thin, as broad as or broader than long,
sometimes 2 dm. broad; lower and sometimes all the areoles without spines; spines porrect or nearly
so, generally 1, sometimes 2, rarely 3 from an areole, 4 to 5 or even 10 cm. long, brown, usually
weak; glochids brown, numerous, forming on old joints very large clusters; fruit 4 cm. long, without
spines but bearing numerous brown glochids at the areoles, with a depressed umbilicus.
Type locality: Coast of Sonora on the Gulf of California.
Distribution: Sonora and Lower California, Mexico.
This species was placed tentatively in the Pubescentes by Schumann, although always
glabrous; but it belongs better in the Phaeacanthae. In some of its phases it resembles
O. macrocentra. It is a very showy species and worthy of a place in any collection.
Illustrations: Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 17: 69.
Figure 179 represents a joint of the plant collected at Hermosillo in Sonora, by Rose,
Standley, and Russell in 1910; figure 178 shows a cluster of spines from a trunk areole.
142 THE CACTACEAE.
141. Opuntia santa-rita (Griffiths and Hare) Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 52: 195. 1908.
Opuntia chlorotica santa-rita Griffiths and Hare, N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 60: 64. 1906.
Opuntia shreveana C. Z. Nelson, Galesburg Register, July 20, 1915.
Compact plant, 6 to 14 dm. high, with a very short trunk; joints orbicular or a little broader
than long, bluish green but deep purple about the areoles and margins; areoles 1.5 cm. apart, bear-
ing numerous chestnut-brown glochids and occasionally a brown spine; flowers very handsome,
deep yellow, 6 to 7 cm. broad; ovary purple, oblong.
Type locality: Selero Mountains, Arizona.
Distribution: Southeastern Arizona.
This species is one of the most ornamental of the opuntias, and although it does not
grow well in greenhouse cultivation, it would doubtless flourish in the Southwest, where it
could be given conditions similar to its wild surroundings.
Illustrations: Smiths. Misc. Coll. 52: pl. 15; Plant World 111°: f. 6, this last as Opuntia
chlorotica; Journ. Inter. Gard. Club 3: facing page 5, as O. chlorotica santa-rita.
Plate xxtv, figure 1, is from a photograph taken by Dr. MacDougal of a plant near
Surritas, Arizona, in 1906.
142. Opuntia angustata Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3:
292. 1856.
Ascending to erect; joints narrow, 15 to 25 cm. long,
rounded above, gradually narrowing downward; areoles
distant, often 2.5 cm. apart, large, oblong; spines sharply
angled, straw-colored or whitish but with brown bases, 2.5 to
3.5 cm. long; glochids brown; fruit obovoid, 2.5 to 3. cm. long.
Type locality: Bottoms, Bill Williams Fork,
Arizona.
Distribution: Recorded as extending from New
Mexico to California, but known definitely to us only
from central Arizona, perhapsextending north to Utah.
Engelmann’s Opuntia angustata was based on
three specimens, one from New Mexico, one from
Arizona, and one from California. Hestated that the
first and last were prostrate, while the second was erect.
A study of his specimens and descriptions indicates
that he had three species before him. The first is
from Zuni, New Mexico, and is probably Opuntia
phaeacantha. The California specimen is the Opuntia
magenta Griffiths, which is probably the same as
O. vaseyi, while the suberect plant from the bottoms
of the Bill Williams River we have allowed to stand
for O. angustata. Wooton and Standley (Contr.
U.S. Nat. Herb. 19: 447. 1915) suggest that the two
fruits illustrated by Engelmann in connection with this Fic. r80.—Opuntia angustata.
species may belong to two species of Cylindropuniia.
This plant was first collected by J. M. Bigelow, February 4, 1854. .
Illustrations: Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 7, f. 3, 4.
Figure 180 is copied from figure 3 of the illustrations above cited.
143. Opuntia atrispina Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 21: 172. 1910.
Usually low and spreading, sometimes 2 meters in diameter, but sometimes the central branches
nearly erect and 6 dm. high; joints rather small, nearly orbicular, ro to 15 cm. in diameter, light
green, sometimes a little glaucous; lower areoles spineless; spines from the upper areoles 2 to 4,
the principal ones spreading, flattened, dark brown, almost black at base, much lighter above;
glochids at first yellow or yellowish, but soon changing to brown; flowers described as yellow,
changing to orange; fruit reddish purple.
BRITTON AND ROSE PLATE XXIV
ie)
1. Plant of Opuntia santa-rita. Plant of Opuntia discata,
OPUNTIA.
Type locality: Near Devil’s River, Texas.
Distribution: Type locality and vicinity.
143
This plant is abundant between Del Rio, Texas, and Devil’s River, being one of the
two commonest species in that region.
Illustrations: Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 21: pl. 26, in part.
Plate xxv, figure 1, represents a flowering joint of the plant collected near Devil’s
River, Texas, by Dr. Rose in 1913.
Fic. 181.—Opuntia azurea, Zacatecas, Mexico.
144. Opuntia azurea Rose, Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. 12: 291.
1909.
Compact, upright, with a single trunk, or branching
from the base and more or less spreading; joints orbicular to
obovate, 10 to 15 cm. in diameter, pale bluish green, glau-
cous; areoles about 2 cm. apart, the lower ones spineless,
the upper ones with 1 to 3 rather stout spines; spines, at
least when old, almost black, unequal, the longer ones 2 to 3
cm. long, more or less reflexed; glochids numerous, brown;
petals 3 cm. long, deep yellow, with crimson claw, but in
age pink throughout; filaments greenish or almost white;
stigma-lobes pale green; fruit dull crimson, subglobose to
ovoid, spineless, truncate, juicy, edible.
Type locality: Northeastern Zacatecas, Mexico.
Distribution: Zacatecas and probably Durango.
Illustrations: Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: pl. 24;
also f. 33.
Figure 181 is from a photograph by F. E. Lloyd
of the type plant; figure 182 represents joints of the
plant collected by Albert de Lautreppe near Zacatecas,
Mexico, in 1904.
Fic. 182.
Opuntia azurea.
X0.4.
144 THE CACTACEAE.
145. Opuntia phaeacantha Engelmann in Gray, Mem. Amer. Acad. 4: 52. 1849.
Opuntia phaeacantha brunnea Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 293. 1856.
Opuntia phaeacantha major Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 293. 1856.
Opuntia phaeacantha nigricans Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 293. 1856.
Opuntia camanchica Engelmann and Bigelow, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 293. 1856.
Opuntia chihuahuensis Rose, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: 291. 1909.
Opuntia toumeyi Rose, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: 402. 1909.
Opuntia blakeana Rose, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: 402. 1909.
Opuntia zuniensis Griffiths, Bull. Torr. Club 43: 86. 1916. (From the description.)
Low, usually prostrate, with some branches ascending; joints usually longer than broad, 10 to
15 cm. long; areoles rather remote, the lower ones often spineless; spines 1 to 4, those on the
sides of the joints more or less reflexed, somewhat flattened, usually rather stout, brown, some-
times darker at base, or often nearly white throughout, the longer ones 5 to 6 cm. long; glo-
chids numerous, yellow to brown; flowers 5 cm. broad, yellow; ovary short; fruit 30 to 35 mm.
long, much contracted at base.
Type locality: About Santa Fé and on the Rio Grande, New Mexico.
Distribution: Texas to Arizona and Chihuahua.
We have referred to Opuntia phaeacantha the common low, bushy Opuntia with small
joints, brown spines, and yellow flowers of the Southwest; we formerly regarded it as com-
posed of several species, and others have followed our lead; but we are unable to draw any
distinct lines after a study of much additional herbarium and greenhouse material. Dr.
Rose has collected a large series of specimens from the Southwest, especially from the type
localities, but his specimens seem to bridge over differences which before seemed tangible;
cited differences appear to be racial rather than specific.
Opuntia blakeana, which is found west of the Rocky Mountains, one would expect to
be different. It is characterized by small obovate joints, rather short spines, small yellow
flowers purple at center.
Opuntia chihuahuensis, which was first described from Mexican specimens, if it belongs
here, is in the southern range of O. phaeacantha. It, too, has yellow flowers with red
centers, rather large joints, and long, slender spines. Mr. Wooton is of the opinion that to
O. chihuahuensis is to be referred the common, low, brown species from El Paso, which
includes the specimens of G. R. Vasey, which Coulter called Opuntia mesacantha oplocarpa.
This long-spined form extends north throughout eastern New Mexico to southeastern
Colorado. With the latter form Mr. Wooton believes Opuntia camanchica belongs. If
we take this broad view of the limits of this species we are forced to include Opuntia
toumeyt, although it is much larger than O. blakeana, and was considered by Dr. Rose to
be different.
Opuntia mesacantha sphaerocarpa Wooton and Standley (Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 19:
446. 1915) is a mistake, O. mesacantha oplocarpa being intended.
Opuntia rubrifolia Engelmann in Coulter (Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 424. 1896),
from St. George, Utah, belongs in this series if E. W. Nelson’s No. 156, from the same place
has been properly determined as such. The type specimen of O. rubrifolia has, apparently,
been lost.
The following varieties of Opuntia camanchica have been offered by Haage and Schmidt
in their catalogues: albispina (Trade Seed Cat. 104. 1911-1912); orbicularis, rubra, and
salmonea (all in Haupt-Verzeichnis 1908: 228. 1908). Under O. camanchica has been
mentioned also variety luteo-staminea (Cat. Darrah Succ. Manchester 53. 1908).
Opuntia eocarpa Griffiths (Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 29: 11. 1916), also O. recurvo-
spina Griffiths (Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 29: 12. 1916) and possibly O. superbospina
Griffiths (Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 29: 13. 1916) and O. caesia Griffiths (Proc. Biol.
Soc. Washington 29: 13. 1916) are of this relationship.
Opuntia microcarpa* Engelmann (Emory, Mil. Reconn. 158. f. 7. 1848) and O. violacea
Engelmann (Emory, Mil. Reconn. 158. f. 8. 1848) were described from drawings brought
“Since the above was written Dr. Griffiths (Bull. Torr. Club, 43: 527) has published a detailed account of this
species, which he regards as distinct; it inhabits southern Arizona.
BRITTON AND ROSE PLATE XXV
M. E. Eaton del.
1. Flowering joints of Opuntia atrispina. 2. Flowering joint of Okuntia phaeacantha.
3. Upper part of joint of Opuntia engelmannit. (All natural $ize. )
OPUNTIA. 145
back from the Southwest by W. H. Emory. They can never be critically identified, but
are probably of this relationship.
Illustrations: Engler and Prantl, Pflanzenfam. 3°°:f. 57, C; Forster, Handb. Cact. ed.
A, Ne uses Wins, IL AGI. Alon GEL Ay Asie Dolslo)s IEE. IRs INGO ASL @s ty KO Geol wa, se
12 to 15; Wiener Illustr. Gartenz. 10: f. 115, all as Opuntia camanchica; N. Mex. Agr. Exp.
Sta. Bull. 78: pl. [7], as Opuntia chthuahuensis; Contr. U. S.
Nat. Herb. 12: pl.55,as Opuntia blakeana; Cact. Mex. Bound.
pl. 75, f. 9 to 13.
Plate xxv, figure 2, represents a flowering joint of a
plant sent from Tucson, Arizona, in 1916, by Dr. Mac-
Dougal.
146. Opuntia mojavensis Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 293.
1856.
Prostrate, with suborbicular joints; pulvini remote, with large
yellow bristles; spines 2 to 6, stout and annulate, acutely angu-
lar and compressed, more or less curved, reddish brown, paler
toward tip, 2.5 to 6 cm. long, 1 to 3 smaller, slenderer, pale ones
added below; fruit oblong, 4.5 cm. long.
Type locality: On the Mojave, west of the Colorado,
California.
Distribution: Known only
from the type locality.
The fragmentary type speci-
men has been examined; we have
been unable to refer any other
specimens to this species, which
is thus very imperfectly under-
stood.
Illustration: Pac. R. Rep. 4:
pl. 9, f. 6 to 8.
147. Opuntia covillei Britton and
Rose, Smiths. Mise. Coll. 50:
532. 1908.
Opuntia megacarpa Griffiths,
Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20:
9gI. 1909.
Opuntia rugosa Griffiths, Proc.
Biol. Soc. Washington 27:
27. I9I4.
Bushy plants, usually growing
in dense thickets; joints orbicular to
obovate, 10 to 20 cm. long or more,
pale green, sometimes purplish,
slightly glaucous; areoles 2 to 4 cm.
apart; spines several from an areole,
slender, unequal, the longest ones
6 cm. long, white when young,
brownish when old; flowers large,
yellow.
Type locality: San Bernard-
ino, California.
Distribution: Interior valleys
of southern California.
Opuntia covillet and O. vaseyi grow in the same valleys, often in adjoining colonies,
and while hybrids may occur, the two species could easily be distinguished. When growing
Fic. 183.—Opuntia covillei. Xo.4.
Fic 184.—Opuntia covillei.
146 THE CACTACEAE.
in conjunction, O. covillei is considerably taller, has joints of different color, and has yellow
flowers. It has doubtless generally passed as Opuntia occidentalis, but that is a much
larger, stouter plant, with strong, more or less flattened spines, and is common along the
coast.
Figure 183 represents a joint of the plant sent by Dr. MacDougal from Elsinore,
California, in 1913; figure 184 is from a photograph of a specimen collected by Mr. S.
B. Parish from near the type locality in 1916.
148. Opuntia vaseyi (Coulter) Britton and Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 532. 1908.
Opuntia mesacantha vaseyi Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 431. 1896.
Opuntia rafinesquet vaseyi Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 717. 1898.
Opuntia humifusa vaseyi Heller, Cat. N. Amer. Pl. ed. 2. 8. 1900.
Opuntia magenta Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: 268. 1908.
Opuntia rubiflora Davidson, Bull. South. Calif. Acad. 15: 33. 1916.
Plants low, the lower stems spreading at base, but some of the branches erect and 4 to 7 joints
high; joints thick, small (usually 10 to 12 cm. long), ovate, pale green, somewhat glaucous; areoles
rather large, 2 to 3 cm. apart, bearing 1 to 3 spines; spines porrect, usually short (rarely 2 cm. long),
grayish brown or bright brown, whitish or yellowish towards the tips, somewhat flattened; young
joints bright green, thickish, bearing short purplish leaves and a single brownish spine from an areole;
flowers deep salmon, almost a red-salmon, from the very first; ovary globular to shortly oblong;
areoles few, mostly towards the top of the ovary, spineless but with a few brown glochids; fruit
globular to shortly oblong, 4 to 5 cm. long, deep purple, truncate at apex, with few areoles, the pulp
sweetish but hardly edible; umbilicus broadly depressed.
Type locality: Cited as Yuma, Arizona, presumably erroneously.
Distribution: San Bernardino and Orange Counties, southern California.
Even from a moving train this species is distinguishable from its relatives by the
color of its flowers. It forms great thickets along the Southern Pacific Railroad north of
Los Angeles, either alone or interspersed with one or more other species, and it is also common
in the San Bernardino Valley toward the Cajon Pass where it forms great thickets either
alone or with Opuntia covillet. Considerable quantities were seen also on hills near River-
side, and it was found cultivated in the cactus garden at River- ow
side and in the Soldiers’ Home Grounds at Santa Monica. “A be
Illustration: Bull. South. Calif. Acad. 15: 32, as Opuntia
rubiflora.
Figure 185 represents a joint of the plant collected by Dr.
Rose at Fernando, California, in 1908.
149. Opuntia occidentalis Engelmann,and Bigelow, Proc. Amer. Acad.
3: 291. 1856. cae
Coane ilindhevntr occidentalis Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 421.
Obanie engelmannii occidentalis Engelmann in Brewer and Watson, Bot.
Calif. 1: 248. 1876.*
Opuntia demissa Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22: 29. 1912.
Erect or spreading, often 1 meter high or more, forming large ts) if
thickets; joints large, obovate to oblong, 2 to 3 dm. long; areoles remote; ? Z
spines 2 to 7, stout, unequal, the longest ones 4 to 5 cm. long, more or Oo ® FZ
less flattened, brown or nearly white, sometimes wanting; shorter spines \
often white; glochids often prominent, brown; flowers yellow, large, in- fe} Z
cluding the ovary often 10 to 11 em. long; fruit large, purple. ; @
Type locality: Western slopes of the California Mountains,
between San Diego and Los Angeles.
Distribution: Southwestern California and northern Lower Fic. 185.—Opuntia vaseyi.
California and adjacent islands. ae
In their description of this species, Engelmann and Bigelow state that it was found on
the western slope of the California Mountains near San Diego and Los Angeles. In the
*Coulter refers this name to Pac. R. Rep. 4: errata, 3, 1856, but no formal name is published there.
OPUNTIA. 147
Engelmann herbarium are the two original sheets. One of these comes from the “ Moun-
tain Valleys of San Pasquel and Santa Isabel,” northeast of San Diego. ‘This consists of
a single flower and a small piece of a joint containing three bunches of spines; we doubt if
this can be identified. The other comes from near Los Angeles and consists of a large pad
and fruit with seeds. ‘The spines are dark
brown or nearly black. ‘This specimen ap-
pears to be the one figured in the Pacific
Railroad Report and may very properly be
taken as the type of the species.
There is much uncertainty regarding
the range of this species, some referring it
to the interior valleys of California. Anex-
amination, however, of the type material,
and a study of the living plants in southern
California by Dr. Rose, convince us that
the coastal opuntias can not all be referred
to O. littoralis as is sometimes done, but a
part belongs to O. occidentalis. The limits
of the latter species, and its distribution,
are not well defined.
Of this relationship is to be consid-
ered Opuntia semispinosa Griffiths (Bull.
Torr. Club 43: 89. 1916), which the author
describes as a common, conspicuous spe-
cies in the coastal region of California.
Illustrations: N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta.
Bull. 60: pl.3,f.2; Pac. R. Rep. 4:pl.7, f.1, 2;
pl. 22, f. 10; Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22: pl. 8,
this last as Opuntia demissa.
Figure 186 is from a plant collected
on Santa Catalina Island, California, by
Mr. S. B. Parish in 1916.
Fic. 186.—Opuntia occidentalis.
150. Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck in Engelmann, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 6: 207. 1850.
Opuntia engelmannii cyclodes Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 291. 1856.
Opuntia lindheimeri cyclodes Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 422. 1896.
Opuntia dillei Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: 82. 1909.
Opuntia arizonica Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: 93. 1909.
Opuntia wootonu Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 21: 171. 1910.
Opuntia cyclodes Rose, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 13: 309. 1911.
Opuntia gregoriana Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22: 26. 1912.
Opuntia valida Griffiths, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 27: 24. 1914.
Opuntia confusa Griffiths, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 27: 28. 1914.
Opuntia magnarenensis Griffiths, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 29:9. 1916.
Opuntia expansa Griffiths, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 29: 14. 1916.
Originally described as erect and up to 2 meters high, but more properly a widely spreading
bush, usually without a definite trunk; joints oblong to orbicular, 2 to 3 dm. long, thick, pale green;
areoles distant, becoming large and bulging; spines usually more or less white, with dark red or ©
brownish bases and sometimes with black tips, usually 3 or 4, sometimes only 1, or entirely wanting
from the lower areoles, but on old joints 10 or more, usually somewhat porrect or a little spreading,
but never reflexed, the larger ones much flattened, the longest one 5 cm. long; leaves subulate,
about 15 mm. long; glochids numerous, brown with yellowish tips; flowers large, yellow; fruit
3.5 to 4 em. long, red; seeds small, 3 to 4 mm. broad.
Type locality: From El! Paso to Chihuahua.
Distribution: Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
148 THE CACTACEAE.
An examination of the plant collected by Wislizenus (No. 223) north of Chihuahua,
now in the herbarium of the Missouri Botanical Garden and labeled by Dr. Engelmann as
O. engelmannii Salm-Dyck, shows that this species is of Schumann’s series Fulvispinosae
(our series Phaeacanthae) rather than series Tunae.
Opuntia engelmannit has been more confused than any other species of Opuntia.
Salm-Dyck, who first studied the species, doubtless had but a single specimen before him,
and this or a duplicate is nowin the herbarium of the Missouri Botanical Garden. This
type specimen came from near Chihuahua City, from which place Dr. Rose has collected
identical material. Dr. Engelmann, who published Salm-Dyck’s name, described the
plant as erect and 5 to 6 feet high, giving its range from Chihuahua City to Texas. These
remarks of his were doubtless based on notes of Dr. Wislizenus, who collected the type,
and must have included more than one species; as Engelmann says it is both cultivated
and wild, the cultivated plants doubtless referring to some of the many forms grown about
towns and ranches. In 1852 Engelmann extends the distribution of the species westward
to the Pacific Ocean, referring especially to a San Diego specimen. In 1856 he refers here
his previously described species O. lindheimeri, and extends the range eastward to the mouth
of the Rio Grande and to lower Mexico. Coulter brought all this material together under
O. lindheimert and four varieties.
An examination of herbarium and greenhouse specimens shows that at least half a
dozen species have been passing under the name of O. engelmanni1. While certain varieties
and specimens are evidently to be excluded from the species, we are still uncertain as to its
specific limits. It is quite common about Chihuahua City and extends to Monterey
and Saltillo or is represented there by a near ally, while Mr. E. O. Wooton would refer here
plants of southern New Mexico, and we are including large, bushy opuntias from Arizona.
Dr. Rose was inclined at one time to separate the Tucson plant, which seems to have
some just claims for specific recognition, but there is a mass of herbarium material which
seems to connect this with the true O. engelmannit.
Opuntia engelmannii monstrosa (Cat. Darrah Succ. Manchester 54. 1908) is doubt-
less one of the abnormal forms so common among the flat-jointed opuntias.
Opuntia cyclodes, first found by Bigelow near Anton Chico, New Mexico, is certainly
of this relationship. The characters of orbicular joints, of small fruit and of stout, usually
solitary spines, originally assigned to it, are not constant, for it often has obovate to oblong
joints bearing as many as four slender spines and large fruit.
In 1913 Dr. Rose explored the upper Pecos, especially about Anton Chico, near the
type locality, where he collected specimens similar to the Bigelow plant, but these grade
into more spiny forms, some bearing as many as five spines at an areole, usually
yellow, especially distally, and more slender than in typical O. engelmannii. From the
same type locality, and associated with O. cyclodes, is O. expansa Griffiths, which has more
and whiter spines than the typical form, although they are sometimes yellowish with brown
bases. O. dillet Griffiths is also related to O. cyclodes, but the spines are fewer; Dr. Grif-
fiths states, however, that more spines develop on cultivated plants.
Illustrations: Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 8, f. 1; pl. 22, f. 8, 9, all as Opuntia engelmannii cyclodes;
Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: pl. 4, in part, as Opuntia dillei. Ariz. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 67: pl.
7, f. 1; Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: pl. 10; Safford, Ann. Rep. Smiths. Inst. 1908: pl. 10, f. 3,
6, all as Opuntia arizonica. Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 21: pl. 26, in part, 27, both as Opuntia
wootontt. Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22: pl. 3, this last as Opuntia gregoriana. Standley, Ann.
Rep. Smiths. Inst. r911: pl. 2; Bull. Torr. Club 32: pl. 10, f. 10 to 13; Cact. Journ. 2: 147;
Cact. Mex. Bound. pl. 75, f. 1 to 4; Cycl. Amer. Hort. Bailey 3: f. 1547; Gard. Chron. III.
30:f. 123; N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 78: pl. [5, 6].
Plate xxv, figure 3, represents a flowering joint of a plant sent from Arizona by Dr.
MacDougal in 1902.
3 OPUNTIA. 149
151. Opuntia discata Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: 266. 1908.
Opuntia gilvescens Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: 87. 1909.
Opuntia riparia Griffiths, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 27: 26. 1914.
Plants bushy, spreading, sometimes 15 dm. high; joints thick, orbicular to broadly obovate,
2.5 dm. in diameter or less, pale bluish green, somewhat glaucous; areoles rather few, distant, in
age becoming very large, hemispheric, filled with short brown wool; spines usually 2 to 4, sometimes
7 or more in old areoles, 2 cm. long or more, grayish with dark bases, somewhat flattened; flowers
large, 9 to 10 cm. broad, light yellow, darker near the center; style white; stigma-lobes green; fruit
magenta, pyriform, 6 to 7 cm. long.
Type locality: Foothills of Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona.
Distribution: Foothills and high mesas of southern Arizona and northern Sonora.
Illustrations: Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: pl. 2, f. 5; pl. 7; pl. 13, f. 6, all as Opuntia gil-
vescens; Amer. Garden 11: 469, this last as Opuntia angustata. Ariz. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull.
67: pl. 1, f. 2; Bull U.S. Dept. Agr. 31: pl. 3, f. 2; Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: pl. 27, in part.
Plate xxiv, figure 2, is from a photograph taken by Dr. MacDougal in the Tortolita
Mountains, Arizona, in 1916; Opuntia discata is the plant shown in left foreground.
152. Opuntia rastrera Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 896. 1898.
?Opuntia lucens Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: 269. 1908.
Creeping plant; joints circular to obovate, the largest 2 dm. in diameter; spines white, several
from an areole, the longest 4 cm. long; glochids yellow; flowers yellow; fruit purple, acid, obovoid.
Type locality: San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Distribution: The type locality and vicinity.
This species was very briefly described in 1898 by Dr. Weber, who states that it is
quite distinct from O.tuna, the Jamaican species. Schumann, who treats it in a note under
O. tuna, states that it is a well-differentiated species from Mexico.
From descriptions we are referring here O. lucens Griffiths, also described from San
Luis Potosi specimens. Dr. Griffiths states that his O. lucens is related to O. engelmannii,
but has a different habit; he says it is called cuija by the Mexicans, but that it is very
different from Opuntia cuzja.
Series 12. ELATIORES.
Tall species, with flat, broad, persistent joints, the areoles bearing acicular, setaceous, or subulate
brown spines, or some species spineless. We know about twelve species, most of them South
American, with one in Florida (see Appendix p. 222), possibly one (O. fuliginosa) in Mexico.
Key TO SPECIES.
Joints very spiny.
Spines not banded.
ATeolesisirroundedibyaalpitpleiblotchtemerissenieeeiaeeenteacnnet nitiieicr ernie eee 153. O. brunnescens
Areoles not surrounded by a purple blotch.
Spinesisetaceous; petalsmvellowmnacwie ac oceine oe ie eae ese soe ence 154. O. galapageia
Spines, when present, acicular or subulate; petals mostly red or orange.
Jomtsistronglymindiulate-sspines| shone, SCO. mest rien tieier-aetre teint renee 155. O. delaetiana
Joints not undulate or scarcely undulate.
sormtssbluisheereen se alicouseer ane ene neers 156. O. bergeriana
Joints bright green, not glaucous or slightly glaucous
Spines, at least on young joints, acicular, slender.
Spines, when present, dark brown or blackish; joints dull.......... 157. O. elatior
Spines light brown to straw-colored.
Soroass (ipa) Wo) Gy Gang loys joss) Goren Geo goceounosconesdaunse 158. O. hanburyana
Spines 3 cm. long or less; joints dull.
Flowers 12 to 15 mm. wide; spines 1 to 4 at an areole or
AiR UILAb ohare atts ay een Reatnotee ar eiora nial Tati sGIeie Ale dia aioe Cela 159. O. quitensis
Flowers 5 to 6 cm. wide; spines up to 10 at anareole....... 159a. O. soederstromiana
Spinesistibulatesstoutsajointsishininge ee wanes hone eer eee 160. O. schumannii
Spines acicular; petals yellow; joints shining [in this series?]................... 161. O. fuliginosa
Spines distinctly banded; joints dark green, obscurely glaucous................... .. 161d. O. zebrina
Joints usually spineless.
BU, 1 HO) D MAGUS liane slo AS WOT ooaanaucacsuassascbosoobessosucsedoecesso6 162. O. boldinghii
rect gitorumetersyhigh fowersoranse-redeyy rte ae eer tee creo: 163. O. distans
150 THE CACTACEAE.
153. Opuntia brunnescens sp. nov.
Usually low and prostrate, sometimes 1 meter high, without a definite trunk, usually forming
a bushy clump; joints oblong to orbicular, 15 to 30 cm. long, smooth, dull green, except the purple
blotches about the prominent areoles; spines 2 to 5, brownish, porrect or pointing forward, up to
4.5 cm. long, stout, sometimes twisted.
Hills about the city of Cérdoba, Argentina, where it was collected by Rose and Russell,
September 8, 1915 (No. 21029).
This species is very common on the dry hills about Cordoba, where it is often associ-
ated with Opuntia sulphurea. It apparently extends northward into Jujuy.
Figure 187 represents a joint of the type specimen above cited; figure 188 shows its
fruit collected by Dr. Shafer (No. 78).
154. Opuntia galapageia Henslow, Mag. Zool. and Bot. 1: 467. 1837.
Opuntia myriacantha Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 894. 1898.
Opuntia helleri Schumann in Robinson, Proc. Amer. Acad. 38: 180. 1902.
Opuntia insularis Stewart, Proc. Calif. Acad. IV. 1: 113. 1911.
Sometimes low and creeping, but often becoming very large, 5 to 10 meters high, with a large top
either open or very compact and rounded; trunk at first very spiny and made up of flat joints set
end to end, with the short axis of each joint at right angles to that of the adjacent joint, in time
becoming terete, and when old nearly naked, 3 to 13 dm. in diameter; bark of old trunks smooth,
brown, peeling off in thin layers; joints oblong to orbicular, usually very large, 1.5 to 3.5 dm. long,
very spiny; areoles large, often prominent on the trunk, there especially forming knobs bearing
numerous spines; spines extremely variable, but nearly all yellowish brown; areoles on young, vigorous
plants very stout and rigid, very unequal, the longest 7 to 8 cm. long; joints of old plants bearing
more or less pungent bristles or sometimes very weak soft hairs instead of spines, while the spines
from the trunks often are very stout and sometimes 40 in a cluster; flowers yellow, 7.5 cm. broad;
ovary more or less tuberculate; fruit greenish, sometimes borne in the ends of joints, more or less
spiny; seeds large, 5 to 6 mm. broad, white, covered with soft hairs.
M]
al
iN Ta I, d
iN ( \j WELL
Fic. 187—O. brunnescens. Xo.4. Fic. 188.—Fruit of O. brun- Fic. 190.—Flower of same. Fic. 189—Joint of
nescens. 0.9. X0.75 O. galapageia.
Type locality: Galapagos Islands.
Distribution: Very common, often forming forests, on the Galapagos Islands.
We have here combined the four species reported from the Galapagos Islands, while
Alban Stewart, in his admirable paper on the botany of these islands, not only recognizes
four species, but describes a fifth without specific name. He also has fourteen full-page
OPUNTIA. 151
illustrations showing fine habit views of the Galapagos Opuntia. The early descriptions
of this species were very inaccurate and, as pointed out by Mr. Stewart, the characters
assigned to its fruit are those of a Cereus-like plant. Mr. Stewart visited the Galapagos
Islands in 1905-1906 and brought back a remarkable series of photographs and specimens.
Through the kindness of Miss Alice Eastwood, Curator of Botany in the California Academy
of Sciences, we have been able to study this material. It consists of about forty sheets of
well-preserved joints with a few flowers and fruits. These, in connection with the pub-
Fic. 191.—Opuntia galapageia. Xo0.75.
lished illustrations, show a great range of variation in habit, armament of joints, and char-
acter of spines. While these differences are very marked, they are similar to what is
sometimes met with in other opuntias, such as O. gosseliniana and O. leucotricha, or in
certain Peruvian and Chilean types of Cereus relatives; indeed, in a number of cacti
which live under intense desert influences, most diverse forms in the same species are often
produced. ‘The habit-character in this species seems to be of little value, according to Mr.
152 THE CACTACEAE.
Stewart himself, for he calls attention to procumbent and arborescent forms of O. gala-
pageia, while the greatest range of spine characters is shown between the young plants and
old ones and between the trunk and the joints. The specimen which Mr. Stewart has
made the type of his Opuntia insularis is quite different from all the others, and yet one
can easily believe that intergrades could be found; his species is described without flowers
or fruit. Mr. Stewart states that this Opuntia forms the principal article of food for the
Galapagos land tortoise. Its trunk becomes thicker than that of any other known species
of the genus.
Illustrations: Gard. Chron. III. 24: f. 75; Mag. Zool. and Bot. 1: pl. 14, f. 2; Proc. Calif.
Acad. IV. 1: pl. 7, f. 2; pl. 8; pl. 9, f. 2; pl. roto 12. Gard. Chron. Ser. III. 27: f. 56; Proc.
Calif. Acad. IV. 1: pl. 7, f. 1; pl. 13, f. 2; pl. 16 to 18, all as Opuntia myriacantha. Proc.
Calif. Acad. IV. 1: pl. 13, f. 1; pl. 14, the last two as Opuntia hellert. Proc. Calif. Acad.
IV. 1: pl. 9, f. 1; pl. 15, the last two as Opuntia insularts.
Figure 189 represents a joint of the plant collected by Robert E. Snodgrass and
Edmund Heller on Wenman Island, Galapagos, on the Hopkins-Stanford Expedition (type
of Opuntia helleri Schumann), drawn from the herbarium specimen in the Gray Herbarium;
figure 190 is of a flower of the same plant; figure 191 is from a photograph of an herbarium
specimen collected by Alban Stewart.
155. Opuntia delaetiana Weber in Vaupel, Blithende Kakteen 3: pl. 148. 1913.
Opuntia elata delaetiana Weber in Gosselin, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 10: 392. 1904.
Joints oblong, 25 cm. long, 8 cm. broad, bright green, at first thin and spineless, the margin
strongly undulate; areoles large, bearing 3 to 5 straight, rose-colored or yellowish brown spines up to
4 cm. long; leaves subulate, about 4 mm. long, glochids wanting in young areoles, later appearing
numerous and brown; flower-buds rounded at the apex; outer sepals orbicular, obtuse, red; flower
rotate, 5 to 7 cm. broad, orange-colored; stigma-lobes white; fruit oblong or pyriform, red, 5 to 7 cm.
long, 3 to 5 cm. in thickness.
Type locality: Paraguay.
Distribution: Paraguay and northeastern Ar-
gentina.
The plant was collected by Dr. Thomas
Morong at Asuncién, Paraguay, in 1888, and re-
ferred in his list of plants collected in Paraguay
(Annal. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 7: 121. 1892) to O. nigri-
cans Haworth; Dr. Shafer found it in 1917 in waste
places and in hedge-rows about Concordia and Po-
sados, Argentina. This species may more prop-
erly belong in our series Hlatae than in Elatiores.
Illustration: Bliihende Kakteen 3: pl. 148.
Figure 192 is copied from the illustration
above cited.
156. Opuntia bergeriana Weber in Berger, Gard. Chron.
IIT. 35: 34. 1904.
Growing singly or in dense thickets, gften 1 to 3.5
meters high and having a trunk 3 to 4 dm. in diameter,
with a large, spreading top, or clambering over walls
and rocks; joints narrowly oblong, sometimes 2.5 cm. Fic. 192.—Opuntia delaetiana.
long, when young often quite narrow, bright green, but
becoming dull and somewhat glaucous; areoles rather distant, on old joints 2 to 4 cm. apart, filled
with short gray wool; spines 2 or 3, rarely 5, unequal, the longest one 3 to 4 cm. long and somewhat
flattened, more or less brownish at base, sometimes yellowish, porrect, or somewhat turned down-
ward; leaves 2 to 3 mm. long, fugacious; glochids yellow but sometimes turning brown, rather promi-
nent, forming a half circle in the upper part of the areole: areoles circular, when young filled with
light brown wool in the center and white in the outer region; flowers numerous, showy, deep red;
BRITTON AND ROSE
PLATE XXVI
M. E, Eaton del.
an
. Flowering joint of Opuntia bergeriana. 3. Flowering joint of Opuntia boldinghiz.
2. Flowering joint of Opuntia elatior. 4,5. Joints of Opuntia elata.
, (All natural size.)
OPUNTIA. 153
some joints bearing 20 or more; petals 2.5 cm. long, mucronate; filaments numerous, scarlet-rose;
stigma-lobes 6, green; fruit small, 3 to 4 cm. long, red, not edible; seeds few, flattened, 5 mm. broad.
Type locality: Described from cultivated specimens.
Distribution: Not known in the wild state, but now very common on the Riviera,
northern Italy, forming large thickets.
Mr. Berger would place this species next to O. nigricans, which we now call O. elatior.
This species was named for Alwin Berger, formerly curator of the Hanbury Garden at La
Mortola, Italy, who sent material to the late Dr. Weber, from which the species was
described. The species is quite common on the Riviera and has run wild in many places,
especially about Bordighera, Italy. It produces a great abundance of flowers in May,
but blooms more or less throughout the year.
Opuntia ledienit (Berger, Hort. Mortol. 233. 1912), unpublished, is referred here.
Illustrations: Gard. Chron. III. 35: f. 14; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 16: 156.
Plate xxvI, figure 1, represents a flowering joint of a plant sent from La Mortola,
Italy, to the New York Botanical Garden in 1906.
157. Opuntia elatior Miller, Gard. Dict. ed. 8. No. 4. 1768.
Cactus nigricans Haworth, Misc. Nat. 187. 1803.
Opuntia nigricans Haworth, Syn. Pl. Suce. 189. 1812.
Cactus elatior Willdenow, Enum. Hort. Berol. Suppl. 34. 1813.
Cactus tuna nigricans Sims, Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 38: pl. 1557. 1813.
Cactus tuna elatior Sims, Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 38: under pl. 1557. 1813.
Cactus pseudococcinellifer Bertoloni, Excerpta Herb. Bonon. 11. 1820.
Plants densely bushy-branched, up to 5 meters high; joints obovate to oblong or suborbicular,
olive-green, 1 to 2 dm. or even 4 dm. long; leaves 4 mm. long, green with reddish tips; areoles 2 to
4 cm. apart; spines 2 to 8, acicular, mostly terete, dark brown, 2 to 4 cm. or even 7 cm. long;
flowers about 5 cm. broad; petals dark yellow striped with red or sometimes salmon-rose, with
mucronate tips; filaments numerous, pink or red; style nearly white; stigma-lobes 5, green; ovary
ovoid, deeply umbilicate, its areoles either with or without spines; fruit obovoid, truncate when
mature, reddish, the pulp dark red; seeds about 4 mm. broad.
Type locality: Unknown.
Distribution: Common or frequent in Curacao, Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama,
escaped from cultivation in Australia. O. migricans has been referred to Mexico, but
doubtless wrongly, unless cultivated there. Plants brought by Dr. Howe from Tobogilla
Island, Panama, have narrowly obovate joints.
The early history of this species and its various synonyms are rather confusing. Dil-
lenius figured Opuntia elatior and this name was taken up by Miller in 1768. There is
some doubt as to its native home, but it probably came from northern South America, or
possibly Curacao. Opuntia nigricans, also referred here, was described by Haworth from
cultivated specimens; plate 1557 of Curtis’s Botanical Magazine was made from Haworth’s
specimen and may be considered typical.
Introduced into cultivation in Europe about 1793.
Illustrations: Loudon, Encycl. pl. ed. 3. f. 6877, as Cactus elatior; Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 38:
pl. 1557, this last as Cactus tuna nigricans; Dillenius, Hort. Elth. pl. 294, this as 7 una elatior,
etc.; Agr. Gaz. N. S. W. 23: pl. opp. 208; pl. opp. 210, both these as Opuntia nigricans;
Journ. Hort. Home Farm. III. 60: 30, this as Opuntia occidentalis.
Plate xxv1, figure 2, shows a flowering joint of a specimen obtained by Dr. Britton
and Dr. Shafer in Curacao in 1913.
158. Opuntia hanburyana Weber in Berger, Gard. Chron. III. 35: 34. 1904.
Bushy, 1 to 2 meters high, somewhat straggling; joints narrowly oblong, about 3 dm. long, bright
green; leaves subulate, 4 to 5 mm. long; areoles closely set, filled with brown or blackish wool;
spines several, spreading, acicular, somewhat flattened and twisted, yellowish brown, the longest
3 em. long; flowers widely spreading, rather small; fruit small.
Type locality: Described from cultivated plants.
Distribution: Not known in the wild state.
154 THE CACTACEAE.
The species commemorates Sir Thomas Hanbury, who, through his extensive garden
at La Mortola, Italy, contributed much to botany and horticulture.
Illustration: Gard. Chron. III. 35: f. 15.
Figure 193 represents joints of the plant sent from La Mortola, Italy, in 1913.
159. Opuntia quitensis Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 894. 1898.
Bushy, sometimes 2 meters high; joints obovate, 1 to 4 dm. long, 8 to 9 cm. broad; areoles
small, distant, 2 cm. apart, bearing some white tomentum and short glochids; spines wanting, or 1
to 3, sometimes as many as 4 on old joints, straight, yellowish
brown, or nearly white when young, acicular, somewhat flexu-
ae 4 ous, 2 to 3 cm. long; leaves green, minute, acute; flowers red,
pW Pe oo OE y 12 to 15 mm. broad; petals erect, obtuse; anthers white; style
rel a ; Py\/ / white, short and thick; stigma-lobes 13, white, about as long as
y” a aie the style; fruit obovoid, red, nearly spineless, about 2 cm. long;
x seeds about 3 cm. broad.
Fic. 193.—O. hanburyana. Xo.5. Fic. 194.—O. quitensis. Xo.5.-
Type locality: Near Quito, Ecuador.
Distribution: Ecuador.
As observed by Dr. Rose in Ecuador in 1918, this species is very variable in habit,
for when grown in the open it is low and bushy with rather small joints, but when grow-
ing in thickets it becomes tall and has large joints. About Huigra, where it is very
common, it is often spineless, and when the spines are present they are few and weak.
In southern Ecuador there is a plant which has small, red flowers like this species, but
the joints have stout subulate spines.
Figure 194 represents a joint of a plant obtained in 1901 for the New York Botanical
Garden from M. Simon, of St. Ouen, Paris, France.
159a. Opuntia soederstromiana sp. nov. (See Appendix, p. 221.)
OPUNTIA. 155
160. Opuntia schumannii Weber in Berger, Gard. Chron. IIT. 35:34. 1904.
__ Bushy, 1 to 2 meters high; joints obovate to oblong, 1.5 to 2.5 cm. long, dull dark green; areoles
distant, medium sized; spines 2 to 10, slightly spreading, very unequal, the longest ones 4.5 cm.
long, more or less twisted, flattened, dark brown; glochids few, soon disappearing; flowers 6 cm.
long, yellowish to orange, turning in age to dull red; ovary tuberculate, spineless, deeply umbilicate;
fruit dark purple, turgid, juicy, deeply umbilicate, 5 cm. long.
Type locality: Not cited.
Distribution : Northern South America; sometimes assigned to Argentina.
Opuntia schumanniu is described by Berger as being intermediate between Opuntia
and N opalea, and according to him, it has long stamens and upright petals; otherwise it
has little in common with Nopalea; a plant from Santa Clara, Colombia, which agrees
with plants of O. schumannii from La Mortola, Italy, has a normal Opuntia flower.
Illustration: Gard. Chron. III. 35: f. 16.
Plate xxvuj, figure 1, represents a fruiting joint of the plant collected by John G. Sin-
clair at Santa Clara, Colombia, in 1913; figure 2 shows a flower of the same plant.
161. Opuntia fuliginosa Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: 262. 1908.
Tall, tree-like, 4 meters high or more, much branched; joints orbicular to oblong, 3 dm. long
or less, shining; leaves subulate, 8 to 12 mm. long; areoles distant; spines few, rarely as many as 6,
dull brown or horn-colored, the longest ones 4 cm. long, slightly twisted; glochids yellow to brown;
flowers at first yellow but in age red, 5 to 6 cm. long including the ovary; stigma-lobes yellowish
green; fruit pyriform to short-oblong, 3 to 4 cm. long, red; seeds 5 mm. broad. ~
Type locality: Near Guadalajara, Mexico.
Distribution: Central Mexico.
We refer this species to our series Elatiores with hesitation.
Illustration: Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: pl. 25.
161a. Opuntia zebrina Small, Journ. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 20: 35. 1919. (See Appendix, p. 222.)
162. Opuntia boldinghii sp. nov.
Bushy, 2 meters high; joints dull green, somewhat glaucous,
obovate, 2 cm. long, spineless or with very short brown spines;
leaves conic, red, 2 to 3 mm. long; areoles large, elevated, filled
with short brown wool; flowers rose-colored, 5 cm. long; petals
obtuse; filaments pink, much shorter than the petals; style
nearly white; stigma-lobes yellowish; fruit obovate, 4 cm. long,
spineless; seeds 4 mm. in diameter.
Collected by Dr. N. L. Britton and Dr. J. A. Shafer,
March 1913, in cultivation on Curagao (No. 2905, type);
also collected by H. Pittier around El Palito, Venezuela,
July 2, 1913 (No. 6450), and by Dr. Rose in a hedge at
Valencia, Venezuela, October 27, 1916 (No. 21842).
This species is named in honor of Dr. I. Boldingh, a
Dutch botanist, author of a valuable descriptive flora of
the Dutch West Indian islands.
Plate xxvt, figure 3, shows a flowering joint of a
specimen obtained by Dr. Britton and Dr. Shafer in
Curacao in 1913.
163. Opuntia distans sp. nov.
Erect, densely much branched, 3 to 4 meters tall, with a
short trunk 1.5 dm. in diameter; joints flat, bluish green when
young, grayish green when old, obovate, 2 to 2.5 dm. long, about
1.5 dm. wide and nearly 2 cm. thick, rounded above, narrowed Fic. t95—Joint of O. distans. Xo.4.
156 THE CACTACEAE.
at the base, glabrous; areoles few, only about 12 on each side of a joint, distant, large, nearly cir-
cular, 8 to ro mm. broad, slightly elevated, bearing many short glochids, but quite spineless; leaves
subulate, about 3 mm. long; ovary obconic, 3 to 4 cm. long, bearing a few small areoles; sepals
broadly triangular, acute, 6 to 10 mm. long; petals broad, rounded, 1 to 2 cm. long. orange-red.
Distribution: Sandy places, Andalgala, Catamarca, Argentina, J. A. Shafer, December
15, 1916 (No. 7).
A spineless species noteworthy for its few, large, distant areoles. We append it to
the series Elatiores, but are uncertain as to its real affinity. The large distant areoles
forbid associating it with the Ficus-indicae or the Streptacanthae.
Figure 195 represents a joint of the type specimen.
Series 13. ELATAE.
Erect, tall species, natives of South America, with oblong or oval joints, the brown or white
spines, when present, only one or few at each areole, except on the trunk and old joints.
Key TO SPECIES.
Joints ovate to broadly oblong or obovate.
omtsithin lustrous sich tereen see seem. am ee ee eee 164. O. vulgaris
Joints turgid, dull green.
eaves punplisheip1dcpOlnts Catkee Teer meet ere ee ieee eee 165. O. elata
Leaves green, not rigid; joints pale green.
Spitiesisleniderytene te apse ie et eet ae a eatotan 166. O. cardiosperma
Spresmstoutancied:selonaa ted ere eerie eee ee eee 167. O. arechavaletaz
Joints narrowly oblong to linear or spatulate.
Jomesjoblongstoilinear-) flowers DriCk—red eps cece ei epee er 168. O. mieckleyi
ometsespaculate ss OWEES ROLANS Cases topo re eile ea 169. O. bonaerensis
164. Opuntia vulgaris Miller, Gard. Dict. ed. 8. No. 1. 1768.
Cactus monacanthos Willdenow, Enum. Pl. Suppl. 33. 1813.
Opuntia monacantha Haworth, Suppl. Pl. Succ. 81. 1819.
Cactus urumbeba Vellozo, Fl. Flum. 207. 1825.
Cactus indicus Roxburgh, Fl. Indica 2: 475. 1832.
Cactus chinensis Roxburgh, Fl. Indica 2: 476. 1832.
Opuntia monacantha gracilior Lemaire, Cact. Gen. Nov. Sp. 68. 1839.
Opuntia umbrella Steudel, Nom. ed. 2. 2: 222. 1841.
Opuntia roxburghiana Voigt, Hort. Suburb. Calcutt. 62. 1845.
Opuntia monacantha deflexa Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 66. 1850.
Opuntia lemaireana Console in Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 894. 1898.
Plant 2 to 4 or even 6 meters high, often with a definite trunk, usually with a large much
branched top; trunk cylindric, 1.5 dm. in diameter, either spiny or smooth; joints ovate to oblong,
narrowed at base, 1 to 3 dm. long, bright shining green; leaves subulate, 2 to 3 mm. long; areoles
filled with short wool; glochids brownish; spines 1 or 2, sometimes more (on the trunk often ro or
more) from an areole, erect, 1 to 4 cm. long, yellowish brown to dark reddish brown; flowers yellow
or reddish, 7.5 cm. broad; sepals broad, each with a broad red stripe down the middle; petals golden-
yellow, widely spreading; filaments greenish; style white; stigma-lobes 6, white; ovary spineless,
3.5 em. long; fruit obovoid, 5 to 7.5 cm. long, reddish purple, long-persisting, sometimes proliferous.
Type locality: Type based on an illustration, the origin unknown.
Distribution: Coast and islands of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina; in the interior to
Paraguay; an escape in Cuba, India, and south Africa and naturalized in Australia; fre-
quently cultivated. According to J. H. Maiden it is found in every state of Australia, but
it is not inclined to spread and become a pest.
As has been recently pointed out by Burkill, the Opuntia vulgaris of Miller is the same
as O. monacantha Haworth. O. vulgaris was based on Bauhin’s figure (Hist. Pl. 1: 154.
1650), which was taken from Lobelius (Icones 2: 241. 1591), and is a tall, branching plant.
This species is not to be confused with the low, spreading species of the eastern United
States, long known as O. vulgaris. (See. p. 127.)
This species is said by Burkill to be distributed over the earth more widely than any
other, but our observation in America is that O. ficus-indica is by far the most widely
spread species.
ee EE EEE eSVn ee
BRITTON AND ROSE
PLATE XxXvVII
po
M. W. Eaton del-
1. Upper part of fruiting joint of Opuntia schumannit. 3. Flowering joint of Opuntia vulgaris.
2. Flower of Opuntia schumannit. 4. Flowering joint of Opuntia stricta.
(All natural size.)
OPUNTIA. 157
O. vulgaris was one of those most commonly used in the nopalries of India and South
Africa in the cochineal industry.
We have referred both of Roxburgh’s species here, although Burkill was inclined to
refer Cactus chinensis to O. decumana, which in his sense is O. ficus-indica.
Opuntia monacantha variegata (listed in Cat. Darrah Succ. Manchester 57. 1908) is
common in cultivation. Some of the joints are normally green; others are more or less
blotched with white or yellow, while others may be entirely white or yellow; the leaves
are bright red and though small are conspicuous.
Opuntia urumbella Steudel (Nom. ed. 2. 1: 246. 1840), given as a synonym of Cactus
urumbella, is doubtless a name for this species.
Opuntia deflexa Lemaire (Cact. Gen. Nov. Sp. 68. 1839) was given as a synonym of
O. monacantha gracilior; while the latter was given as a synonym of O. elatior deflexa Salm-
Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1844. 47. 1845).
Illustrations: Rev. Hort. 41: f. 37; 66: f. 58; Bauhin, Hist. Pl. 1: 154 | =Lobelius,
Icones 2: 241], this last as Opuntia vulgo, etc. Anal. Mus. Nac. Montevideo 5: pl. 32;
Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 68: pl. 3911; Dept. Agr. N.S. W. Misc. Publ. 253: pl. [3], [4]; Agr. Gaz.
N.S. W. 24: facing p. 864; Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 20: pl. 1726; Gard. Chron. III. 30: f. 122,
in part; 34: f. 35; Journ. Dept. Agr. Vict. 6: pl. 25; Martius, Fl. Bras. 4”: pl. 62; Weeds,
Pois. Pl. Nat. Al. Vict. pt. 1. pl.
[ro], [32], allasOpuntia monacantha;
Amer. Garden 11: 529; Cact. Journ.
I: 167, these last two as Opuntia
monacantha variegata; Vellozo, F1.
Flum. 5: pl. 32, as Cactus urumbeba;
De Candolle, Pl. Succ. Hist. 2: pl.
138 [B]; De Tussac, FI. Antill. 2: pl.
31, these last two as Cactus opuntia
tuna; Gard. Chron. III. 47: f. 174,
this as Opuntia ficus-indica; Ritm-
pler, Sukkulenten f. 122, this as
Opuntia tuna; Addisonia 1: pl. 38.
Plate xxvil, figure 3, represents
a flowering joint of a plant pre-
sented to the New York Botanical
Garden by Mr. Gustav Rix in 1900.
165. Opuntia elata Link and Otto in ;
Salm-Dyck, Hort. Dyck. 361. Fic. 196.—O. elata. Xo0.4. Fic. 197.—O. cardiosperma. Xo0.4.
1834.
An erect plant, 1 meter high or more; joints thick, dark green, oblong, 5 to 25 cm. long, half
as broad as long; leaves minute, caducous; areoles remote, large (7 mm. in diameter), filled with
short white wool, usually spineless; spines if present only 1 to 3, except on old stems and there
more, horn-colored, stiff, sometimes 3.5 cm. long; glochids very tardy in appearing, long persistent;
flowers about 5 em. broad, orange-yellow; petals obtuse, broad; filaments short; stigma-lobes white;
fruit oblong, 6 cm. long, spineless, with a truncate umbilicus; seeds 6 mm. broad.
Type locality: In Brazil. : :
Distribution: Paraguay, but according to Salm-Dyck and Pfeiffer, from Brazil and
probably Curacao; our exploration of Curacao failed to prove its existence there. It is
grown for ornament in Cuba and has there escaped from cultivation in gardens to road-
sides and waste grounds. ; iid
Schumann did not know where to place this species, but we believe it 1s most nearly
related to Opuntia vulgaris.
158 THE CACTACEAE.
Plate xxvi, figure 4, represents a flowering joint of a plant given to the New York
Botanical Garden by Frank Weinberg in 1903; figure 5 represents another joint of the
same plant. Figure 196 represents a joint of a plant obtained by Professor Carlos de la
Torre at Punta de los Molinos, Cuba, in 1912.
166. Opuntia cardiosperma Schumann, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 9: 150. 1899.
About 2 meters high, erect, branching; joints narrowly oblong to obovate; rounded at apex,
10 to 15 cm. long or smaller in greenhouse specimens, easily breaking apart, pale green, more or
less tuberculate; leaves minute, subulate; areoles large, 1 to 2 cm. apart, with white wool, when young
having conspicuous secreting glands; spines, when present, 1 to 4, acicular, stiff, more commonly 1 or
2 from an areole, short, 1 to 2 cm. long, brownish at first but nearly white when old, porrect or ascend-
ing; glochids tardily developing, never conspicuous, brownish; flowers unknown; fruit elongated,
pear-shaped, 7.5 cm. long; seeds 6 mm. broad, 2.5 to 3 mm. thick, cordate, gray, with broad yellow
margins, woolly on the sides.
Type locality: At Recoleta, near Asuncion, Paraguay.
Distribution: Paraguay.
Figure 197 represents joints of the plant sent to the New York Botanical Garden
from La Mortola, Italy, in 1913.
167. Opuntia arechavaletai Spegazzini, Anal. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires. III. 4: 520. 1905.
Plants tall, 1 to 3 meters high, much branched; joints flattened, oblong to ebovate, 25 to 30 cm.
long, green; spines, usually 1, sometimes 3, elongated, porrect, up to 9 cm. long, white, flattened;
flowers 4.5 cm. long, yellow; stamens and style white; fruit violet-purple, 7 cm. long.
Type locality: Near Montevideo, Uruguay.
Distribution: Argentina and Uruguay.
Tllustration: Anal. Mus. Nac. Montevideo 5: pl. 35.
168. Opuntia mieckleyi Schumann, Blithende Kakteen 1: pl. 44. 1903.
Plant erect, much branched; joints narrowly oblong, 15 to 25 cm. long, 4 to 6 cm. broad, glab-
rous, dark green, darker below the areoles; tubercles rather prominent; leaves small; areoles large,
filled with white wool; spines, when present, 1 or 2, very short (5 mm. long), dark-colored; flower-
buds obtuse; flowers brick-red, 6 cm. broad; petals irregularly notched; ovary spineless.
Type locality: In Paraguay.
Distribution: Paraguay; Estancia Loma, in San Salvador.
Named for W. Mieckley, gardener in the Berlin Botanical Garden.
Illustration: Blithende Kakteen 1: pl. 44.
169. Opuntia bonaerensis Spegazzini, Contr. Fl. Tandil 18. 1904.
Opuntia chakensis Spegazzini, Anal. Mus. Nae. III. 4: 519. 1905.
Two meters high, very much branched; joints spatulate to elliptic-spatulate, 15 to 25 cm. long,
green; spines wanting or one, short; flowers orange, large, 4 cm. long; fruit obconic, 6 to 7 cm.
long, dull purple; seeds 5 to 6 mm. long, subglobose.
Type locality: Sierra de Curamalal, Argentina.
Distribution: Argentina and perhaps Paraguay.
Opuntia paraguayensis Schumann (Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 9: 149. 1899) accord-
ing to Spegazzini, and if so this name would supplant O. bonaerensis.
Illustration: Anal. Mus. Nac. Montevideo 5: pl. 23.
The three following, known to us only from descriptions, may belong to this series.
OPUNTIA STENARTHRA Schumann, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 9: 149. 1899.
Shrubby, erect or decumbent, creeping over stones or ascending trees; joints thin, narrow,
yellowish green, oblong to lanceolate, rounded at base, glabrous; spines either wanting or 1 to 3
from an areole, stoutish, subangular; flowers yellow; seeds woolly.
Type locality: Estancia Tagatiya, Paraguay.
Distribution: Paraguay.
OPUNTIA. 159
OPUNTIA ASSUMPTIONIS Schumann, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 9: 153. 1899.
Erect, 1 meter high; joints obovate, narrowed at base, thickish; spines at areoles on the faces
of the joints none, but on the edges 1 or 2, stout, subulate, the upper one stouter, 3 to 4.5 cm. long;
flower 3.5 cm. long, lemon-yellow; fruit pear-shaped, with a deep umbilicus; seeds densely villous.
Type locality: Ascuncion, Paraguay.
Distribution: Known only from the type locality.
OPUNTIA CANTERAI Arechavaleta, Anal. Mus. Nac. Montevideo 5: 278. 1905.
Stems erect, branching, 5 to 10 dm. high; joints elongated, shining green, attenuate below,
15 to 20 cm. long, 4 to 6 cm. broad; areoles orbicular, when young each surrounded by a violet
spot, mostly spineless, about 4 cm. apart; spines, when present, 1 or 2 from an areole, 1.5 to 2 cm.
long, whitish, with brownish tips; flowers orange-colored, 4 to 4.5 em. broad; stigma-lobes 6 or 7
light flesh-colored; fruit somewhat pear-shaped, 5 cm. long; seeds fiattened.
Type locality: In Uruguay.
Distribution: Along the coast of Uruguay.
In Uruguay this species flowers in January and Feb-
ruary.
Series 14. SCHEERIANAE.
Asingle bushy species, with broad, thin, persistent joints, the
areoles close together, each bearing several yellow, acicular
spines and long white or yellow hairs. Its home is unknown. J we
d= ~ Me \\
y : Ss e \
170. Opuntia scheeri Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 895. 18098. wd ¥
ee
=| Hy
About 1 meter high, branching at base, the lower branches D ak Wei S
sprawling over the ground; joints oblong to orbicular, 1.5 to 3 RYN ARS in
dm. long, bluish green; areoles circular, elevated, filled with
short brown wool; spines 10 to 12, yellow, acicular, each sur-
rounded by a row of long white or yellow hairs; flowers large,
pale yellow, but in age salmon-colored; stigma-lobes deep
green; fruit globular, red, juicy, truncate; seed small, 4 mm.
broad, with a broad irregular margin.
SR AK
S aK
Wi
Be,
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Mexico, but known to us only from
cultivated specimens.
This is a very beautiful species, covered as it is by yellow spines and long hairs. A
fine plant is growing in the open at La Mortola, Italy. The seedlings produce a long mass
of soft white hairs almost covering the joints and giving an appearance very different from
the adult plant. In this young stage, according to Mr. Alwin Berger, they readily pass
for Opuntia senilis (O. crintfera).
Figure 198 represents a joint from a specimen sent from La Mortola, Italy, in 1912.
‘Fic. 198.—Opuntia scheeri. Xo.5.
Series 15. DILLENIANAE.
Mostly bushy or tall species, with large, flat, persistent joints, and yellow spines which are
sometimes brown at base, some species spineless or nearly so. We recognize thirteen species as
composing the series, but many more have been described. ‘The plants inhabit the southern United
States, the West Indies, Mexico, and northern South America.
Key TO SPECIES.
Spines nearly setaceous, most of them reflexed............- 5002s eee eee eee 171. O. chlorotica
Spines, when present, acicular to subulate.
Joints spineless, or with only 1 or 2 spines at some of the areoles, or spines very short.
Corolla rotate; petals yellow.
Plant tall; spines, when present, 2 cm. long or less..............----0.--0055- T720203 laevis
Plant depressed, bushy or spreading; spines, when present, up to 7 cm. long .... 173. O. stricta _
Corolla cup-shaped; petals salmon .........-.2-- 055-2 e see eee eee 173d. O. keyensis
Joints usually manifestly spiny; spines mostly 2 or more at the areoles.
Spines mostly stout, commonly flattened ........... 2.2. e teers
Spines acicular to subulate, terete, or slightly flattened at the base.
174. O. dillentt
160 THE CACTACEAE.
Joints elongated-lanceolate or oblong, several times longer than wide........... 175. O. linguiformis
Joints obovate to suborbicular.
Spines long.
Areoles mostly 1.5 to 2 cm. apart.
Syorreesy oyna, Celia) (Wo) 7G) Cand, Weyer, ecco gsacanasaocueoceuooae 176. O. tapona
Spines acicular, 4 cm. long or less.
Spines nearly clear yellow, short:..................----:+--:-- 177. O. littoralis
Spines brown at base, long and slender......................... 178. O. aciculata
Areoles mostly 2.5 to 4 cm. apart.
Bushy species.
Spines yellow or yellowish brown....:.......................-. 179. O. lindheimeri
Spines palejyellow,s or wihitishh ss see einen nee eit 180. O. cantabrigiensis
Depressed or procumbent plant.................2--2-eeceee ees eeee 181. O. procumbens
Spines only 1.5 cm. long or less, or becoming longer on old joints.
Plant 1 meter high or less; joints thin....... Reece ances on Side 182. O. cavada
Plant 3 to 5 meters high; joints very thick.
Spinesireflexedsflowerssyelloweenmee eee eit eee eer teeter 183. O. pyriformis
Spines spreading, deciduous; flowers orange-red..................... 183a. O. bonplandit
171. Opuntia chlorotica Engelmann and Bigelow, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 291. 1856.
Opuntia tidballii Bigelow, Pac. R. Rep. 4: 11. 1856.
Opuntia curvospina Griffiths, Bull. Torr. Club 43: 88. 1916.
Erect bushy, sometimes '2 meters high or more, with a definite trunk; main branches nearly
erect; joints ovate to orbicular, sometimes broader than long, 15 to 20 cm. long, more or less glau-
cous, bluish green; leaves subulate, small, reddish at tip; areoles closely set, prominent; spines
yellow, several, most of them usually appressed and reflexed, setaceous, 3 to 4 cm. long; glochids
yellow, numerous, elongated, persistent; flowers yellow, 6 to 7.5 cm. broad; filaments white; fruit
purple without, green within, 4 cm. long; seeds small.
Fic. 199.—Opuntia chlorotica. Fic. 200.—Opuntia chlorotica. Xo.4.
Type local ity: On both sides of the Colorado from San Francisco Mountains to head-
waters of Bill Williams River.
Distribution: Sonora and New Mexico to Nevada, California, and Lower California.
This species is of wide distribution, but is chiefly confined to mountain canyons, being
rarely found on the open mesas.
Illustrations: Bull. Torr. Club 43: pice : ;
r. : pl. 33 Rac: R. Reps 4: pl: 6, i. 1 to 3; Bull) Torr:
Club 43: pl. 2, this last as Opuntia curvos pina. : :
BRITTON AND ROSE
PLATE XXIX
1. View of Opuntia keyensis.
2. View of Opuntia dillenit.
OPUNTIA. 163
This species is composed of many races varying greatly in habit, character and number
of spines, shape of joints, and color of flowers. Brother Le6én has sent us specimens of
several individually quite different plants which inhabit hilltops in Cuba.
Opuntia Iucayana Britton (Bull. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 4: 141. 1906), inhabiting Grand
Turk Island, Bahamas, differs in having elongated, often narrowly oblong joints 2 to 4
times as long as wide and many elongated, little-flattened spines. It grows with Opuntia
dillentt and O. nashi, and is believed to be a hybrid with these species as parents. A
closely similar plant was observed on Buck Island, St. Thomas, Danish West Indies,
growing immediately with O. dillenit and O. rubescens, the hybrid nature of which was
unmistakable, and similar plants were seen also on Antigua, British West Indies.
Opuntia cubensis Britton and Rose (Torreya 12: 14. 1912), observed in a valley near
the southern coast of Cuba at Guantanamo Bay, differs in having narrower joints, rather
readily separable and smaller flowers, its stout spines little flattened. It grows near
colonies of Opuntia dillentt and O. militaris, and is probably a hybrid between them.
Reference has already been made to the possible hybrid origin of Opuntia antillana,
with O. dillenii as one of its parents. (See p. 115).
Two varieties of Opuntia dillenti are given by name only; minor Salm-Dyck (Hort.
Dyck. 185. 1834); orbiculata Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 67. 1850).
Opuntia gilua Berger (Hort. Mortol. 233. 1912) is unpublished. The name was ap-
plied to a specimen collected by Carl F. Baker in Cuba in 1907, and has been distributed
under this name. It is only a form of this very variable species.
The plant is hardy on the Gulf coast of the United States and in southern California.
It is widely distributed through cultivation in the warmer parts of the Old World, being
a “pest pear” in southern India and in Australia; it is used for hedges in Teneriffe, and is
common along the sea on Grand Canary Island. On Bermuda, when growing in shade,
the plant is often spineless, and its joints elongate sometimes to a length of 3 dm., while
only 6 or 7 cm. wide. This elongation of the joints also appears in plants from Florida.
Illustrations: Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 3: pl. 255, as Cactus dillenii; Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard.
22: pl. 1, 2, both these as Opuntia bentonii; Dillenius, Hort. Elth. 2: pl. 296, this as Tuna
major, ete.; Amer. Journ. Pharm. 68: pl. opp. 169, as Opuntia vulgaris; Descourtilz, Fl. Med.
Antill. 7: pl. 513, this as Cactus opuntia. Abh. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. Miinchen 2: pl. 3, f. 7 (?);
Amer. Garden 11: 473 (?); Cycl. Amer. Hort. Bailey 3:f. 1545, 1546; Cact. Journ. 1: 154 (?);
Dept. Agr. N. S. W. Mise. Publ. 253: pl. [2]; Dict. Gard. Nicholson 2: f. 757; W. Watson,
Cact. Cult. f. 86, all these as Opuntia tuna; Journ. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 10: f. 26, this as Opun-
tia inermts; Loudon, Encycl. Pl. ed. 3. f. 6878, this as Cactus tuna; Britton, Fl. Bermuda 255.
Plate xxvii, figure 2, represents a flowering joint of a plant collected in 1901 by N. L.
Britton and J. F. Cowell on the Island St. Martin, West Indies; plate xxix, figure 1, is
from a photograph of the related Opuntia keyensis growing on Boot Key, Florida, taken
by Marshall A. Howe in 1909; figure 2 is from a photograph of the plant on Bermuda,
obtained by Dr. Britton in 1912. Figure 201 is from a photograph of the plant growing
on Antigua, British West Indies, taken by Paul G. Russell in 1913.
175. Opuntia linguiformis Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: 270. 1908.
A bushy plant, 1 meter high or more; joints elongated, oblong to ovate-oblong or lanceolate,
2 to 5 dm. long or even more, often several times longer than wide, pale green and slightly glaucous;
leaves 6 mm. long, terete; spines yellow, very slender, terete or nearly so; areoles filled with brown
wool; flowers yellow, 7 to 8 cm. broad; petals broad; filaments white or greenish at base; stigma-
lobes 9, green; ovary bearing numerous long glochids at the upper areoles; fruit reddish purple;
seeds 3 or 4 mm. broad, acute on the back.
Type locality: Near San Antonio, Texas.
Distribution: Southern Texas, in the vicinity of San Antonio.
164 THE CACTACEAE.
This plant is rather common in cultivation in the Southwest and is now found in
most cactus collections. According to Dr. Griffiths, it is occasionally found wild near
San Antonio. We have seen somewhat similar plants from near Brownsville, Texas,
probably referable to one of the races of Opuntia lindhewmert.
On account of the shape of the joints, this species is commonly called cow’s tongue or
lengua de vaca.
Illustration: Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: pl. 27, lower figure.
Plate xxx represents a flowering joint of a plant obtained by Dr. MacDougal from
the collection of Professor J. W. Toumey at Tucson, Arizona, for the New York Botani-
cal Garden in 1902.
176. Opuntia tapona Engelmann in Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 423. 1896.
Low, spreading plants rarely over 6 dm. high; joints glabrous, orbicular to obovate, 20 to 25 cm
in diameter, turgid, pale green; spines 2 to 4, yellow, one much longer, 5 to 7 cm. long, slender,
porrect or sometimes curved downward; glochids brownish; fruit 4 to 6 cm. long, clavate, dark
purple without, red within, spineless.
Type locality: Near Loreto, Lower California.
Distribution: Southern part of Lower California.
Figure 202 represents a joint of the plant collected by Dr. Rose on Pichilinque Island,
Lower California, in 191t.
Related to O. tapona, but probably specifically distinct from it, is a plant growing
in the mountains of Cedros Island, Lower California; it was recorded from this island by
Dr. E. L. Greene as O. engelmanni1, and a specimen was brought to Washington by Dr.
Rose in 1911. ‘This plant may be described
as follows: About 1 meter high; joints ob-
long, large, 20 cm. long or more, smooth;
areoles 3 cm. apart or more, very large, filled
with brown wool; spines usually about 7, pale
yellow, slender, terete, the longest ones 3
em.long; glochids yellow. (Rose No. 16170.)
Fic. 202.—Opuntia tapona. Xo.4. Fic. 203.—Opuntia littoralis.
BRITTON AND ROSE
PLATE XXX
A.HOEN & CO
M. E. Eaton del. Flowering joint of Opuntia lingutformis.
(Natural size. )
OPUNTIA. 165
177. Opuntia littoralis (Engelmann) Cockerell, Bull. South. Calif. Acad. 4:15. 1905.
Opuntia engelmannii littoralis Engelmann in Brewer and Watson, Bot. Calif. 1: 248. 1876.
Opuntia lindheimeri littoralis Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 422. 1896.
Bushy plants, low and spreading; joints thick, orbicular to oblong, 15 cm. long or more, usually
smaller in greenhouse plants, dull green; areoles rather closely set, large, often elevated on old joints;
spines numerous, yellow, rather short on young joints (1 to 2 cm. long), but on old joints much
longer, in age more or less flattened; wool of the areoles brown; flowers large, yellow, 8 to 12 cm.
broad; sepals broad, apiculate; petals retuse; ovary with many areoles; fruit red, juicy; seeds
4 to 5 mm. in diameter.
Type locality: Coast from Santa Barbara to San Diego, California.
Distribution: Along and near the coast of southern California.
‘This species was very briefly described as a variety of Opuntia engelmannii in 1876.
No definite locality was given for it, and the original material preserved is so poor that its
identification is doubtful. We have taken as our representative of this species the low,
bushy plant with rather thick joints, large and closely set areoles and yellow spines.
Opuntia littoralis often grows in proximity to O. occidentalis in southern California,
and hybrids of the two may exist.
Figure 203 represents joints of the plant collected at Elsinore, California, by Dr.
MacDougal in 1913.
178. Opuntia aciculata Griffiths, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 29: 10. 1916.
Low, bushy plant, 1 meter high or more, often 3 meters broad or more, the lower branches
decumbent and sending up erect branches; joints obovate, 12 to 20 cm. long, rounded at apex, dull
dark green, somewhat glaucous, bearing large, closely set areoles, these often spineless; leaves
subulate, 7 mm. long; spines several in a cluster, acicular, slender, 3 to 5.5 cm. long, often reflexed,
brownish at base, with yellow tips, seemingly deciduous; glochids numerous, from all parts of the
areoles, long, persisting for several years; flower golden yellow, sometimes with a greenish center,
large, 8 to 10 cm. broad; petals broad, rounded or retuse; filaments yellowish; style dull yellowish
green; stigma-lobes 8 to 10, green; fruit pyriform, purple.
Type locality: Near Laredo, Texas.
Distribution: On high gravelly ground at type locality and vicinity.
This species is not very common about Laredo, Texas, but grows in small colonies
usually to the exclusion of all other plants. It can easily be distinguished from related
species, and is usually restricted to dry hills. Our description is based on specimens ob-
tained by Dr. Rose at Laredo in 1913. Since then it has been grown both in Washington
and New York.
Plate xxvii, figure 3, represents a flowering joint of the plant collected by Dr. Rose
near the type locality in 1913.
179. Opuntia lindheimeri Engelmann, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist. 6: 207. 1850.
Opuntia dulcis Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 291. 1856.
Opuntia lindheimeri dulcis Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 421. 1896.
Opuntia engelmannii dulcis Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 725. 1808.
Opuntia cacanapa Griffiths and Hare, N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 60: 47. 1906.
Opuntia ferruginispina Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: 267. 1908.
Opuntia tricolor Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: 85. 1909.
Opuntia texana Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: 92. 1909.
Opuntia subarmata Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: 94. 1909.
Opuntia alta Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 21: 165. 1910.
Opuntia gomei Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 21: 167. 1910.
Opuntia sinclairit Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 21: 173. 1910.
Opuntia cyanella Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22: 30. 1912.
Opuntia gilvoalba Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22: 35. 1912.
Opuntia convexa Mackensen, Bull. Torr. Club 39: 290. 1912.
Opuntia griffithsiana Mackensen, Bull. Torr. Club 39: 291. 1912.
Opuntia refleca Mackensen, Bull. Torr. Club 39: 292. 1912.
Opuntia deltica Griffiths, Bull. Torr. Club 43: 84. 1916.
Opuntia laxiflora Griffiths, Bull. Torr. Club 43: 85. 1916.
Opuntia flexospina Griffiths, Bull. Torr. Club 43: 87. 1916.
Opuntia squarrosa Griffiths, Bull. Torr. Club 43: 91. 1916.
166 THE CACTACEAE.
Usually erect, 2 to 4 meters high, with a more or less definite trunk, but at times much lower and
spreading; joints green or bluish green, somewhat glaucous, orbicular to obovate, up to 25 dm. long;
leaves subulate, 3 to 4 mm. long, somewhat flattened, pointed; areoles distant, often 6 cm. apart;
spines usually 1 to 6, often only 2, one porrect and 4 cm. long or more, the others somewhat shorter
and only slightly spreading, pale yellow to nearly white, sometimes brownish or blackish at base,
or some plants spineless; glochids yellow or sometimes brownish, usually prominent; petals yellow
to dark red; stigma-lobes usually green; fruit purple, pyriform to oblong, 3.5 to 5.5 cm. long.
Type locality: About New Braunfels, Texas.
Distribution: Southwestern Louisiana, southeastern Texas, and Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Opuntia lindheimeri is an extremely variable species, composed of many races, differing
in armament, color of flowers, size and shape of joints and of fruit. Certain forms have
been described which in cultivation we have been able to recognize as possibly distinct;
but in the field they seem to intergrade with other forms, indicating that they are at most
only races of a very variable species. In the delta of the Rio Grande this is especially true,
and from this region a number of species has been described. In fact, all the plants
described as species which are cited above in the synonymy grow within a relatively small
distributional area. Dr. Rose has examined all this region and is of the opinion that only
one species of this series exists there, and this we believe is to be referred to Opuntia lind-
heimeri. It is very common about Brownsville and Corpus Christi, where it forms thickets
covering thousands of acres of land. It is very variable in habit, being either low and widely
spreading or becoming tall and tree-like, sometimes 3 meters high, with a definite cylin-
dric trunk. Plants from these two extremes, if studied apart from the field, might be con-
sidered as different species, but in the field one sees innumerable intergrading forms. The
low, prostrate forms gradually pass into others with more or less erect or ascending branches,
while the large tree-like forms often bear large lateral branches which lie prostrate on the
ground, indicating that they have developed from the prostrate ones. Decided differences
in the flower colors have been pointed out in the original descriptions, and we have observed
them in greenhouse specimens, but they do not correlate with other characters.
Opuntia ellisiana Griffiths (Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 21: 170. pl. 25. 1910), an unarmed
species, is known only from cultivated plants. Dr. Griffiths states that it is quite different
from the Ficus-indicae series, which it much resembles, and is quite hardy in southern Texas.
It may be a spineless race of the common O. lindheimeri of this region.
Opuntia pyrocarpa Griffiths (Bull. Torr. Club 43: 90. 1916) we do not know; in its
long pyriform fruit it suggests this plant; the type comes from Marble Falls, Texas.
O. winteriana Berger and O. haematocarpa Berger (Bot. Jahrb. Engler 36: 455 and
456. 1905) are of this relationship, but have browner spines than is usual in the species.
Opuntia leptocarpa Mackensen (Bull. Torr. Club 38: 141. 1911), characterized by its
low, bushy habit and elongated, almost abnormal fruits, suggests a natural hybrid between
O. lindheimeri and O. macrorhiza. Indeed, Mr. Mackensen described the species as inter-
mediate between these two, and all three species are often found growing together. O.
leptocarpa originally came from San Antonio, Texas.
Tilustrations: Ann. Rep. Smiths. Inst. 1911: pl. 3, 4, B; Cact. Mex. Bound. pl. 75, f.
5 to 7; Karsten, Deutsch. Fl. f. 501. 13, 133, 135; N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 78: pl. [13,
14], all as Opuntia dulcis. Bull. U. S. Dept. Agr. 31: pl. 3, f. 1, this as Opuntia cacanapa;
Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: pl. 4, in part, this as Opuntia tricolor; Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20:
pl. 9; pl. 13, f. 1, these two as Opuntia texana. Bull. U.S. Dept. Agr. 31: pl. 2, f. 1; Rep.
Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: pl. 2, f. 1; pl. 11; pl. 13, f. 4, all these as Opuntia subarmata. Rep. Mo.
Bot. Gard. 21: pl. 19; pl. 20, in part, these two as Opuntia alia. Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard.
21: pl. 21; pl. 22, in part, these two as Opuntia gomei. Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 21: pl. 28, this
as Opuntia sinclairii. Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22: pl. 9, in part; pl. 10; Journ. Agr. Research
4. pl. £., these three as Opuntia cyanella. Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22: pl. 9, in part; pl. 16,
17, these three as Opuntia gilvoalba. Bull. U.S. Dept. Agr. 31: f. 1. -
BRITTON AND ROSE PLATE Xxx!
M. E. Eaton del.
Flowering joints/of Opuntia lindheimert.
1. Orange-flowered race. 2. Red-flowered race.
(Natural size.)
OPUNTIA. 167
Plate xxxI, figure 1, represents a flowering joint of a plant collected near Brownsville,
Texas, by Dr. Rose in 1913; figure 2 represents a flowering joint of a plant obtained by the
same collector at the same locality; plate xxx1I, figure 1, represents a flowering joint of a plant
sent by Mr. M. Mackensen from the type locality of O. leptocarpa in 1910; figure 2 shows
the fruit of the same.
180. Opuntia cantabrigiensis Lynch, Gard. Chron. III. 33: 98. 1903.
Opuntia engelmanni curja Griffiths and Hare, N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 60: 44. 1906.
Opuntia cuija Britton and Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50:529. 1908.
Rounded bushy plant, 1 to 2 meters high; joints orbicular to obovate, 12 to 20 cm. long, rather
pale bluish green; areoles remote, large, filled with brown wool; spines usually 3 to 6 but sometimes
more, somewhat spreading, acicular, yellow with brown or reddish bases, 1.5 to 4 cm. long; glochids
numerous, large, 1 cm. long or more, yellowish, not forming a brush; flowers 5 to 6 cm. long, yel-
lowish with reddish centers; upper areoles on the ovary bearing long bristles; stigma-lobes green;
fruit, globular, about 4 cm. in diameter, purple; seeds numerous, small, 4 mm. in diamter.
Type locality: Described from specimen in Cambridge Botanic Garden, England.
Distribution: Very common in the States of San Luis Potosi, Querétaro, and Hidalgo,
Mexico.
Opuntia chrysacantha (Berger, Hort. Mortol. 231. 1912, name only), an undescribed
species, probably belongs here.
Our determination of the identity of O. cantabrigiensis and O. cuija is based on a living
plant of the former received from Mr. Lynch.
Illustrations: N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 60: pl. 2, as Opuntia engelmannii cuija;
Gard. Chron. III. 30: f. 123, as Opuntia engelmannit.
Figure 204 represents joints of a plant collected by Dr. Rose near Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo,
Mexico, in 1905.
Fic. 204.—O. cantabrigiensis. Xo.4. Fic. 205.—O. procumbens. Xo.5.
181. Opuntia procumbens Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 292. 1856.
Stems low and spreading, forming broad masses; joints “always edgewise,” orbicular, 2 to 4 or
even 5 dm. in diameter, yellowish green, somewhat glaucous; areoles distant (3 to 5 cm. apart),
168 THE CACTACEAE.
large, bearing long yellow glochids; spines 1 to 5, spreading, 2.5 to 5 cm. long, yellow, lighter above,
flattened; flowers said to be yellow; fruit red, juicy.
Type locality: San Francisco Mountains to Cactus Pass, Arizona.
Distrituticn: Northern Arizona.
This species has long been wanting or poorly represented in our great herbaria. Dr.
Rose collected it near Flagstaff, Arizona, and the above description is largely drawn from
his notes; but his material waslost. In 1913 it was again collected by Mr. E. A. Goldman.
Illustration: Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 6, f. 4, 5.
Figure 205 is copied from the illustration above cited.
182. Opuntia cafiada Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 20: 90. 1909.
Plant about 1 meter high, with many erect or ascending branches, forming a broad top; joints
ovate to obovate, 16 to 22 cm. long, smooth, and shining; leaves subulate, 1 cm. long; spines various,
white to yellow, flattened, sometimes twisted; glochids few on young joints, very abundant on old
ones; flowers yellow with red or orange centers; style white to reddish; stigma-lobes green; fruit red.
Type locality: Foothills of the
Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona.
Distribution: Southeastern Ari-
zona.
Dr. Griffiths comments on the
close relationship of this plant to O.
laevis.
Illustrations: Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard.
20: pl. 2,f.6; pl.6,inpart; pl. 13,f.2, 12.
Figure 206 is copied from the
second illustration above cited.
183. Opuntia pyriformis Rose, Contr.
U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: 292. 1909-
Plant 3 to 5 meters high, with widely
spreading branches, the lower ones almost
resting on the ground and 3 to 5 meters
long; joints obovate, thick, 18 cm. long
or more; areoles closely set, small; spines
I or 2, on old joints more, usually reflexed,
slender, weak, yellow, 10 to 22 mm. long;
flowers yellow; fruit 4 cm. long, some-
what tuberculate, spineless, its large are-
oles crowded with brown hairs forming
hemispherical cushions.
Type locality: Hacienda de Ce- eth
dros, Zacatecas, Mexico. : Fic. 207.—Opuntia pyriformis. X0.5.
Distribution: Zacatecas, Mexico.
The type of this species is in the U. S. National Herbarium. It is known only from
the original collection of Professor F. E. Lloyd, made in 1908.
Illustrations: Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 12: f. 35; pl. 26.
Figure 207 is copied from the second illustration above cited.
183 a. Opuntia bonplandii (HBK.) Weber. (See Appendix, p. 223.
The three following described species may belong to this series:
OPUNTIA BECKERIANA Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 722. 1808.
The plant on which this species is based was sent to Dr. Schumann from a garden at
Bordighera, Italy, and its origin is unknown; Dr. Schumann thought that it might have
OPUNTIA. 169
come from Mexico. From the description it may belong to our series Dillenianae, but we
are unable to associate it with any species known to us; the ovary is described as com-
pressed and tubercled.
OPUNTIA ANAHUACENSIS Griffiths, Bull. Torr. Club 43:92. 1916.
A low, reclining or prostrate plant, up to 5 dm. high, 1.5 meters broad; joints obovate, glossy,
yellowish green, 27 cm. long,-13 cm. broad; spines yellow or becoming white, 1 or 2, porrect, flattened,
twisted, 2 or 3 cm. long; flowers yellow; style white; stigma-lobes 6, white; fruit dark purplish red,
pyriform, 7 cm. long.
Type locality: Anahuac, Texas.
Distribution: Known only from the type locality, at the mouth of Trinity River,
eastern Texas.
OPUNTIA MEGALANTHA Griffiths, Bull. Torr. Club 43: 530. 1916.
A tall, erect, open-branching plant, 2 meters high or more; joints obovate, glaucous, grayish
green, 21 cm. long, 14 cm. broad; spines yellow, 1 to 3, or even 5 or 6 on old wood, the longest often
4 to 5 em. long; flowers yellow, 10 to 11 cm. in diameter; petals 5 cm. long, obovate; style white;
stigma-lobes 8 or 9, white or tinged with green; fruit dark red.
Known only from cultivated plants received from the Berlin Botanical Garden, where
it was grown as Opuntia bergeriana.
Series 16. MACDOUGALIANAE.
Erect, mostly tall species, with flat, broad,
and thin, persistent joints, the epidermis, at least
that of the ovary, pubescent or puberulent. ‘The
spines, when present, yellow. ‘There are about
half a dozen species, natives of central and
southern Mexico.
KEY TO SPECIES.
Joints merely finely puberulent or
glabrous; spines 1.5 em. long or
less; ovary velvety ......... 184. O. durangensis
Joints distinctly pubescent; spines
2 to 3 cm. long.
Petals red.
Style shorter than the petals 185. O. atropes
Style as long as the petals. 186. O. affinis
Petals yellow.
Spines acicular, at first yel-
low, soon white......... 187. O. macdougaliana
Spines subulate.
Petals retuse; areoles of
Ovary many, approxi-
MaALeM aH M eA tee 188. O. velutina
Petals mucronate; are-
oles of ovary few, dis-
CAT ENA ee a 189. O. wilcoxti
184. Opuntia durangensis Britton and Rose,
Smiths. Mise. Coll. 50: 518. 1908.
Joints broadly obovate, about 20 cm. long,
16 cm. broad, pale green, glabrous or minutely puberulent, bearing numerous areoles; areoles 1 to
2 cm. apart, elevated; spines 3 to 5 at an areole, short, 1.5 cm. long or less, pungent, spreading,
yellow, but in age becoming darker; glochids brown, 2 to 3 mm. long; flowers yellow, 5 cm. long;
petals broad, apiculate; ovary 3 to 4 cm. long, finely pubescent, bearing many areoles with numer-
ous glochids and a few spines; fruit white or red; seeds about 3 mm. broad.
Fic. 208.—Opuntia durangensis. Xo.4.
Type locality: Near Durango, Mexico.
Distribution: Central Mexico.
This species was collected by the late Dr. E. Palmer in 1912, but he did not record
the size and habit of the plant. The joints suggest a large, bushy species.
Figure 208 represents a joint of the type specimen.
170 THE CACTACEAE.
185. Opuntia atropes Rose, Smiths. Mise. Coll. 50: 518. 1908.
Plant 1 to 3 meters high, much branched; joints oblong to obovate, 20 to 30 cm. long, deep
green, softly pubescent; young joints somewhat glossy, leaves 4 to 5 mm. long, acuminate, pubescent,
standing almost at right angles to the joints, the tips reddish, areoles circular, filled with short
tawny wool; young spines white or yellowish; old spines 3 to 6 cm. long, somewhat angled, standing
almost at right angles to the joints, dark yellow or brown at the base, much lighter, often white
above; glochids numerous, long, yellow; petals reddish; ovary pubescent, covered with large cushion-
like areoles bearing long glochids near the top but with few spines or none, truncate at apex.
Type locality: lava beds near Yautepec, Morelos, Mexico.
Distribution: Central Mexico.
186. Opuntia affinis Griffiths, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 27: 27. 1914.
‘““A low, arborescent species, from 125 cm. high with us at 4 years of age to 2 m. or more in its
natural habitat; joints obovate, 13 by 35 cm., broadly rounded above and gradually narrowed below,
densely silky, villous to the touch, and villous nature plainly visible when viewed in proper light,
slightly raised at areoles, the tubercles being surrounded by a sunken dark-green line; leaves small,
subulate, pointed, scarcely 2mm. in length; areole small, obovate, 3 mm. long, 25 to 30 mm. apart,
white to gray; spicules light straw-colored, at first not conspicuous but rather in a connivent tuft,
3 mm. long; spines absent below and 1 to 5 in upper five-sixths of joint, straw-colored, becoming
white the second year, the longest 3 cm. and others much shorter, increasing in age in both length
Fic. 209.—Opuntia macdougaliana, Tehuacan, Mexico.
OPUNTIA. ra
and numbers, at 3 years often 10 in number and some 6 cm. long, divergent, flattened, angular,
twisted; flowers dull dark-red in bud, with stigma protruding the day before the petals
spread, small, about 3 cm. in diameter when opened, petals 20 to 25 mm. long, slightly, when at all,
recurved, ribs of petals red and wings orange, filaments greenish below and pink above, style bright-
glossy red, stigma dull greenish red, 4-parted, equaling the petals in length; ovary small, subglobose,
deeply pitted, 15 to 17 mm. in diameter, with small subcircular to slightly transversely elongated,
dirty brown areoles, 4 mm. apart; fruit small, subglobose, red.”
Type locality: State of Oaxaca, Mexico.
Distribution: Known only from type locality.
Our examination of the type specimen of this species showed that it is closely related
to Opuntia macdougaliana, differing in the color of its petals, which may not be a specific
character.
Fic. 210.—Opuntia macdougaliana
187. Opuntia macdougaliana Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 516. 1908.
Opuntia micrarthra Griffiths, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 23: 130. 1913.
Plant about 4 meters high, with a distinct cylindric trunk branching from near the base; joints
oblong, 30 cm. long by 8 to 10 cm. broad, softly pubescent; areoles distinct, small; spines generally 4,
one much longer (2.5 to 4 cm. long), somewhat flattened, yellowish, becoming whitish in age;
glochids short, numerous, yellow; fruit globular to oblong, 5 cm. long, the surface divided into
diamond-shaped plates, red, with a broad deep cup at apex, the numerous small rounded areoles
filled with clumps of yellow glochids, very rarely with one or two spines.
Type locality: Near Tehuacan, Mexico.
Distribution: Southern Mexico.
Figure 209 is from a photograph of the type plant taken by Dr. MacDougal at El Riego,
Tehuacan, Mexico, in 1906; figure 210 represents a plant grown from a cutting of the type.
12 THE CACTACEAE.
188. Opuntia velutina Weber in Gosselin, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 10: 389. 1904.
Opuntia nelsonii Rose, Smiths. Mise. Coll. 50: 516. 1908.
Stems 1 to 4 meters high; joints flattened, oblong to pear-shaped in outline, 15 to 20 cm. long
by 10 to 15 cm. broad near the top, pubescent, pale yellowish green in herbarium specimens; areoles
2 to 3 cm. apart; spines 2 to 6, yellow, becoming white in age, very unequal, the longer ones 3 to 4
cm. long; bristles many, yellow, becoming brownish; flowers rather small; petals yellow, 1 to 3 cm.
long; ovary pubescent, bearing many yellowish brown bristles; filaments red; stigma-lobes pale green;
fruit “dark red.”
Type locality: In Guerrero, Mexico.
Distribution: Southern Mexico.
Plate xxxu, figure 3, represents a flowering joint of a plant collected at Tehuacan,
Mexico, by Dr. MacDougal and Dr. Rose in 1906.
189. Opuntia wilcoxii sp. nov.
A tall, bushy plant, 1 to 2 meters high, very much branched; joints oblong, thinnish, large, 2 cm.
long, dark green, more or less purplish about the large areoles, finely puberulent; glochids numerous,
long, yellow; spines 1 to 3, one very long (5 to 6 cm. long), porrect, white or somewhat yellowish;
flower, including ovary, 6 cm. long, yellow; petals oblong, mucronate; ovary bearing few large
areoles, these filled with brown wool and yellow glochids; filaments short; style thick, 2 cm. long,
with 10 stigma-lobes; fruit pubescent, 4 cm. long.
Very common on the hills in the coastal plain of west-
ern Mexico from southern Sonora to southern Sinaloa,
Mexico, where it was frequently collected by Rose,
Standley, and Russell in 1910; their No. 13546, with
flower, from Fuerte, Sinaloa, is selected as the type of
the species. It is named for Dr. Glover B. Wilcox, who
first sent in living specimens in 1909.
Figure 211 represents a joint of the type specimen.
To this series belong two plants which we have not
been able to identify but are here briefly characterized:
The first, a very peculiar species, collected by Rose,
Standley, and Russell, March 14, r910 (No. 12853), on
the dry hills near Alamos, Sonora, Mexico, is unlike any of
the described species. It is living both in Washington
and New York, but it has not done well in cultivation.
It may be described as follows:
Bushy; joints oblong, thickish, pale green in color, with very
short puberulence, nearly or quite spineless; glochids yellowish
or greenish, numerous; young areoles brown in the center,
white-woolly in the margin; flowers and fruit not known.
Fic. 211.—Opuntia wilcoxii. Xo.4.
Dr. H. H. Rusby collected the second species on the Balsas River, southern Mexico.
It comes from the region of O. velutina, but we do not know its flowers. It may be described
as follows:
Joints oblong, 18 em. long, but cultivated specimens smaller, usually obovate, dark green;
spines few, short, at first white; young areoles large, bordered with white wool, bearing the spines
and glochids from the center.
Living specimens are growing in the New York Botanical Garden under No. 32811.
Series 17. TOMENTOSAE.
Tall, erect, pubescent or puberulent species, with flat persistent joints, the spines, when present,
white. We know three species, natives of Mexico and Guatemala.
BRITTON AND ROSE PLATE XXXII
M. E. Eaton del. 1 ' AHOENACO
1. Upper part of flowering joint of Opuntia leptocarpa. 3. Flowering joint of Opuntia velutina.
2. Fruit of the same. 4. Upper part of joint of Opuntia megacantha.
(All natural size.)
OPUNTIA. 173
KeEy TO SPECIES.
Joints narrowly obovate.
JOtMS givin free, Glance, WEWEN7osacoccoe cob cnaededobucooensacdonceuouosooouueDOD 190. O. tomentosa
Jomtsjbrichisereenssmintitelyapuberulenthr pease tei ei ieee 191. O. tomentella
VOTES Looe KollbrevoVovonyNUER cabin oluecsres Spa dio Sib bid Wield cL. a ei u-ole NUN DIET TERA Ey bt poe ern aN tee ceca olaeeenG aia 192. O. guilanchi
190. Opuntia tomentosa Salm-Dyck, Obsery. Bot. 3:8. 1822.
Cactus tomentosus Link, Enum. Hort. Berol. 2: 24. 1822.
Opuntia oblongata Wendland in Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 161. 1837.
Opuntia icterica Griffiths, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 23: 138. 1913.
Becoming 3 to 6 meters high or more, with a broad top and a smooth trunk 10 to 30 cm. in
diameter; joints oblong to narrowly obovate, 10 to 20 cm. long, velvety pubescent, somewhat
tuberculate when young; glochids yellow; spines usually wanting but sometimes 1 or more appear;
flowers orange-colored, 4 to 5 cm. long; filaments white or rose-colored; style dark carmine, longer
than the stamens; stigma-lobes 5 or 6, white; fruit ovoid, red, sweetish; seeds 4 mm. broad.
Fic. 212.—Opuntia tomentosa.
Type locality: Not cited; doubtless Mexico.
Distribution: Central Mexico and as an escape in Australia.
This species was first described from cultivated plants and has long been a favorite.
When grown out of doors, as it is in Bermuda, it forms a large and conspicuous plant. It
is usually nearly or quite spineless, but plants which come from the Valley of Mexico are
often spiny.
According to J. H. Maiden, this plant had been sent to him under the unpublished
name Opuntia lurida, and as O. pubescens.
Illustrations: Agr. Gaz. N. S. W. 23: pl. opp. 1028; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 16: 121;
De Candolle, Pl. Succ. Hist. 2: pl. 137 [A, B], this last as Cactus cochenillifer (fide Berger).
174 THE CACTACEAE.
Plate xxx, figure 1, represents a fruiting joint of a plant raised from seeds received
by the United States Department of Agriculture. Figure 212 is from a photograph of a
plant near St. Georges, Bermuda, taken by Stewardson Brown in I9I2.
191. Opuntia tomentella Berger, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 22:147. 1912.
Bushy; joints obovate to oblong, 20 to 30 cm. long, 9 to 15 cm. broad, light green, somewhat
shining, finely puberulent; areoles about 3 cm. apart, small; spines I or 2, acicular, white, short
(7 to 10 mm. long), porrect, sometimes wanting; glochids few; flowers numerous, 5 to 6 cm. long;
petals obovate, reddish yellow; filaments yellowish green; style rose-colored; stigma-lobes white;
ovary tomentose, armed with numerous black glochids; fruit oblong, red, sour.
Type locality: In Guatemala.
Distribution: Guatemala. LEE Se A
This species was distributed by the late F. Eichlam, who sent eae? s 3
plants both to Washington and to La Mortola, those sent to La jé a ‘
Mortola being used by Mr. Berger for his description. The species
is perhaps near the common Mexican species O. tomentosa, but
does not grow so tall, and the tomentum is not so dense nor so
soft.
Figure 213 represents a joint of a plant collected in Guatemala
by F. Eichlam in 1909.
192. Opuntia guilanchi Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: 265. 1908.
Becoming 1.5 to 2 meters high, often with a distinct trunk 1.5 to
2.5 cm. in diameter; joints broadly obovate, 14 to 16 cm. wide, 20 to
24 cm. long, minutely pubescent; spines at first white, slightly flat-
tened, the longest 2 cm. long; glochids light yellow; fruit subglobose, 4
em. in diameter, pubescent, variously colored, aromatic.
Type locality: Near the city of Zacatecas, Mexico.
Distribution: Zacatecas, Mexico.
Series 18. LEUCOTRICHAE.
‘This series is restricted to a single species. Schumann grouped as
Chaetophorae, O. leucotricha with O. ursina, the latter a species with simi-
lar long bristles on the stem but otherwise very different, it being dry-
fruited. Opuntia leucotricha is characterized by its long, weak, hair-
like or bristle-like spines on many of the joints, especially the stem and Fig. 213.—, Opuntia’ tomentella-
very old joints. The fruit of this plant is very different from that of ets
related series in that the pulp is fragrant and does not come free from the rind when mature.
193. Opuntia leucotricha De Candolle, Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 17: 119. 1828.
Opuntia fulvispina Salm-Dyck in Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 164. 1837.
Opuntia leucotricha fulvispina Weber in Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen Nachtr. 157. 1903.
Often 3 to 5 meters high, with a large top; trunk as well as the older joints covered with long
white bristles; joints oblong to orbicular, 1 to 2 cm. long, pubescent; areoles closely set, the upper
part filled with yellow glochids, the lower part at first with only 1 to 3 weak white spines; flowers,
including ovary, 4 to 5 cm. long; petals yellow, broad; ovary with numerous areoles, the upper ones
bearing long, bristly glochids (1 em. long); style red; stigma-lobes green; fruit variable, 4 to 6 cm.
long, white or red, the rind not easily coming off from the pulp, aromatic, edible.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Central Mexico.
Opuntia erythrocentron Lemaire (Forster, Handb. Cact. 492. 1846) was given as a
synonym of O. fulvispina.
Opuntia leucosticta Wendland (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 167, 1837) probably belongs here.
Opuntia leucacantha Link and Otto (Salm-Dyck, Hort. Dyck. 362. 1834), published
first in 1834—although the name occurs in literature as early as 1830 (Verh. Ver. Beford.
PLATE XXxXII1
BRITTON AND ROSE
M. E. Eaton det.
1. Upper part of joint of Opuntia tomentosa. 2,3. Flowering joint and branch of Opuntia brasiliensis.
4. Joint of Grusonia bradtiana. (All natural size.)
; a ; Merl
\ - x eS
ele ie ae wire “ i
pe, Bey i : NA i : e :
“y a
be
ae Sav
syle oe
: Wai bihe
meee fr
" ;
e
= i
Thtny
ay; a
OPUNTIA. 175
Gartenb. 6: 434. 1830)—which was later taken up as Consolea leucacantha by Lemaire (Rev.
Hort. 1862: 174. 1862), seems to belong here rather than to O. spinosissima. If it came
from Mexico, as reported, it could not be O. spinosissima or any of its relatives, for none
of them is known from Mexico.
Opuntia subferox Schott (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 167. 1837) was given as a synonym
of-this species, while O. leucacantha laevior Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1844. 47. 1845)
and O. leucacantha subferox Salm-Dyck (Forster, Handb. Cact. 497. 1846) were supposed
to be based on O. subferox.
Opuntia leucantha (De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 474. 1828), unpublished, is doubtless the
same as O. leucacantha.
Fic. 214.—Opuntia leucotricha.
Opuntia fulvispina laevior Salm-Dyck (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 164. 1837) and O. ful-
vispina badia Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 65. 1850) are given as synonyms of
O. leucotricha; while O. rufescens Salm-Dyck (Forster, Handb. Cact. 493. 1846) is given
as a Synonym of fulvispina laevior; all these seem to belong here.
This is called durasnilla in Mexico. It is grown in Bermuda under the name of Aaron’s
Beard.
Illustrations: Engler and Prantl, Pflanzenfam. 3°: f. 56, J; N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta.
Bull. 60: pl. 4, f. 1, 2.
Plate XxxIv, figure 1, represents a flowering joint of a plant in the collection of the
New York Botanical Garden. Figure 214 is from a photograph of a plant grown from a
cutting received from the collection of M. Simon, St. Ouen, Paris, France, in rgor.
176 THE CACTACEAE.
Series 19. ORBICULATAE.
We have retained the series Criniferae, although changing its name to Orbiculatac, but we have
excluded O. scheeri, which was placed here by Schumann. ‘The species are characterized by long
hairs produced from the areoles. ‘The species retained in the series are not closely related; while
others, like O. macrocentra, in other series, sometimes produce long hairs from the areoles in the
seedling stage, and O. hyptiacantha and some other species have a few hairs at the areoles of mature
joints.
KEy TO SPECIES.
Hairs from the areoles of young plants long and white, long-persistent; plantlow.. 194. O. orbiculata
Hairs from the areoles of young joints of old plants early deciduous; plant tall... 195. O. pilifera
194. Opuntia orbiculata Salm-Dyck in Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 156. 1837.
Opuntia crinifera Salm-Dyck in Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 157. 1837.
Opuntia crinifera lanigera Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 157. 1837. QW
Opuntia lanigera Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 65. 1850. B Sp
A plant without a very definite trunk, about 1 meter high, often
broader than high; joints green or bluish green, orbicular to obo- i we Hie =
vate, sometimes spatulate, about 15 cm. long; leaves subulate, 2 wy, :
to 3 mm. long; areoles small, in seedlings and young plants pro-
ducing long white hairs or wool long-persistent; spines acicular, f ¢ ve P RR
several, yellow; flowers yellow. E yf y
Type locality: Cited as Brazil, but undoubtedly by error. ; > A WP ‘ay
Distribution: Northern Mexico.
Opuntia senilis Parmenteer is given by Pfeiffer
(Enum. Cact. 157. 1837) as a synonym of O. crintfera,
and O. pintadera by Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck.
1844. 47. 1845) as a synonym of O. lanigera. They
doubtless both belong here.
Opuntia metternichit Piccioli (Salm-Dyck, Cact.
Hort. Dyck. 1844. 46. 1845) and O. orbiculata met-
ternichit Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 68.
1850), names without descriptions, doubtless be- y
long here. Vd) YW
We have studied living plants sent from the // A
Berlin Botanical Garden as O. crinifera and from
the Botanical Garden of Santiago, Chile, as O. orbic- Fic. 215.—Opuntia orbiculata. 0.66.
ulata; the plant is not native in Chile.
Illustration: Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 11: 155, as Opuntia lanzgera.
Figure 215 represents joints of a plant sent from the Berlin Botanical Garden in 1902.
195. Opuntia pilifera Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 894. 1898.
Becoming 4 to 5 meters high, with a definite, thick, woody, cylindric trunk and a broad, rounded
top; joints oblong to orbicular, 1 to 3 dm. long, obtuse at apex, pale green; leaves subulate, about
5 mm. long; areoles 2 to 3 cm. apart, scarcely elevated; spines 2 to 9, white, slightly spreading,
acicular; the outer part of the areole filled with nearly white, more or less deciduous hairs 2 to 3 cm.
long; flowers large, red; areoles on the ovary bearing brown glochids and deciduous hairs, the latter
especially abundant towards the top of the ovary; fruit red, juicy.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Puebla, Mexico.
No definite locality was given for this species when it was first described, and apparently
no type material was preserved; living specimens identified by Weber are still grown at
La Mortola, Italy. The species is common about Tehuacan, Mexico, being one of the
large forms occurring in that region. It is common in all large greenhouse collections.
OPUNTIA. 177
Figure 216 is from a photograph of a plant in the collection of the New York Botanical
Garden grown from a cutting brought by Dr. MacDougal and Dr. Rose from ‘Tehuacén,
Mexico, in 1906.
Series 20. FICUS-INDICAE.
Large plants, usually with large, nearly
spineless green joints; spines, when present, few,
small, white; flowers large, usually orange to yel-
low. None of the species is definitely known in
the wild state, but all doubtless originated from
tropical American ancestors, and they may all
represent spineless races of plants here included
in our series Streptacanthae. Some of them are
cultivated for their fruit and others for forage.
KEY TO SPECIES.
Joints obovate to elliptic, comparatively
broad, more or less glaucous.
Joints dull.
Joints thin, up to 5 dm.long.. 196. O. ficus-indica
Joints thick, 15 cm. long orless. 197. O. crassa
ORS BIOGEN Sdodso cools Masons 198. O. undulala
Joints elongated, comparatively nar-
row.
Flowers yellow; joints somewhat
(HOMME Uh Sa yedonoc anodes 199. O. lanceolata
Flowers orange-red; joints not tu-
benculatey ade ea eos 200. O. maxima
196. Opuntia ficus-indica (Linnaeus) Miller, Gard.
Dict. ed. 8. No. 2. 1768.
Cactus ficus-indica Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 468. 1753
Cactus opuntia Gussone, Fl. Sic. Prodr. 559
1827-8. Not Linnaeus.
Opuntia vulgaris Tenore, Syll. Fl. Neap. 239.
1831. Not Miller.
Opuntia ficus-barbarica Berger, Monatsschr.
Kakteenk. 22: 181. 1912.
Large and bushy or sometimes erect and tree- Fic. 216.—Opuntia pilifera.
like and then with a definite woody trunk up to
5 meters high, usually with a large top; joints oblong to spatulate-oblong, usually 3 to 5 cm. long,
sometimes even larger; areoles small, usually spineless; glochids yellow, numerous, soon dropping
off; leaves subulate, green, 3 mm. long; flowers large, normally bright yellow, 7 to 10 cm. broad;
ovary 5 cm. long; fruit normally red, edible, 5 to 9 cm. long, with a low, depressed umbilicus.
Type localtiy: ‘Tropical America.
Distribution: Native home not known, but now found all over the tropics and sub-
tropics either as cultivated plants or as escapes. It is hardy in Bermuda and Florida.
This cactus is widely cultivated in all tropical and subtropical countries, where it is
grown for its fruits and for forage. It has run wild in many waste places along the Mediter-
ranean Sea, about the Red Sea, in southern Africa, and in Mexico.
We have not attempted to list the many named garden varieties of this species,
which are sometimes Latin and sometimes English in form.
Opuntia amyclaea ficus-indica (Berger, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 15: 154. 1905) has
never been described.
The origin of this common, cultivated species doubtless dates back to prehistoric
times. We have long been convinced that it is a close relative of the Streptacanthae, and
have kept it out of that series as only a matter of convenience. Mr. A. Berger believed it
to be a spineless form of O. amyclaea, which is now a well-established species in certain parts
of Italy. Dr. Griffiths has recently figured a reversion which appeared on the common
178 THE CACTACEAE.
spineless form which points very definitely to O. megacantha as the origin of this form. (See
Reversion in Prickly Pears, Journ. Hered. 5: 222. 1914.)-
Illustrations: Amer. Garden°*11: 471; Bull. U. S. Dept. Agr. 31: pl. 1; pl. 2, f. 1; Cyel.
Amer. Hort. Bailey 3: f. 1543; Dept. Agr. N. S. W. Misc. Publ. 253: pl. [1], f. 1, 3; Dict.
Gard. Nicholson 2: f. 753; Dodon. Pempt. f. 10, 11; Lemaire, Cact. f. 10; Meehan’s Monthly
ro: 28; Mem. Acad. Neap. 6: pl. 1, 2; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 15: 151; W. Watson, Cact.
Cult. f. 8, in part; f. 80.
Fic 217.—Opuntia ficus-indica, Cérdoba, Argentina.
Figure 217 is from a photograph of the plant growing at Cérdoba, Argentina, taken by
Paul G. Russell in 1915; figure 218 represents the fruit, obtained in Bermuda by Dr. Britton
in 1913.
197. Opuntia crassa Haworth, Suppl. Pl. Succ. 81. 1819.
Opuntia parvula Salm-Dyck, Hort. Dyck. 364. 1834.
Opuntia crassa major Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 153. 1837.
Opuntia glauca Forbes, Hort. Tour Germ. 158. 1837.
Plant 1 to 2 meters high, somewhat branched; joints ovate to ob-
long, 8 to 12.5 cm. long, thick, bluish green, glaucous; areoles bearing
brown wool and brown glochids; spines wanting or sometimes 1 or 2,
acicular, 2.5 em. long or less; flowers and fruit unknown.
Ty pe locality: Described from cultivated specimens supposed
to have come from Mexico.
Distribution: Unknown in the wild state; locally found in
cultivation in tropical America.
Haworth, who first described this species, thought it to be
near O. stricta.
Pfeiffer (Enum. Cact. 153. 1837) uses O. glaberrima Hort.
Berol. as a synonym of O. crassa major.
: a Fic. 218.—Fruit of Opuntia
Opuntia parvula, when first published, was supposed to be ficus-indica. 0.66.
native of Chile, but this was a mistake. Salm-Dyck compared
the species with O. crassa and O. spinulifera, but says it is thrice smaller than either.
Schumann refers O. parvula directly to O. crassa, which disposition we follow.
Figure 219 is from a photograph of a plant in the Organ Mountains, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, taken by Paul G. Russell in 1915.
OPUNTIA. 179
198. Opuntia undulata Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22: 32. 1912.
Opuntia undosa Griffiths, Monatsschr. Kaktenk. 23: 139. 1913.
“Plant tall, large, stout, open-branching, with cylindrical trunk, often 30 cm. or more in
diameter; joints very large, obovate, broadly rounded above, widest above middle, commonly
35 by 55 em., firm, hard, quite fibrous, dished, wavy or flat, glossy light yellowish green at first, but
changing through a darker green with a slight touch of glaucous to scurfy brown on old trunks;
leaves subcircular in section, subulate, pointed, usually tinged with red at the tip, about 4 mm. long,
upon a prominent tubercle and subtending a prominent dark-brown areole; areoles subcircular to
ellipsoid or obovate, about 3.5 by 4.5 mm., gray, 5 to6 cm. apart; spicules yellow in a short, compact
tuft in upper part of areole, about
1 mm. long, soon becoming dirty
and inconspicuous; spines white,
few, short,erect, flattened, straight
or twisted, 10 to 15 mm. long, 1
to 3 or 4, mostly one or none;
fruit large, 4 to 5 by 9 to 10 cm.,
dull red to slightly tinged with
orange and pulp streaked with red
and orange when rind is removed.”
Type locality: Described
from cultivated plant obtained
at Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Distribution: Mexico.
Illustrations: Rep. Mo. Bot.
Gard. 22: pl. 11, in part; pl. 12.
We have doubtfully referred
to this species plants collected
by Dr. Rose on the west coast
of Mexico, where they were
growing wild; this is some dis-
tance from the place where the (vn
type was obtained from culti- Fic. 219.—Opuntia crassa.
vated plants. These speci-
mens are like this species in having quite glossy joints with few spines. The plants were
not in bloom when seen by Dr. Rose in the spring of 1910.
Dr. Griffiths has changed his first name, O. undulata, on account of the use of that
name at an earlier time, which was not accompanied, however, by description.
199. Opuntia lanceolata Haworth, Syn. Pl. Suce. 192. 1812.
Cactus lanceolatus Haworth, Misc. Nat. 188. 1803.
Cactus elongatus Willdenow, Enum. Pl. Suppl. 34. 1813.
Opuntia elongata Haworth, Suppl. Pl. Succ. 81. 1819.
Plants tall, much branched; joints elongated, 3.5 cm. long, dull green, somewhat tuberculate;
areoles distant, small; spines if present few, small, white, 1 cm. long or less; glochids yellow; flowers
large, yellow.
Type locality: In South America.
Distribution: Known only in cultivation.
We have combined O. lanceolata and O. elongata, although there is a possibility of their
being different. O. lanceolata was first described essentially as follows: Joints flattened,
suberect, subnaked, with leaves 3 lines long; stems at first erect; joints lanceolate, green,
when young with many leaves; spines (spicules?) in fascicles, the shortest of all species
(except Cactus coccinellifer); leaves longer than in other species.
The species was received by Haworth from W. Anderson; no habitat given. In 1812
Haworth calls it the spear-shaped Opuntia. Hesaysit probably came from South America,
180 THE CACTACEAE.
and flowers in July. It had been in cultivation before 1796; it flowered in 1808 with Haw-
orth and was described as follows: Flowers shiny yellow; filaments yellow, half as long as
petals; style longer than stamens; stigmas 5, thick, obtuse, 2 lines long, sulphur-colored.
De Candolle says the flowers are 4 inches in diameter.
Pfeiffer states the joints are 5 to 6 inches long by 1 to 1.5 inches broad; that the leaves
are red and the spicules yellow.
Opuntia elongata laevior Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 242.1850) may or may not
belong here.
Fic. 220.—Opuntia maxima.
200. Opuntia maxima Miller, Gard. Dict. ed. 8. No. 5. 1768.
Cactus decumanus Willdenow, Enum. Pl. Suppl. 34. 1813.
Opuntia decumana Haworth, Rey. Pl. Succ. 71. 1821.
Opuntia gymnocarpa Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 893. 1898.
Opuntia labouretiana Console* in Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 717. 1898.
Opuntia ficus-indica decumana Spegazzini, Anal. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires III. 4: 512. 1905.
Opuntia ficus-indica gymnocarpa Spegazzini, Anal. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires III. 4: 512. 1905.
Forming large, much branched plants; joints elongated, more or less spatulate, 35 cm. long
or more, 10 to 12 cm. broad, rounded at apex, somewhat cuneate at base, pale green, not at all
tuberculate; areoles small, distant; spines sometimes wanting or sometimes I or 2, short, white;
glochids yellow (brown in some specimens referred here); flowers conspicuous, 8 cm. broad, orange-
red; ovary elongated, 7 to 8 cm. long, bearing numerous large glochids.
*Berger (Hort. Mortol. 409. 1912) says this is known as O. Jabouretiana Console.
BRITTON AND ROSE PLATE XXXIV
M. E. Eaton del.
1. Part of joint of Opuntia leucotricha. 3. Joint of Opuntia lasiacantha.
2. Part of joint of Opuntia maxima. 4. Joint of Opuntia robusta.
(All natural size.)
OPUNTIA. I8I
Type locality: In America.
Distribution: Known only in cultivation.
Opuntia maxima Miller was described as the largest of all the opuntias and as the
name is older than any of those here cited, it is taken up for this species. Haworth was
uncertain whether or not his O. decumana is distinct from Miller’s O. maxima, although
in the Index Kewensis the two are considered the same; Burkill considered them distinct,
but his idea of O. decumana is the O. ficus-indica type. Mr. Berger, on the other hand,
states that it is evidently of the O. dilleni group, but this is hardly warranted by the descrip-
tion. Berger is convinced that O. elongata is distinct from O. decumana.
Opuntia labouretiana macrocarpa (Cat. Darrah Succ. Manchester 55. 1908) is only a
garden name.
Plate xxxIv, figure 2, represents a flowering joint of a plant presented to the New
York Botanical Garden by Frank Weinberg in 1901, which bloomed in May 1916. Fig-
ure 220 is from a photograph of the same plant.
Opuntia bartramii Rafinesque (Atl. Journ. 1:146. 1832) is based on Bartram’s de-
scription (Travels p. 163. 1790), in which he states that the plant is 7 to 8 feet high; joints
very large, bright green, glossy; spines none; glochids numerous; flowers large, yellow;
fruit pear-shaped, purple. It was found about 6 miles from Lake George, northern Florida,
associated with Zamia pumila and Erythrina. We do not know of any Opuntia answering
the description, growing in Florida at the present time. Dr. Small visited the type
locality in 1918 but failed to find any plant answering Rafinesque’s description.
Opuntia hernandezii De Candolle (Mém. Hist. Nat. Paris 17: 69. pl. 16. 1828) is a com-
plex. The reference to Hernandez applies to Nopalea cochenillifera. Schumann was not
able to identify the plant illustrated by De Candolle, but thought it might be referable to
Opuntia ficus-indica, in which we agree.
Series 21. STREPTACANTHAE.
Tall, branched, glabrous, green species with white or faintly yellow, acicular or subulate spines,
large yellow or red flowers, and fleshy fruits, natives of Mexico and Central and South America.
We recognize twelve species. ‘The fruits, known as tunas, are mostly edible and are sold in large
quantities in Mexican markets, a practice which probably dates from prehistoric time. The long-
continued selection of plants for their fruit has perpetuated many slightly differing races.
KEY TO SPECIES.
Spines short, 5 mm. to 8 cm. long.
Joints scarcely if at all tuberculate.
Joints obovate to elliptic, mostly not more than twice as long as wide.
WWreolesiclose togetherssunken ves iets i eee eG een Calne en aan 201. O. spinulifera
Areoles not close together, not sunken.
Joints dull.
Spines}aci cular a eysete teeta sr torn rec catia teres ae eens ere Raters nL Peace atest OOP
Spines subulate.
Areoles with 2 or more short reflexed hairs or bristles at the lower part
of the areoles.
S
. lasiacantha
Spines strongly depressed; areoles with several hairs.............. 203. O. hyptiacantha
Spines not strongly depressed; areoles with 1 or 2 hairs.
Jointstoboviatenr anise cnn teat Ee epee eat yer ieee eas 204. O. streptacantha
Jomts oblong se. s es ttaettae reece ei etn roe eR Ee 205. O. amyclaea
Areoles without reflexed hairs or bristles.
Spines clear white, terete or nearly so; fruit spineless, 6 to 8 cm. long,
ellow,; Kedill emeacisms veces mrige apne Eten cya eal lye 206. O. megacantha
Spines white to dull yellow, somewhat flattened; fruit 6 cm. long or
less bearing a few spines near the top, red, not edible.
Plant with a definite trunk; petals reddish; fruit spiny only at top 207. O. deamii
Plant bushy; petals chocolate-colored; fruit spiny all over.... 207a. O dobbieana
JOUMES HS In MA ty Ses Sen ty Os tees sete auras se che ey aed cop one ESS See ar REL me ae a 208. O. eichlamii
Joints oblong to oblanceolate, some of them much longer than wide.
Joints shining; wool of young areoles white; petals yellow.................. 209. O. inaequilateralis
Joints dull; wool of young areoles brown; petals deep orange to scarlet....... 210. O. pittieri
Jointsistronglysuiberculatessaey Guerre Hence nte ae eee ee eae rea eee 211. O. cordobensis
Siaimness Cloraizenuael, 1) {wo} i Gav NOM 4 wh ware sto so om oo asnulcocdn came cade odus aoe on ... 212. O. quimilo
182 THE CACTACEAE.
201. Opuntia spinulifera Salm-Dyck, Hort. Dyck. 364. 1834.
Opuntia candelabriformis Martius in Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 159. 1837.
Opuntia oligacantha Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 241. 1850.
Tall, much branched plants; joints orbicular to oblong, sometimes obovate, 20 to 30 cm. long,
glabrous, a little glaucous; leaves small, red, 4 to 6 mm. long; areoles on young joints usually small,
sometimes longer than broad, the margin at first bordered with cobwebby hairs, afterwards short
white hairs, either spineless or with short white bristle-like spines; areoles on old joints more or less
sunken, rather close together; spines on old joints 1 to 3, 1 to 2 em. long, subulate, bone-colored.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Mexico.
We have seen no wild specimens of this species, but Mr. Berger has grown it at La
Mortola, Italy, and has distributed specimens now growing in New York and Washington.
So-called Opuntia candelabriformis and O. \_™-
oligacantha are also in cultivation; but the
original descriptions indicate that these two
species should be merged into O. spinulzfera,
and plants so determined in European collec-
tions support this view. In so far as we have
been able to ascertain, no type specimens of
any of the three supposed species are extant.
Schumann (Gesamtb. Kakteen 740. 1898) de-
scribes the flowers of O. candelabriformis as
purple, 6 to 7 cm. broad. Opuntia candela-
briformts rigidior Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck.
1849. 68. 1850), an unpublished variety, may
belong here.
Figure 221 represents a joint of a plant
presented to the New York Botanical Garden
by Mrs. George Such in 1900.
202. Opuntia lasiacantha Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 160.
1837.
Opuntia megacantha lasiacantha Berger, Bot. Fic. 221.—Opuntia spinulifera. Xo.4.
Jahrb. Engler 36: 453. 1905.
A tall plant, with a more or less definite trunk; joints obovate to oblong, 20 to 30 cm. long;
leaves short, red; areoles small, 2 to 3 cm. apart; spines usually 1 to 3, acicular, white, 2 to 4 cm.
long, slightly spreading; glochids numerous, prominent, dirty yellow to brown; flowers large, yellow
or deep orange, 6 to 8 cm. broad; ovary bearing long, brown, deciduous bristles, especially from
the upper areoles; style pinkish; stigma-lobes pale green.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Central Mexico.
Schumann refers O. lasiacantha to O. robusta, but wrongly, as Berger states, and as
living plants show. Pfeiffer said it is near O. candelabriformis, here taken up under
O. spinulifera.
This species is very variable and, while it seems distinct from O. megacantha, it is
to be noted that Mr. Berger referred it to that species as a variety.
Opuntia chaetocarpa Griffiths (Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 27: 25. 1914), in its few
long white spines, resembles plants collected by Dr. Rose in southern Mexico which we
have referred to this species.
Illustration: Addisonia 3: pl. 90.
Plate xxxIv, figure 3, represents a flowering joint of a plant collected by Dr. Rose near
the City of Mexicoin 1906. Figure 222 represents a joint of a plant collected by Dr. Mac-
Dougal and Dr. Rose at Tehuacin, Mexico, in 1906.
OPUNTIA. 183
OPUNTIA ZACUAPANENSIS Berger, Hort. Mortol. 413. 1912.
“A fine new species with bright-orange flowers. We received this plant a few years ago from
M. L. Puteaux, Versailles, as Opuntia spec. from Zacuapan.* Joints 13 to 20 cm. long and 9.5 cm.
broad, obovate, smooth, glossy green, areoles 15 to 25 mm. distant, slightly elevated, small, roundish
or obovate. Spicules yellow, short, not numerous. Spines generally two, white, with yellowish
points and base, terete, the lower deflexed shorter, the upper one spreading (2—-) 3 cm.long. Flowers
numerous from the top of the joint, 7.5 cm. long and 6.5 cm. broad, ovary obovate turbinate,
3.5 to 4 cm. long and 22 mm. broad, areoles somewhat elevated, prickly; petals obovate lanceolate,
acute and aristate, orange-yellow, with a more reddish-brown hue along the midrib on the back
and as well on the shorter obtuse outer petals; stamens yellow, style yellowish, thickened or clavate
above the base, stigmata (6-) 7, dirty rose-coloured.”’
We have studied a plant, sent from Ia Mortola to the New York Botanical Garden
in 1913, which has not flowered; it appears to be related to O. lastacantha.
Figure 223 represents a joint from the plant received from La Mortola, Italy, in 1913.
Site s=o 4
ne
oe ty.
A SVR ee
SS =
EE
Ais
Gi, 7
Cha
yy
SS
I SvV7
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De) Sr
Sa
\
Fic. 222.—Opuntia lasiacantha. Fic. 223.—Opuntia zacuapanensis. Fic. 224.—Opuntia hyptiacantha.
X0.4. X0.5-
0.4.
203. Opuntia hyptiacantha Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 894. 1898.
Opuntia nigrita Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 21: 169. 1910.
? Opuntia cretochaeta Griffiths, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 29: 11. 1916.
A tall, much branched plant, but in cultivation often only 1 meter high; joints oblong to obovate,
20 to 30 cm. long, pale green, but when young bright green; spines on young joints single, porrect,
and accompanied by 2 or 3, sometimes many, white, slightly pungent hairs; spines on old joints
*Perhaps Zacualpan, in Vera Cruz, Mexico.
184 THE CACTACEAE.
4 to 6 (in the original description 8 to 10), somewhat spreading or appressed, 1 to 2 cm. long; glochids
few, brownish; areoles small, 1.5 cm. apart; leaves small, brownish; flowers red; fruit globular,
yellowish, its areoles filled with long, weak glochids; umbilicus broad, only slightly depressed.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Oaxaca, Mexico.
This species is very near Opuntia streptacantha, and in many cases it is difficult to
separate them. It is also near O. pilifera, but the areoles are not so hairy. Weber, who
first described it, gives no definite locality for the species; but Dr. Rose has examined, at
La Mortola, Italy, a living plant sent by Weber which seems to be the same as one of the
large opuntias from Tehuacdn, Mexico.
Opuntia chavena Griffiths (Rep. Mo. Bot.
Gard. 19: 264. pl. 23, in part. 1908) is a
near relative of O. hyptiacantha or not dis-
tinct from it.
Illustration: Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 21:
pl. 24, as Opuntia nigrita.
Figure 224 represents a joint of a plant
obtained for the New York Botanical Garden
from the collection of M. Simon, St. Ouen,
Paris, France, in 1901.
204. Opuntia streptacantha Iemaire, Cact. Gen.
Nov. Sp. 62. 1839.
Much branched, up to 5 meters high, sometimes
with a trunk 45 cm. in diameter; joints obovate
to orbicular, 25 to 30 cm. long, dark green; areoles
small, rather close together for this group; spines
numerous, spreading or some of them appressed,
white; glochids reddish brown, very short; flowers
7 to g em. broad, yellow to orange, the sepals red-
dish; filaments greenish or reddish; stigma-lobes
8 to 12, green; fruit globular, 5 cm. in diameter, dull
red or sometimes yellow, both within and without.
Type locality: Not cited.
Distribution: Very common on the Mex-
ican table-lands, especially on the deserts of ;
San Luis Potosi. Fic. 225.—Opuntia streptacantha. Xo.5.
This species is known as tuna cardona or nopal card6n, and is one of the most impor-
tant economic opuntias in Mexico. It has many forms and seems to grade into some of
the species which we have here recognized.
Opuntia cardona Weber (Dict. Hort. Bois 895. 1898) and O. coindettii Weber (Dict.
Hort. Bois 895. 1898) are two names given as synonyms of the species by Weber, but they
were never published. O. diplacantha (Berger, Hort. Mortol. 232. 1912) must be referred
here, but of this, so far as we know, there is no published description. Berger has distrib-
uted living specimens which we are inclined to refer here.
Opuntia pachona Griffiths (Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 21: 168. pl. 22. 1910) is closely related
to O. streptacantha, if not a race of that species. Opuntia megacantha tenuispina Salm-Dyck
(Caect. Hort. Dyck. 1844. 45. 1845) was given as a new name for O. lasiacantha, but was
never described.
Illustrations: N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 60: pl. 1; Safford, Ann. Rep. Smiths. Inst.
1908: pl. 9, f. 6; U.S. Dept. Agr. Bur. Pl. Ind. Bull. r02!: pl. 1; 116: pl. 1, this last as tuna
cardona; Engler and Prantl, Pflanzenfam. 3°: f. 70, this last as Opuntia pseudotuna.
Figure 225 represents a joint of a plant received from C. Wercklé in 1902 as O. cardona.
OPUNTIA. 185
205. Opuntia amyclaea Tenore, Fl. Neap. Prodr. App. 5:15. 1826.
Opuntia ficus-indica amyclaea Berger, Hort. Mortol. 411. 1912.
Erect; joints oblong to elliptic, 3 to 4 dm. long, about twice as long as broad, thick, dull green, a
little glaucous; leaves 4 mm. long, acute, red; areoles small, with 1 or 2 short bristles from the lower
parts of areoles; spines 1 to 4, stiff, nearly porrect, usually less than 3 cm. long, white or horn-colored,
the stoutest angled; glochids brown, soon disappearing; flowers yellow; fruit yellowish red, not very
juicy.
Type locality: Described from specimens grown in Italy.
Distribution: Doubtless Mexico, but not known in the wild state.
Our description is based on the original description and a specimen collected by A.
Berger near Palermo, where it is grown as a hedge plant. Berger’s plant suggests very
much O. streptacantha, but is not quite so spiny; it does not suggest very much O. ficus-
indica, where Berger has placed it. Our description of the spines is taken from Berger’s
plant, while the original description states that the spines are 3 to 8, stout, spreading,
unequal, white, the longest 35 mm. long.
O. alfagayucca (Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 68. 1850) and O. alfayucca (Riim-
pler in Forster, Handb. Cact. ed. 2. 938. 1885) were given as synonyms of O. amyclaea.
Fic. 226.—Opuntia megacantha.
206. Opuntia megacantha Salm-Dyck, Hort. Dyck. 363. 1834.
Opuntia castillae Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: 261. 1908.
? Opuntia incarnadilla Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22:27. 1912.
Plant tall, 4 to 5 meters high or more, with a more or less definite woody trunk; joints of large
plants obovate to oblong, often oblique, sometimes 40 to 60 cm. long or more, but in greenhouse
specimens often much smaller, pale dull green, slightly glaucous; leaves minute, often only 3 mm.
long, green or purplish; areoles rather small, on large joints often 4 to 5 cm. apart, when young
bearing brown wool; spines white, usually 1 to 5, slightly spreading, sometimes nearly porrect,
usually only 2 to 3 cm. long, sometimes few and confined to the upper areoles; glochids few, yellow,
caducous, sometimes appearing again on old joints; flowers yellow to orange, about 8 cm. broad;
ovary spiny or spineless, obovoid; fruit 7 to 8 cm. long.
186 THE CACTACEAE.
Fic. 227—Opuntia megacantha on Lanai, Hawaiian Islands.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Much cultivated in Mexico; grown also in Jamaica and southern Cali-
fornia and escaped from cultivation in Hawaii.
This species was originally described by Salm-Dyck essentially as follows: Erect and
of the size of O. decumana; joints 17.5 cm. long by 7.5 cm. broad and 2.5 cm. or more
thick; areoles close together, filled with gray wool;
glochids brownish, becoming blackish; spines 7]to
10, white, unequal, acicular, somewhat radiating,
the longest one deflexed, 5 cm. long; flowers not
known; leaves small, reddish.
Opuntia megacantha trichacantha Salm-Dyck
was given as a synonym of this species by Forster
(Handb. Cact. 486. 1846), but was never pub-
lished.
Opuntia tribuloides Griffiths (Monatsschr.
Kakteenk. 23: 137. 1913), according to the de-
scription, is of this relationship.
This is the chief Mission cactus. It is the
one from which the best varieties of edible tunas
are obtained and is one of the commonest culti-
vated opuntias in Mexico, having numerous forms,
many of them bearing local names.
Illustrations: Ariz. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 67:
pl. 8, f. 2; Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: pl. 24, both as
Opuntia castillae. Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22: pl. 4,
5, these two as Opuntia incarnadilla; Amer. Journ.
BOE 4572515 oO:
Plate xxx, figure 4, represents a flowering
joint of a plant in the same collection received
from Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, in 1905.
Figure 226 is from a photograph of a plant in
the collection of the New York Botanical Garden; Fic 228.—Opuntia megacantha. 0.4.
OPUNTIA. 187
figure 227 is from a photograph taken by A. S. Hitchcock on Lanai in 1916; figure 228
represents a joint of a plant obtained by Dr. MacDougal near Mount Wilson, Cali-
fornia, in 1906, a nearly spineless form.
207. Opuntia deamii Rose, Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. 13: 309. 1911.
One meter or so high, with a definite cylindric trunk, branching a short distance above the base;
branches few, ascending; joints erect or spreading, very large, obovate to oblanceolate, 25 to 30 cm.
long, at first bright leaf-green, in age dark green, glabrous; areoles remote, often 4 cm. apart, rather
small; spines 2 to 6, usually 4, white or dull yellow, stout, somewhat flattened, spreading or porrect,
3 to 5.5 cm. long; flowers 7 cm. long, reddish; fruit oblong, 6 cm.
long, naked, except for a few spines near the top, wine-red both
within and without, not edible; seeds small, 3 mm. |
broad. y | /
Type locality: Fiscal, Guatemala. \\ | y Jor
Distribution: Fiscal to San José de Golfo and vy . \ AS
Sanarata, Guatemala. YW SS c<
Illustration: Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 13: \\ vi V NN
pl. 65. S Ex
Figure 229 represents a joint
of the type specimen.
A tall, white-spined Opuntia,
closely resembling the Mexican O.
macracantha, was obtained by Dr.
Rose in 1918 (No. 22390) along
roadsides at Ambato, Ecuador,
presumably escaped from cultiva-
tion; its fruit is edible.
207a. Opuntia dobbieana sp. nov.
(See Appendix, p. 225.) 3
=~)
ase
qi
As
208. Opuntia eichlamii Rose, Contr. Z| -
Ws S Ne ied, nae aio, 7 / y\
IQII. aN Fes _
Tree-like, 5 to 6 meters high, the N A\
main branches nearly erect; joints obo- PSN
vate to orbicular, 15 to 20 cm. long,
more or less glaucous, especially in a :
dried specimens; leaves minute, cadu- PN ( Ss
cous; areoles small, 3 to 3.5 cm. apart;
spines 4 to 6, very unequal, 2 cm. long ) p a
or less, rose-colored at first, soon be- / S\
coming white, spreading, the larger ow |\ *
ones flattened; glochids brown; flower Wa q
3.5 cm. long; petals carmine; style
red; stigma-lobes 8 to 11, bright
green; fruit 4 cm. long, strongly tu- Fic, 229.—Opuntia deamit.
berculate, not edible.
Type locality: Near Guatemala City.
Distribution: Suburbs of Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Illustration: Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 13: pl. 66.
Figure 230 represents a joint of the type specimen.
209. Opuntia inaequilateralis Berger, Bot. Jahrb. Engler 36: 453. 1905.
About 12 dm. high, with spreading branches; joints oblique, narrowly ovate to subrhomboid,
40 to 70 cm. long, 2 to 4 times as long as wide, narrowed at base, obtuse at apex, with somewhat
188 THE CACTACEAE.
sinuate margins, green, shining; young joints bright green, not at all glaucous, oblanceolate to
narrowly oblong, rounded at apex; leaves reddish, subulate, 2 to 3 mm. long; areoles small, circular,
filled with white wool when young, and having white, somewhat cobwebby hairs on the outer edge;
glochids brown, in a dense cluster; spines 3 to 7, acicular on young joints, but finally 10 to 15, stout,
3 to 4 cm. long, at first yellowish, becoming white, somewhat spreading but not appressed to the
joint; flowers large, borne at the apex of the joints; petals yellow, broadly obovate, retuse with
crenulate margins; stigma-lobes green; fruit oblong, truncate, reddish, juicy, sweet.
Type locality: Described from cultivated specimens grown at La Mortola, Italy.
Distribution: Known only from cultivated specimens, their origin unknown.
Illustration: Figure 231 shows a joint of a plant sent from La Mortola, Italy, in 1913.
\
ww
Ree
e
\
(
SS \
oO
Fic. 230.—Opuntia eichlamii. Xo.5. Fic. 231.—Opuntia inaequilateralis. Xo.5.
210. Opuntia pittieri sp. nov.
Plant up to 5 meters high, with a rather definite cylindric spiny trunk; joints large, 25 to 50 cm.
long, 2 to 4 times as long as wide, narrowly oblong, green; leaves subulate, with purple tips; wool
in young areoles dark brown to purple; areoles elevated, rather large, 2 to 3 cm. apart; spines 3
to 6, slightly spreading, acicular, white, the longest 2 to 2.5 cm. long; glochids tardily developing,
few, often wanting; flowers deep orange, turning to scarlet; ovary nearly globular, more or less
spiny, nearly truncate at apex.
Collected at Venticas del Dagua, Dagua Valley, western cordillera of Colombia,
February 1906, by H. Pittier, and since grown in Washington and New York.
OPUNTIA. 189
Opuntia pittiert differs from O. imaequilateralis in having the young joints thinner,
somewhat tuberculate, and with longer leaves; the areoles, too, are filled with brown or
purple wool, while the glochids develop more slowly or never appear.
Figure 232 represents a joint of the type plant.
211. Opuntia cordobensis Spegazzini, Anal. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires III. 4: 513. 1905.
Much branched, the trunk 1 to 2 meters long, 20 cm. in diameter, very spiny; joints large, 3 dm.
long or more, broadly oblong to obovate; areoles prominent, numerous; spines 1 to 6, white, somewhat
spreading, a little flattened and twisted; flowers usually on the margins of the joints; petals about
12, yellow; fruit pyriform, yellowish both within and without, 8 cm. long; seeds about 3 mm. long.
i\
AN eSTity
X0.7. Fic. 233.—O. cordobensis. Xo.4.
Fic. 232.—O. pittieri. Xo.4. Fic. 234.—Fruit of O. cordobensis.
Type locality: Near Cérdoba, Argentina.
Distribution: Northern Argentina.
The only white-spined species observed by Dr. Rose in 1915 about Cérdoba were
O. ficus-indica, in cultivation, and what we have taken to be O. cordobensis. ‘The latter
is very abundant, growing on the hills about the city, and sometimes planted as hedges.
Dr. Spegazzini states that it has the habit of O. labouretiana.
Figure 233 represents a joint of the plant collected by Dr. Rose near Cérdoba, Argen-
tina, in 1915; figure 234 represents the fruit as collected by J. A. Shafer at Calilegua,
Argentina, in 1917 (No. 197).
190 THE CACTACEAE.
212. Opuntia quimilo Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 746. 1898.
Much branched, about 4 meters high; joints large, elliptic or obovate, 5 dm. long by 2.5 dm.
broad, 2 to 3 cm. thick, grayish green; spines very long, usually 1, sometimes 2 or 3 from an areole,
twisted, 7 to 14.5 cm. long; flowers red, 7 cm. broad; fruit pear-shaped to globular, 5 to 7 cm. long,
greenish yellow; seeds 8 mm. broad, 1.5 to 2 mm. thick, with broad, thick, white margins.
Type locality: a Banda, Santiago del Estero, Argentina.
Distribution: Northern Argentina.
This plant is known to the natives as quimilo.
Dr. Rose obtained a good photograph of it from Dr. J. A. Dominguez, and seed and a
photograph from Dr. Spegazzini. While the volume was going through the press a fine
specimen in fruit with the long spines so characteristic of this species was obtained by
H. M. Curran at Quilino, Cdordoba,
Argentina. Dr. Shafer’s specimens
collected at Rio Piedras, show that the
trunk-areoles sometimes bear as many
as eight spines.
Fic. 235-—Joint of Opuntia quimilo. Xo.3. Fic. 236.—Fruit of Opuntia quimilo. Xo.3.
Figure 235 represents a joint obtained by Dr. Shafer at Rio Piedras, Salta, Argentina,
January 4, 1917 (No. 34); figure 236 represents the fruit from the same plant; figure 237
is from a photograph of a flowering joint of the plant, contributed by Dr. Spegazzini.
The following may belong to this series:
OPUNTIA ITHYPETALA Griffiths, Bull. Torr. Club 43: 529. 1916.
Tall, erect plant, 2 meters or more high; joints large, obovate, 26 to 45 cm. long, 14 to 19 cm.
broad, much contracted below, bright dark green, somewhat tuberculate at the areoles; subulate,
5 to 6 mm. long; areoles large, often 1 cm. in diameter, 4 to 5 cm. apart; spines white at least on
second year’s growth, 3 to 5; central spine largest, porrect, 3 to 4 cm. long; flowers yellow, fading
to rose-purplish; petals erect, 3 cm. in diameter; style white; stigma-lobes 6, light green.
Known only from cultivated plants received from the Berlin Botanical Garden.
OPUNTIA. IQI
Series 22. ROBUSTAE.
Tall or large plants with blue or bluish green joints, the spines, when present, white or yellowish.
T'wo of the species are widely distributed in warm regions through cultivation for their edible fruits;
the other is known in cultivation only in central Mexico. All are presumably Mexican in origin.
Key To SPECIES.
Joints orbicular to broadly obovate or
elliptic.
Fruit deep red, 7 togem.indiameter. 213. O. robusta
Fruit greenish white, 4 to 5 cm. in
diameters jain colon sein oneal iene 214. O. guerrana
Joints oblong, narrowed at both ends.. 215. O. fusicaulis
213. Opuntia robusta Wendland in Pfeiffer,
Enum. Cact. 165. 1837.
Opuntia flavicans Lemaire, Cact. Gen. Nov-
Sp. 61. 1839.
Opuntia larreyi Weber in Coulter, Contr. U.S.
Nat. Herb. 3: 423. 1896.
Opuntia gorda Griffiths, Monatsschr. Kakteenk.
23: 134. 1913.
Often erect, sometimes 5 meters high, usually
much branched; joints orbicular to oblong, 20 to
25 cm. long by ro to 12.5 cm. broad, very thick,
bluish green, glaucous; leaves 4 mm. long, reddish,
acute; spines 8 to 12, stout, very diverse, brown
or yellowish at base, white above, up to 5 cm. long,
but often wanting on greenhouse specimens;
flowers 5 cm. broad, yellow; stigma-lobes green;
fruit globular to ellipsoid, at first more or less
tuberculate, deep red, 7 to 9 cm. long.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Central Mexico; cultivated
in Argentina.
This is one of the few species of Opuntia
of which we have not been able to verify the
original publication. It was redescribed by
Pfeiffer in 1837.
Opuntia camuessa Weber (Dict. Hort. Bois 895. 1898) was given as a synonym of O.
robusta, but was never described; and the same is true of O. piccolominiana Parlatore
(Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 741. 1808).
The variety Opuntia robusta viridior Salm-Dyck (Forster, Handb. Cact. 487. 1846)
was never described.
Opuntia albicans Salm-Dyck (Hort. Dyck. 361. 1834) we do not know, but A. Berger,
who has grown a plant under that name at La Mortola, says it is closely related to O.
robusta, while in the New York Botanical Garden are specimens labeled O. albicans which
are difficult to distinguish from O. ficus-indica. Here belong the following: O. prate
Sabine (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 155. 1837), given as a synonym of O. albicans; O. albicans
laevior Salm-Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 67. 1850), name only; and O. pruinosa Salm-
Dyck (Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 67. 1850) given as a synonym of O. albicans laevior.
Opuntia larreyi, a manuscript name of Weber, which was published by Coulter in
1896, is based on the plant known to the Mexicans as camuessa. Weber gave it the name
of O. camuessa, as shown above, but did not publish it; it is usually considered to be only
a race of O. robusta, but Dr. Griffiths considers it a distinct species, even referring it to a
different series, the Ficus-indicae (N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 64: 56. 1907).
Fic. 237.—Opuntia quimilo.
192 THE CACTACEAE.
Berger remarks that this species is very variable, but that it can not well be divided
even into varieties.
Opuntia megalarthra Rose (Smiths. Mise. Coll. 50: 529. 1908), in its very spiny joints,
yellow spines, and small fruits, seems very different from the common cultivated O. robusta;
yet when grown in the greenhouse for several years it takes on much the appearance of
O. robusta. If this view is correct, O. megalarthra represents the wild form of the species.
Opuntia cochinera Griffiths (Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: 263. pl. 26. 1908) from Zacatecas,
Mexico, is, perhaps, a hybrid between Opuntia robusta and one of the Sireptacanthae.
Illustrations: N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 60: pl. 5, f. 1; Monatsschr. Kakteenk.23:
135; Journ. Inter. Gard. Club 3: 14, the last two as Opuntia gorda; U.S. Dept. Agr. Bur.
Pl. Ind. Bull. 74: pl. 5, as Tapuna pear. ? N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 64: pl. 1.
Plate xxxIv, figure 4, represents a joint of the plant collected by Dr. Rose in Hidalgo,
Mexico, in 1905, and described by him as Opuntia megalarthra. Figure 238 is from a photo-
graph taken in Zacatecas, Mexico, by Professor F. E. Lloyd in 1908.
Fic. 238.—Opuntia robusta.
214, Opuntia guerrana Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: 266. 1908.
Plant 9 to 12 dm. high, with an open, branching top; joints oblong to orbicular, 15 to 25 cm.
long, thick, glaucous; areoles 5 mm. in diameter, filled with tawny wool; spines white to yellow,
1 to 6, flattened, twisted; petals yellow; filaments greenish white; stigma-lobes green; fruit globose
greenish white, 4 to 5 cm. in diameter.
Type locality: Near Dublan, Hidalgo, Mexico.
Distribution: Known only from type locality.
Except in size and color of fruit this species is very much like the common Opuntia
robusta of this part of Mexico.
215. Opuntia fusicaulis Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: 271. 1908.
Plant 5 meters high or less, the branches erect or spreading; joints oblong, elongated, 4 dm.
long or less, much longer than wide, glaucous, bluish green, spineless, narrowed at both ends; glo-
chids often wanting; areoles small, filled with tawny wool; fruit greenish white.
Type locality: Described from cultivated plants.
Distribution: Known only from cultivated specimens.
Illustration: Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 19: pl. 23, in part.
ae
OPUNTIA. 193
The following may be referable to this series:
OPUNTIA CRYSTALENIA Griffiths, Bull. Torr. Club 43: 528. 1916.
Erect, 2 to 2.5 meters high; joints broadly obovate, 25 cm. long, 18 cm. wide, glaucous, bluish
green, becoming yellowish in age; leaves 4 mm. long, subulate; spines white, porrect, only on the
upper parts of the joints, 1 to 4, usually only 2, the longest 1 to 1.5 cm. long; glochids yellow; flowers
yellow; stigma-lobes 10, dark green; fruit subglobose, 4 to 4.5 cm. in diameter.
Type locality: Cardenas, Mexico.
Distribution: Highlands of Mexico, where it is also cultivated.
Series 23. POLYACANTHAE.
This series is confined chiefly to plains of the western United States. ‘The species are all low,
creeping plants, very spiny, with dry fruits. On account of the dry fruit this series forms a natural
group, although some species in the series Basilares also have dry fruits. One species of series
Polyacanthae has fragile branches, in this respect resembling the Cwrassavicae. The species
hybridize with those of the Tortispinae.
Key TO SPECIES.
Joints readily detached, turgid, some of them subterete or subglobose..................-+-. 216. O. fragilis
Joints not readily detached, usually flat and thin, or in O. arenaria sometimes turgid and
nearly terete.
JORUS werakel, werellbhy Suelll oo, cp odeogedee cace ube swdnnecootbarobadm ogc Ono eBRSH AU SO 217. O. arenaria
Joints thinner than the last, mostly flat, larger.
Spines, or some of them, very long, flexible and bristle-like.
TNR YEIS) CL ol Gong love, A Seat e uae cade ke eoc an oe Mandons's nado Uadiodnginsion a 218. O. trichophora
TE oN SKS HGH HO) CG) (Sooty Koyovee diene iden mines fen cieisto a leratdice- teas & Sea een olardloe Es Serb 0 bid loyae- odo 219. O. erinacea
Spines stiff, acicular or subulate; areoles distant.
Spines subulate.
TEirituterace cle sys Ve sentir ner eee on GEL nl Mtr ral iA at) Meet ee ie ee M2 ONL ONAL DENUILG
Fruit spiny.
TONS AIG hiy tig whee ele Ge cle ORM ovro Ole Mle See Sa om eA SOME bee Wuicdals don ea Oe LANKAN EO
TOWERS ELEC UP pee reeset ee eae aS ee U IEE etch tu mene een 22 een Oz LOGAIUt ILE
Spines acicular, slender; areoles close together.
(Onahay Ginel ieawite YyrnMaoVN! Goss. gab oeaochonosochocaeneSecGds aon ounpoou sdb 223. O. sphaerocarpa
Onainy ail ime Hold GER, oo deseo boeadedoenensnsacuogordnooveooeneebas 224. O. polyacantha
216. Opuntia fragilis (Nuttall) Haworth, Suppl. Pl. Suce. 82. 1819.
Cactus fragilis Nuttall, Gen. Pl. r: 296. 1818.
Opuntia brachyarthra Engelmann and Bigelow, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 302. 1856.
Opuntia fragilis brachyarthra Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 440. 1896.
Opuntia fragilis caespitosa and tuberiformis Hortus, Stand. Cycl. Hort. Bailey 4: 2363. 1916.
(?) Opuntia columbiana Griffiths, Bull. Torr. Club 43: 523. 1916.
Usually low and spreading, small and inconspicuous, but sometimes forming mounds 2 dm
high in the center and 4 dm. in diameter, with hundreds of joints; joints fragile (the terminal ones
especially breaking off at the slightest touch), often nearly globular but sometimes decidedly flat-
tened, usually dark green, 1 to 4 cm. long; areoles closely set, small, filled with white wool; spines
5 to 7, brown or only with brown tips and lighter below, 1 to 3 cm. long; glochids yellowish; flowers
pale yellow, about 5 cm. broad; fruit dry, spiny, 1.5 to 2 cm. long, with a truncate or slightly
depressed umbilicus; seeds large, 5 to 7 mm. broad.
Type locality: ‘‘From the Mandans to the mountains, in sterile but moist situations.”
Distribution: Wisconsin to central Kansas and northwestern Texas, westward to Ari-
zona, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.
Dr. Engelmann says ‘“‘it is rarely found in flower and still more rarely seen in fruit.”
The only fruit we have seen was collected by Dr. Rose near Liberal, Kansas, in 1912.
Opuntia brachyarthra, sometimes regarded as a variety of O. fragilis, we regard as not
specifically separable from that species. An examination of the type material now pre-
served in the Missouri Botanical Garden does not warrant a separation of any kind.
This species is of wide distribution and is especially common on the plains. It usually
grows low, often being hidden by the grass. In the grazing country it is a most trouble-
some weed, for the joints easily break off and become attached by their spines to passing
objects, thus greatly annoying and pestering all animals on the range, even frightening
194 THE CACTACEAE.
horses. The wide distribution of the species is doubtless largely due to the fact that the
joints are so easily scattered. A hybrid with O. tortispina has been found in Kansas
(Rose, No. 17132).
The plant is of especial interest as the most northern in distribution of the opuntias.
It is stated that Opuntia cervicornis Spath (Cat. 156. 1906-7) is “‘probably a hybrid
of which O. fragilis is a parent’? (Kew Bull. Misc. Inf. 1907: App. 74. 1907). O. sabinit
(Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 147. 1837) was given as a synonym of O. fragilis.
Illustrations: Cact. Journ. 1: 100; Dict. Gard. Nicholson 2: f. 752; Forster, Handb.
Cact. ed. 2. f. 132; Gartenflora 30: 413; Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 12, f. 9; Riimpler, Sukkulenten
f. 126; W. Watson, Cact. Cult. f. 78; Wiener Illustr. Gartenz. 10:f. 113, all as Opuntia
brachyarthra. Mllustr. Fl. 2: f. 2532; ed. 2. 2:f. 2991; Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 24, f. 5.
Plate xxxv, figure 1, shows old and young joints of the plant collected by C. Birdseye
at Florence, Montana, in 1910. Figure 239 is from a photograph of the plant taken by
E. R. Warren at San Acacio, Colorado, in 1912.
Fic. 239.—Opuntia fragilis.
217. Opuntia arenaria Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 301. 1856.
Roots in clusters of 10 to 15, spindle-form, somewhat fleshy; stem prostrate, 2 to 3 dm. long,
much branched; joints during growing season quite turgid, afterwards much thinner, 4 to 8 cm.
long, half as broad as long; areoles large, numerous, filled with brown wool, glochids, and spines;
spines 5 to 8 from an areole, 2 or 3 much longer than the others, sometimes 4 cm. long; flowers red,
7 cm. broad; fruit dry, spiny, 3 cm. long; seeds large, 7 cm. broad.
Type locality: Sandy bottoms of the Rio Grande near El Paso.
Distribution: Texas and southern New Mexico.
This species is very rare and has been reported only a few times. Dr. Rose, who has
repeatedly collected at El Paso, was never able to find it until October 1913, and then but
a single plant about 8 miles above El Paso on the New Mexican side of the Rio Grande. It
grows in nearly pure sand not far above the level of the river.
BRITTON AND ROSE PLATE XXXV
Pn, ee eee Rae eee ee ey ee ae eT eee SS
M. E. Eaton del.
1. Plant of Opuntia fragilis. 2. Flowering branch of Opuntia rhodantha.
3. Flowering joint of Opuntia polyacantha. (AII natural size. )
OPUNTIA. 195
Illustration: Cact. Mex. Bound. pl. 75, f. 15.
Figure 240 is from a drawing of the plant collected by Dr. Rose near El Paso, Texas, in
1913.
218. Opuntia trichophora (Engelmann) Britton and Rose, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 535. 1908.
Opuntia missouriensis trichophora Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 300. 1856.
Opuntia polyacantha trichophora Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 437. 1896.
A low, spreading plant, often forming small clumps 6 to 10 dm. in diameter; joints orbicular
to obovate, 6 to 10 cm. in diameter; areoles closely set; spines numerous, very unequal, the longer
one 4 cm. long or so, acicular, pale, often white, but on old joints developing into long, weak hair-
like bristles; flowers yellow, the sepals tinged with red; ovary with numerous areoles, these bear-
ing weak, pale bristles; fruit unknown.
Type locality: Mountains near Albuquerque, New
Mexico.
Distribution: New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma.
This plant, while closely related to Opuntia polya-
cantha, seems worthy of specific rank, its long weak spines
being apparently characteristic. Its northern extension
into Oklahoma has recently been determined
from plants collected by G. W. Stevens.
Illustrations: Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 15, f. 1
to 4; pl. 23, f. 19, all as Opuntia missouriensts
trichophora.
Figure 241 is copied from the first illus-
tration above cited.
Fic. 240.—Opuntia arenaria. Xo0.75. Fic. 241.—Opuntia trichophora. Xo.75.
219. Opuntia erinacea Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 301. 1856.
Opuntia ursina Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 896. 1898.
Growing in small, low clumps, the branches ascending or erect; joints ovate to oblong, flattened
or thick, sometimes nearly terete, 8 to 12 cm. long; areoles somewhat tuberculate, large, numerous,
closely set, 4 to 10 mm. apart; spines numerous, usually white or sometimes brownish or with brown
tips, slender, often 5 cm., sometimes 12 cm. long or even more, stiff, often developing on the old
joints as long hairs or bristles; glochids numerous; flowers rather large, 6 to 7 cm. long, either red or
yellow; ovary and fruit very spiny; seeds large, rather regular.
Type locality: On Mojave Creek, California.
Distribution: Northwestern Arizona, southern Utah, southern Nevada, and eastern
California.
196 THE CACTACEAE.
This species has long been passing under the name of Opuntia rutila Nuttall (Torrey and
Gray, Fl. N. Amer. 1: 555. 1840). Dr. Engelmann referred it there in the Report of Simp-
son’s Expedition (page 442), and again in the Botany of California, with the remark that
“this plant seems to be Nuttall’s long lost O. rutila.”. And while it is true that the identi-
fication of Nuttall’s plant is still doubtful, it seems improbable that this reference is correct,
Fic. 242.—Opuntia erinacea.
for the description does not agree with that of the above, and the original station of O. rutila
in Wyoming is far removed from the other; keen collectors like A. Nelson and V. Bailey, who
have searched for the plant for us, have failed to find it in Wyoming. We suspect that O.
rutila will prove to be O. polyacantha.
Opuntia ursina, which comes from the Mojave Desert, seems to be only a slender
form with long weak spines. This is known in the trade as the California grizzly bear cac-
tus. Alverson has described it as follows: “This curious plant is covered with tawny white
OPUNTIA. 197
hairs or flexuous spines, some of which are from 3 to 6 inches long, and I have some extra
fine specimens with the spines or hairs 9 and 12 inches long.”’
Illustrations: Alverson, Cact. Cat. 9 as Opuntia ursina; Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 13, f.
8 to 11; pl. 24, f. 4.
Figure 242 is from a photograph of the plant taken by F. B. Headley at a point about
29 miles east of Fallon, Nevada, in 1910.
220. Opuntia juniperina sp. noy.
Somewhat of the habit of Opuntia polyacantha, but not so procumbent, stouter, and with fewer
and stouter spines; joints obovate, 10 to 12 cm. long, broad, rounded at top; areoles small, all below
the middle of the joint naked, the upper ones each bearing one stout spine and 1 to several very
short accessory ones; the longer spine very stout, 3 to 4 cm. long, brown; flowers not known; fruit
dry, oblong, 3 cm. long, spineless, with a shallow, flat umbilicus; seeds large, irregular, 6 to 8 mm.
broad,
Fic. 243.—Joint of Opuntia juni- Fic. 244.—Seed Tic. 245.—Opuntia hystricina.
perina. Xo.5. of same. Xo.5. X0.5.
On dry hills among junipers in vicinity of Cedar Hill, San Juan County, New Mexico,
altitude about 1,900 meters, August 17, 1911, Paul C. Standley (No. 8051).
This species is nearest Opuntia rhodantha, but has stouter joints and much larger seeds.
Figure 243 represents a joint of the type specimen; figure 244 represents a seed.
221. Opuntia hystricina Engelmann and Bigelow, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 299. 1856.
More or less diffuse; joints obovate to orbicular, 8 to 20 cm. long; areoles numerous, 10 to 15 mm.
apart, rather large; spines numerous, pale brown to white, the longer ones 5 to 10 cm. long, stout,
flattish, often reflexed; glochids yellow; flowers 6 cm. long; petals broad, yellow; ovary nearly glob-
ular; fruit oblong to obovoid, 2.5 to 3 cm. long, spiny above, dry, with a compressed umbilicus; seeds
7 mm. broad.
Type locality: Colorado Chiquito and on San Francisco Mountains.
Distribution: New Mexico to Arizona and Nevada.
Although this species has a wide range, it is not very well understood; it approaches
O. rhodantha in some of its forms. We have referred here a very remarkable form collected
by E. W. Nelson at Lee’s Ferry, Arizona, in 1909. ‘This plant has thick, obovate joints 17
198 THE CACTACEAE.
to 22 cm. long, strongly tuberculate, with some of the spines very strong, flattened, and re-
flexed; the fruit is very spiny; the seeds are 8 mm. broad, angled, with margins thin and
acute. This may be the plant listed in Weinberg’s catalogue, also from the Grand Canyon,
under the name of Opuntia hochderffert.
Opuntia xerocarpa Griffiths (Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 29: 15. 1916), from Kingman,
Arizona, is of this relationship, described as “readily distinguished from other species of
its dry-fruited allies by its spines, shape of joints and color of plant body.”’
Illustrations: Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 15, f. 5 to 7; pl. 23, f. 15.
Figure 245 is copied from the first illustration above cited.
222. Opuntia rhodantha Schumann, La Semaine Hort. 1897.
Opuntia xanthostemma Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 735. 1898.
Opuntia utahensis J. A. Purpus, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 19: 133. 1909.
Joints obovate to oblong, 5 to 12 cm. long; areoles distant, 10 mm. apart or more; spines rather
stout, 3 or 4, 2 to 3 cm. long, brownish, with 2 or 3 short accessory ones; lower areoles usually naked;
glochids brown; flowers, including ovaries, 5 to 6 cm. long, 8 cm. broad; petals red or pink to salmon-
colored, obovate, apiculate; stamens red or yellow; fruit spiny; seeds small, 5 mm. in diameter.
Type locality: Colorado, at 2,000 to 2,300 meters altitude.
Distribution: Western Nebraska, Colorado, and Utah.
After a careful examination of living plants of both O. rhodantha and O. xanthostemma,
we feel convinced that the latter is only a form of the other. The color of the stamens in
the opuntias does not furnish a constant character. It is hardy in cultivation at New York
and highly ornamental when in bloom.
Haage and Schmidt, in their 1915 cata-
logue, list several varieties of this species:
brevispina, flavispina, pisciformis, and schu-
manniana; and under Opuntia xanthostemma
in the same place they list the following
varieties: elegans, fulgens, gracilis, orbicularts,
and rosea.
Illustrations: Meehan’s Monthly 7: 133;
Gartenwelt 1: 83, this last as Opuntia xantho-
stemma; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 19: 135, this
last as Opuntia utahensis.
Plate xxxv, figure 2, represents a flower-
ing plant received by the New York Botanical
Garden from Haage and Schmidt, of Erfurt,
Germany, in 1913.
Fic. 246.—Opuntia sphaerocarpa. 0.66.
223. Opuntia sphaerocarpa Engelmann and Bigelow, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 300. 1856.
Small, spreading plants; joints orbicular, 6 to 7 cm. broad, thickish, strongly tuberculate,
wrinkled in drying, light green or becoming more or less purple; areoles 8 to 10 mm. apart, mostly
spineless or the upper and marginal ones bearing short acicular spines, the longest ones about
2 cm. long; glochids yellow; flowers not known; fruit naked, 18 mm. in diameter, with a truncate
umbilicus; seeds 5 mm. broad, very irregular.
Type locality: Mountains near Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Distribution: Known only from type locality.
We have not, with certainty, identified any recently collected plants with this species,
although some New Mexican specimens appear to be referable to it.
Illustrations: Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 13, f. 6, 7; pl. 24, f. 3.
Figure 246 is copied from the first illustration above cited.
OPUNTIA. 199
224. Opuntia polyacantha Haworth, Suppl. Pl. Succ. 82. 1819.
Cactus ferox Nuttall, Gen. Pl. 1: 296. 1818. Not Willdenow. 1813.
Opuntia media Haworth, Suppl. Pl. Succ. 82. 1819.
Opuntia missouriensis De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 472. 1828.
Opuntia splendens Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 159. 1837.
Opuntia missouriensis albispina Engelmann and Bigelow, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 300. 1856.
Opuntia missouriensis microsperma Engelmann and Bigelow, Proc. Amer, Acad. 3: 300. 1856. Not
O. rafinesquei microsperma Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 295. 1856.
Opuntia missouriensis platycarpa Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 300. 1856.
Opuntia missouriensis rufispina Engelmann and Bigelow, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3: 300. 1856.
Opuntia missouriensis subinermis Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad..3: 300. 1856.
Opuntia polyacantha albispina Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 437. 1806.
Opuntia polyacantha borealis Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 436. 1896.
Opuntia polyacantha platycarpa Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 436. 1896.
Opuntia polyacantha watsonit Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 437. 1896.
Opuntia schweriniana Schumann, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 9: 148. 1899.
in
=
H
S \ae]
SANS Agia
eh i
ARS
Ad :
Fic. 247.— Opuntia polyacantha.
Low, spreading plants, with fibrous roots, usually forming small clumps; joints not very thick,
orbicular, usually less than 10 cm. in diameter, generally light green; areoles small, closely set,
usually less than 1 cm. apart, all spiny; spines numerous, often 9, those from the sides mostly short,
appressed, and white, but often 1 or 2 of these elongated and like those from the upper and marginal
areoles, dark brown, with lighter tips and about 3 cm. long; glochids yellow; flowers small, 4 to 5 cm.
long, including the ovary; sepals tinged with red; petals lemon-yellow; stigma-lobes green; fruit
dry, oblong, 2 cm. long, bearing small clusters of white, acicular spines at the areoles; seeds white,
6 mm. long, acute on the margin.
Type locality: Arid situations on the plains of the Missouri.
Distribution: North Dakota to Nebraska, Texas, and Arizona to Utah, Washington,
and Alberta.
Opuntia sphaerocarpa utahensis Engelmann (Trans. St. Louis Acad. 2: 199. 1863) can
not be referred to O. sphaerocarpa, where Dr. Engelmann only provisionally placed it when
he first described it. On account of its yellow flowers we have referred it here. Opuntia
200 THE CACTACEAE.
polyacantha microsperma and O. polyacantha rufispina, mentioned in Bailey’s Standard
Cyclopedia of Horticulture (3: 2363. 1916), belong here.
Opuntia polyacantha was one of the first of our western opuntias to be collected and
described. It was first collected by Thomas Nuttall on his memorable trip to the Upper
Missouri. He described it in 1818 as Cactus ferox, a name which had been previously used
by Willdenow, which led A. H. Haworth in 1819 to rename Nuttall’s plant, calling it Opun-
tia polyacantha. At the same place Haworth published a second name, Opuntia media,
undoubtedly based on a less spiny form of O. polyacantha. In 1828 Nuttall’s plant was
again renamed, this time by A. De Candolle, who called it Opuntia missourtensis, under
which name it was known for many years. In 1896 Dr. John M. Coulter very properly
restored Haworth’s name O. polyacantha.
This species has a wide distribution laterally and altitudinally. It is properly a
plains’ species, but is found in mountain valleys and on dry hills, usually in the open,
but sometimes in sparse pine woods. In a species of such wide distribution and growing
under such diverse circumstances, a wide range of forms is to be expected and a number of
varieties have been proposed for the various races, some of which may perhaps have red
flowers. The plant is hardy at New York, flowering freely in June.
Illustrations: Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 115: pl. 7046; Illustr. Fl. 2: f. 2531; ed. 2. 2: f. 2990;
N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 78: pl. [3]; Cact. Journ. 1: 167; Gard. Chron. 50: 340, the last
two as Opuntia missouriensis; Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 14, f. 8 to 10; pl. 23, f. 18, the last two as
Opuntia missouriensis albispina; Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 14, f. 5 to 7; pl. 24, f. 1, 2, the last two
as Opuntia missouriensis microsperma; Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 14, f. 4; pl. 23, f. 17, these last
two as Opuntia missouriensis platycarpa; Pac. R. Rep. 4: pl. 14, f. 1 to 3; pl. 23, f. 16, these
last two as Opuntia missouriensis rufispina; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 9: 148, this last as
Opuntia schweriniana.
Plate xxxv, figure 3, represents
a flowering joint of the plant collected
by Dr. Rose in western Kansas in
1912. Figure 247 represents joints
of the plant from Colorado, photo-
graphed by T. W. Smillie.
Series 24. STENOPETALAE.
This is an anomalous group in
Opuntia, since the flowers are diceci-
ous and the petals are linear and more
or less erect. It contains three species
which are very different in habit and
color of spines, but which were all
united into a single species by Profes-
sor Schumann. Dr. Engelmann was so
much impressed by the peculiar struc-
ture of the flowers of this group that he
proposed for it a new subgenus, Steno-
puntia.
KEY TO SPECIES.
Spines dark; plants low,
prostrate.............. 225. O. stenopetala
Spines white; plants erect.
Joints narrow; spines
AC(CHlare pene eres 226. O. glaucescens
Joints broader; spines Fic. 248.—Opuntia stenopetala.
SLOLLLE- pee 227. O. grandis
225. Opuntia stenopetala Engelmann, Proc. Amer. Acad. 3:289. 1856.
Low bushy plant, often forming thickets, the main branches procumbent and resting on the
edges of the joints; joints obovate to orbicular, 1 to 2 dm. long, grayish green, but often more or less
OPUNTIA. 201
purplish, very spiny; areoles often remote, 1 to 3 cm. apart, the lower ones often without spines,
bearing white wool when young; leaves only on young joints, spreading, dark red, about 2 mm. long;
spines usually reddish brown to black, but sometimes becoming pale, usually 2 to 4, the longest
ones 5 cm. long, the larger ones somewhat flattened; glochids very abundant on young joints,
brown; flowers dicecious, small, including the ovary only 3 cm. long; petals orange-red, very narrow,
10 to 12 mm. long, with long acuminate tips; filaments short; style very thick in the middle, the male
flowers with an abortive, pointed style, but female flowers with 8 or 9 yellow stigma-lobes on style;
ovary leafy, the upper leaves similar to the sepals; fruit globular, 3 cm. in diameter, acid, naked
or spiny; seeds small, smooth, 3 mm. in diameter, with broad, rounded margins.
Type locality: On battlefield of Buena Vista, south of Saltillo, Mexico.
Distribution: In States of Coahuila to Querétaro and Hidalgo, central Mexico.
Referred by Schumann to O. glaucescens, but surely a distinct species, as indicated
by Berger (Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 14: 171. 1904).
Although in its habit this Opuntia is much like many others, its flowers are unique,
the petals being very narrow and erect; it is a very beautiful plant, and at flowering time
is covered with numerous, small, beautiful flowers. Dr. Griffiths states that it is one of
the most valuable ornamental opuntias, and that it is hardy in southern California.
Illustrations: Cact. Mex. Bound. pl. 66; Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 14: 172. f. 1.
Figure 248 is from a photograph of a
fruiting joint of a specimen collected by
Dr. Edward Palmer near Saltillo, Mexico,
in 1905; figure 249 is copied from the
illustration first above cited.
226. Opuntia glaucescens Salm-Dyck, Hort.
Dyck. 362. 1834.
Probably erect; joints erect, oblong-obo-
vate, 12 to 15 cm. long, 5 ecm. broad, some-
times narrowed at both ends, pale green,
glaucous, usually purplish around the are-
oles; leaves small, reddish when young; are-
oles filled with gray wool; spines 1 to 4,
elongated, acicular, white, 2.5 cm. long; glo-
chids brownish to rose-colored.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Mexico, but range un-
known.
The flowers were not known when the species was first described and we do not know
that they have since been observed. It has long been in cultivation, but specimens grown
under glass at New York have not flowered.
Tic. 249.—Opuntia stenopetala.
227. Opuntia grandis Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 155. 1837.
More or less erect, 6 dm. high or more; joints oblong, 12 to 18 cm. long, erect, when young
reddish, glaucous; leaves rose-colored; spines few, white; flowers small, a little open, 2 cm. broad;
petals few, narrowly lanceolate, 12 mm. long; filaments reddish; style shorter than the stamens,
rose-colored; stigma-lobes 2 or 3, acute.
Type locality: In Mexico.
Distribution: Mexico, but range unknown.
Referred by Schumann to O. glaucescens, but doubtless distinct, as indicated by Berger.
Illustration: Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 14: 172. f. 2.
Series 25. PALMADORAE.
An erect plant with narrow flat joints, small, brick-red flowers, and apparently erect stamens;
the epidermis densely papillose-tuberculate when dry. The flowers suggest those of the Spinosis-
simae, but otherwise the plant is quite different. The series consists of a single species, from the
catinga region of eastern Brazil.
202 THE CACTACEAE.
228. Opuntia palmadora sp. nov.
Plant often 3 meters high, sometimes even 5, but often low; trunk
sometimes 9 cm. in diameter, sometimes with brown, smooth bark, but
usually very spiny; branches numerous, usually erect, at times forming a
compact, almost globular top, at other times quite open; joints unusually
thin and narrow, rt to 1.5 dm. long, generally erect, very spiny; leaves
subulate, minute, 3 to 4 mm. long, green with reddish tips, found only on
very young joints; areoles filled with white wool; spines usually 1 to 4,
sometimes 6, from an areole, all yellow at first, in age white, the largest
one porrect, 3 cm. long; petals erect or only slightly spreading, brick-red
in color; stamens short, erect; filaments orange-colored; style cream-col-
ored; stigma-lobes white; ovary broadly turbinate, 2 cm. long, tubercu-
late; fruit small.
Collected by Rose and Russell at Barrinha, Bahia, Brazil, June
7, 8, 1915 (No. 19787).
This plant is common in the semiarid parts of Bahia, where
it is known as palmadora or palmatoria. Johnston and Tryon
describe it briefly without giving it a name in their Report of the
Prickly-Pear Travelling Commission, 104. 1914.
Figure 250 represents joints of the type plant; figure 251 is from
a photograph of the wild plant from which the above was taken.
Series 26. SPINOSISSIMAE.
Erect species, mostly tall, with terete, continuous, unjointed, usually
densely spiny trunks, the ultimate branches spreading or divaricate, flat,
usually elongated, spiny or sometimes unarmed; flowers small, yellow,
orange or red, or changing from yellow to red; fruit fleshy. We recognize seven species, all natives
of the West Indies. The series represents the genus Consolea of Lemaire.
Fic. 250.—O. palmadora.
Fic. 251.—Opuntia palmadora. A thicket in Bahia, Fic. 252.—Opuntia nashii.
Brazil.
Key TO SPECIES.
Areoles of the joints distant, 2 to 4 cm. apart.
Spines few, 3 cm. long or less, or none.
Areoles elevated, bearing 2 to 5 grayish spines 3 to 6cm. long....................... 229. O. nashit
Areoles scarcely elevated, spineless or with 1 to 4 weak yellow spines 1 to 2 cm. long... 230. O. bahamana
Spines, when present, many, the older up to 12 cm. long...................-.-+-------- 231. O. macracantha
Areoles of the joints closer together, 1 to 1.5 cm. apart.
Spines of the trunk-areoles, or most of them, deflexed.
Young spines straw-colored or whitish; plant up to 5 m. tall....................-.-. 232. O. spinosissima
Young spines purple; plant 6 dm. high or less.....................--------+--+-+-:- 233. O. millspaughit
Spines of the trunk-areoles, when present, spreading.
Joints distinctly reticulate-areolate, light green; ovary prominently tuberculate....... 234. O. moniliformis
Joints indistinctly reticulate-areolate, mostly dark green or reddish; ovary low-tuberculate 235. O. rubescens
OPUNTIA. - 203
229. Opuntia nashii Britton, Bull. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 3:446. 1905.
Tree-like, or sometimes bushy, dull green; main axis round,
1 to 4 meters high, 5 to 12 cm. in diameter, spiny; branches flat
or becoming round below, the principal ones continuous, 1 meter
long or more, 6 cm. wide or less, crenate, blunt; lateral branches
opposite or alternate, oblong to linear-oblong, often 3 dm. long,
and 8 em. wide, only about 6 mm. thick, blunt, crenate; areoles
1 to 3 cm. apart, slightly elevated; spines mostly 5 at each areole
(2 to 5), divergent, slender, straight, light gray, pungent, the
longer 3 to 6 cm. long; glochids very small, brownish; ovary 3
em. long, 1.5 cm. thick, somewhat clavate, tubercled, the tuber-
cles bearing areoles and spines similar to those of the joints, but
the spines somewhat shorter; flowers 1.5 cm. broad when ex-
panded, red; petals broadly oval to obovate, blunt, about 8 mm.
long, much longer than the stamens.
Type locality: Inagua, Bahamas.
Distribution: Andros, Crooked Island, Fortune Island,
Atwood Cay, Caicos Islands, Turks Islands, Ship Channel
Cay, and Inagua, Bahamas.
Figure 252 is from a photograph of a plant at Matthew
Town, Inagua, Bahamas, taken by George V. Nash, in 1904;
figure 253 is from a photograph of a plant from the same
place in the collection of the New York Botanical Garden.
230. Opuntia bahamana sp. nov.
Branched from near the base, bushy, about 1.5 m. high;
joints oblong to lanceolate, flat, and thin, 1 to 5 dm. long, 4 to
10 cm. wide, dull green, obtuse, scarcely undulate; leaves red,
subulate, 3 cm. long; areoles 1.5 to 3 cm. apart, scarcely elevated,
about 2 mm. in diameter, spineless, or bearing 1 to 4 acicular yel-
low spines 2 cm. long or less when young; glochids few and short;
flower about 6 cm. broad; petals obovate, rose-tinted below, yel-
lowish rose above; sepals dark rose, whitish margined.
Distribution: Rocky slopes, The Bright, Cat Island, Ba-
hamas, collected by N. lL. Britton and C. F. Millspaugh,
March 1907, No. 5794.
This plant was tentatively referred by us (Smiths.
Mise. Coll. 50: 525. 1908) to Opuntia lanceolata Haworth.
It has been grown under glass at New York ever since,
but does not respond well to greenhouse conditions.
It is here included in the series Spinosissimae, but with hesitation, its bushy habit
_and larger flowers being anomalous in this group.
Figure 254 represents a joint of the type specimen above cited; figure 255 is copied
from a sketch of a flower made by Dr. Millspaugh on Cat Island, when the plant was
discovered.
231. Opuntia macracantha Grisebach, Cat. Pl. Cub. 116. 1866.
Erect, the trunk up to 15 cm. in diameter, its areoles 1 to 2 cm. broad, bearing many brownish
glochids and several divergent spines 15 cm. long or less; upper portion of the trunk, and the
ultimate, oblong, or oblong-ovate, spreading branches flat, green, faintly shining, the areoles 2 to
3 cm. apart, scarcely elevated, the numerous glochids brown; spines 1 to 4, up to 15 cm. long, nearly
white, stout, subulate, or wanting; flowers often numerous; ovary 2.5 to 3 cm. long, densely beset
with glochid-bearing areoles; petals orange-yellow, 1 to 1.3 cm. long.
Fic. 253.—Opuntia nashii.
Type locality: Cuba, in maritime depressions.
Distribution: Southern coast of eastern Cuba and adjacent plains.
204 THE CACTACEAE.
Specimens of the plant were erroneously referred by Grisebach to O. triacantha. It
is a picturesque feature of the flora of its native habitat.
Figure 256 is from a photograph of the plant on the United States Naval Station,
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, taken by Marshall A. Howe in 1909; figure 257 is from a pho-
tograph of a plant from the same place, grown at the New York Botanical Garden.
Fic. 254.—Joint of Opuntia Fic. 255.—Flower Fic. 256.—Opuntia macracantha.
bahamana. of the same.
232. Opuntia spinosissima Miller, Gard. Dict. ed. 8. No. 8. 1768.
Cactus spinosissimus Martyn, Cat. Hort. Cant. 88. 1771.
Consolea spinosissima Lemaire, Rev. Hort. 1862: 174. 1862.
Erect, up to 5 m. high, the trunk sometimes 8 cm. in diameter, densely clothed with areoles
bearing many long brownish glochids and acicular, deflexed or spreading spines up to 8 cm. long;
ultimate branches flat, dull green, narrowly oblong, 2 to 4 times as long as wide, their areoles 1 to
1.5 cm. apart, slightly or not at all elevated, bearing brown glochids and 1 to 3 acicular, straw-col-
ored or whitish spines 8 cm. long or less, or spineless; ovary 3 to 8 cm. long, often flattened, its
areoles bearing short glochids; petals about 1 cm. long, oblong-obovate, rounded at the apex, at
first yellow, turning dull red.
Type locality: Jamaica.
Distribution: Southern coast of Jamaica.
Plate xxxvi, from a painting by Miss H. A. Wood at Hope Gardens, Jamaica,
sent by William Harris in 1907. Figure 258 is from a photograph of a plant obtained
by Professor John F. Cowell in Jamaica and sent from the Buffalo Botanical Garden to
the New York Botanical Garden in 1904.
233. Opuntia millspaughii Britton, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 513. 1908.
Trunk terete, 7 cm. thick at base, 5 cm. thick at top, 6 dm. high or less, branching at the summit,
the branches divaricate-ascending, narrowly oblong, much compressed, 40 cm. long or less, 5 to
BRITTON AND ROSE PLATE XXXVI
q H. A. Wood del. Opuntia spinosissima. Avene
1. Flowering joint. 6. Cross-section of ovary.
2,3. Single flowers. 7. Style.
4,5. Longitudinal section of ower.
OPUNTIA. .- 205
10 cm. wide, 1 to 1.5 cm. thick, light green; branchlets obliquely lanceolate, obtuse, as wide as
the branches, but shorter, 1 cm. thick or less, floriferous at and near the apex; areoles of the older
branches pitted, about 1 cm. apart, those of very young shoots slightly elevated, the glochids very
short, yellowish brown; spines of the trunk 15 cm. long or less, very numerous and densely clothing
the trunk, very slender, gray, mostly strongly reflexed, pungent, those of the branches and branch-
lets restricted to the areoles on their edges, shorter than those of the trunk but similar, purple when
Fic. 257.—Opuntia macracantha. Fic. 258.—Opuntia spinosissima.
young, those of the fruit yellowish gray, 2 cm. long or less; flowers cupulate, crimson-lake, 1 cm.
wide; sepals fleshy, ovate, acute, 4 mm. long and wide; petals erect-ascending, obovate, mucro-
nulate, about 4 mm. wide; stamens half as long as the corolla; style about as long as the corolla;
stigma-lobes oblong, yellowish crimson; fruit compressed-obovoid, 2 cm. long, 1.5 cm. thick, bear-
ing one or two spines at most of the areoles.
206 THE CACTACEAE.
Type locality: Rock Sound, Eleuthera Island, Bahamas.
Distribution: Eleuthera and Great Ragged Island, Bahamas; Cayo Paredon Grande, Cuba.
Figure 259 is from a photograph of the type plant taken at the type locality by Dr.
C. F. Millspaugh, February 22, 1907.
234. Opuntia moniliformis (Linnaeus) Haworth in Steu-
del, Nom. ed. 2. 2: 221. 1841.
Cactus moniliformis Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 468. 1753.
Cactus ferox Willdenow, Enum. Pl. Suppl. 35. 1813.
Opuntia ferox Haworth, Suppl. Pl. Suce. 82. 1819.
Cereus moniliformis De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 470. 1828.
Consolea ferox Lemaire, Rev. Hort. 1862: 174. 1862.
Opuntia microcarpa Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 714.
1898. Not Engelmann. 1848.
.Nopalea moniliformis Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 750.
1898.
Opuntia testudinis-crus Weber in Gosselin, Bull. Mus.
Hist. Nat. Paris 10: 389. 1904.
Opuntia haitiensis Britton, Smiths. Misc. Coll. 50: 513.
1908.
Trunk somewhat flattened above, 3 to 4 m. high,
branching at the top, densely armed with acicular, yel-
lowish or gray spines 12 em. long or less, their bases
clothed with yellowish-white wool 1 to 2 cm. long; joints
obliquely linear-oblong to obovate, 1 to 3 dm.long, 13 cm.
wide or less, about 1 cm. thick, obtuse, distinctly areolate-
reticulate, the areoles somewhat elevated, 1 to 1.5 cm.
apart, those of young joints bearing near the edges 3 to 6
acicular spines 1 to 2.5 cm. long, those on the sides of the
young joints often spineless or with 1 to 3 yellowish
Fic. 259.—Opuntia millspaughii.
Fic. 260.—Opuntia moniliformis on the plain at Azua, Santo Domingo.
OPUNTIA. 207
spines, and with small tufts of grayish wool; older joints bearing at all areoles 5 to 8 yellowish
spines similar to those of the trunk, and brown glochids 6 or 8 mm. long; flowers about 2.5 cm.
broad; sepals as broad as long, or broader, apiculate; petals yellow to orange, ovate, apiculate,
spreading; stamens much shorter than the petals; ovary cylindric to obovoid-cylindric, terete or
nearly so, 4 to 5 cm. long, its distinctly elevated areoles close together, only 5 or 6 mm. apart,
bearing brown glochids 2 mm. long, but no spines; fruit oblong-obovoid, about 6 cm. long.
Type locality: Hispaniola.
Distribution: Hispaniola; Desecheo Island, Porto Rico.
The ovaries, fruits and small joints of this species are readily detached and on falling
to the ground strike root and proliferate, forming masses of subglobose or turgid joints
entirely different in aspect from the fully developed, tree-like plant. It was on this stage
of the organism that the Cactus moniliformis of Linnaeus, founded on Plumier’s convention-
alized plate above cited, was based; this illustration is, however, apparently erroneous in
showing the style as long-exserted.
The names Opuntia dolabriformis and Opuntia cruciata were published by Pfeiffer
(Enum. Cact. 167. 1837) as synonyms of O. ferox. Some of the joints and, perhaps,
some whole plants of this species are nearly or quite spineless. .
Illustrations: Descourtilz, Fl. Med. Antill. ed. 2. 7: pl. 514, as Cactier moniliforme;
Plumier, Pl. Amer. ed. Burmann. pl. 198, as Cactus, etc.
Fic. 261.—Opuntia moniliformis. The same species as 260, but Fic. 262.—Opuntia monili-
showing a different mode of growth. formis. X<0.66.
Figure 260 is from a photograph of a plant at Azua, Santo Domingo, taken by
Paul G. Russell in 1913; figure 261 is from a photograph taken by Frank E. Lutz on
Desecheo Island, Mona Passage, Porto Rico, in 1914, showing a mass of proliferating
sterile ovaries or small joints below and the mature stage of the plant above; figure 262
represents several of the small joints of the Desecheo plant.
208 THE CACTACEAE.
235. Opuntia rubescens Salm-Dyck in De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 474. 1828.
Opuntia catacantha Link and Otto in Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 166. 1837.
Consolea rubescens Lemaire, Rev. Hort. 1862: 174. 1862.
Consolea catacantha Lemaire, Rev. Hort. 1862: 174. 1862.
Opuntia guanicana Schumann in Giirke, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 18: 180. 1908.
Trunk erect, nearly cylindric below, flattened above, 3 to 6 meters high, sometimes 1.5 dm. in
diameter, branching above, its areoles bearing several or many acicular spines up to 8 em. long or
more, or spineless: ultimate joints thin and flat, mostly dark green or reddish green, not reticulate-
areolate except when young, oblong to oblong-obovate, 2.5 dm. long or less, mostly 2 to 4 times as
long as wide, the terminal ones often much smaller; areoles 1 to 1.5 cm. apart, bearing several acicular
nearly white spines 1 to 6 cm. long, or spineless; flowers yellow, orange or red, about 2 cm. broad;
ovary long-tuberculate, 4 to 5 cm. long, about 1.5 cm. in diameter; petals obovate, apiculate; sta-
mens about half as long as the petals; fruit reddish, obovoid or subglobose, 5 to 8 cm. in diameter,
spiny or spineless; seeds suborbicular, 6 to 8 mm. in diameter.
Fics. 263, 264.—Opuntia rubescens.
Type locality: Cited as Brazil, but erroneously.
Distribution: Mona and Porto Rico to Tortola, St. Croix, and Guadeloupe.
Culebra, St. Thomas, St. Jan, and Montserrat plants agree with the description of
Opuntia rubescens, which clearly belongs with the Spinosissimae (Cruciformes), as pointed
out by Berger, rather than with the South American series Inarmatae, where it was placed
by Schumann; it is a spineless state of O. catacantha, as was conclusively proven by us
through field observations in the Virgin Islands, and greenhouse plants of O. rubescens
develop spines.
Both the spiny and spineless races exhibit remarkable proliferation of the ovaries,
these often forming chains of several joints while attached to the plant; these, falling to
the ground, strike root and form many small, flattened joints 2 to 4 cm. long, as in Opuntia
moniliformis, to which this species is otherwise closely related.
Illustration: Journ. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 7: f. 6, as Opuntia.
OPUNTIA. 209
Figure 263 is from a photograph of the plant taken by Professor John F. Cowell at
Guanica, Porto Rico, in 1915; figure 264 is from a photograph taken by Professor Cowell
at the same time and place, showing in the foreground a mass of young plants arisen
from proliferating joints, and a mature plant behind; figure 265 represents proliferating
joints of a plant grown at Nisky, St. Thomas, collected by Dr. Britton and Dr. Rose
in 1913; figure 266 represents a fruit, collected by Dr. Britton and Dr. Shafer on Buck
Island, St. Thomas, in 1913.
Fics. 265, 266.—Opuntia rubescens. 0.66. Fic. 267.—Opuntia brasiliensis. 0.75.
Series 27. BRASILIENSES.
This series represents one of the five subgenera described by Dr. Schumann, which he called
Brasiliopuntia. It perhaps should be recognized as a distinct genus. We recognize three species in
the series, which may be races of a single one, characterized by an erect cylindric trunk with cylin-
dric, horizontal branches terminating in a series of flattened, thin, leaf-like branches. The
leaves are small and caducous. The spines are few on the young growth, but large clusters are
developed on the old stem and trunk. ‘The flowers are small, the fruit is juicy, and the seeds are
large and covered with a dense mass of wool. Unlike most species of Opuntia, these grow
in the moist tropical forests, forming tall, slender, tree-like plants.
Kery TO SPECIES.
Ina Allotllers, WAMNON7s ona poke Sbeodo0cwookcadadeacoponcadsn rene sdneracccbr suo OUD Odom O~ 236. O. brasiliensis
Fruit clavate to oblong, red. 5
[Arie Colores, BO) 7) CoG WOW. oo ccoctuacesevussonsoccoesnenadessscssongceeescouseudas 237. O. bahiensis
Igasihe GEwANe, 8 Gay lOmssnssaccocccupscuvocoussoesceuarcascagaucabonasosocascnBtocasy 238. O. argentina
236. Opuntia brasiliensis (Willdenow) Haworth, Suppl. Pl. Succ. 79. 1819.
Cactus brasiliensis Willdenow, Enum. Pl. Suppl. 33. 1813.
Cactus paradoxus Hornemann, Hort. Hafn. 2: 443. 1815.
Cactus arboreus Vellozo, Fl. Flum. 207. 1825.
Opuntia arborea Steudel, Nom. ed. 2. 2: 220. 1841.
Cereus paradoxus Steudel, Nom. ed. 2. I: 335. 1841.
Becoming 4 meters high, with a cylindric woody trunk and a small rounded top; old trunk
either naked or spiny; branches dimorphic, the lateral ones horizontal, terete; the terminal joints
flat and leaf-like, many of these in time dropping off; flowers 5 to 5.5 cm. long; petals yellow, oblong,
obtuse; filaments very short; fruit yellow, globular, 3 to 4 cm. in diameter, with a low or nearly trun-
cate umbilicus, bearing large areoles; seed usually one, very woolly, 10 mm. broad.
Type locality: Near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Distribution: Southern Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and central Bolivia. Natural-
ized in southern Florida.
210 THE CACTACEAE.
A number of varieties of this species appear in literature, of which we may mention
the following: minor Pfeiffer (Enum. Cact. 169. 1837); schomburgkii Salm-Dyck (Cact.
Hort. Dyck. 1849. 74. 1850); spinosior Salm-Dyck (Hort. Dyck. 184. 1834); tenuifolia
Forbes (Hort. Tour Germ. 159. 1837); and tenuior Salm-Dyck (Hort. Dyck. 376. 1834).
Dr. John H. Barnhart recently called our attention to a number of cactus names
published by St. Hilaire which have been overlooked by later writers. One of these,
Cactus heterocladus St. Hilaire (Voy. Rio de Janeiro and Minas Geraes 2: 103. 1830)
seems to belong here, as the following free translation would indicate:
“Another cactus, which I have already seen near Rio de
Janeiro, raised its branches in the midst of tortuous lianas;
its trunk, which grows more slender from the base to the
summit, is covered with fascicles of spines arranged in a
quincunx, and it shows various stages of verticillate, hori-
zontal, rounded branches, to the number of seven in each
whorl; these branches, like those of the spruce tree, grow
shorter toward the summit of the plant, and they bear sec-
ondary branches, flattened and oval-oblong, which may in a
certain sense be taken as leaves.”
Illustrations: Curtis’s Bot. Mag. 61: pl. 3293;
Dept. Agr. N.S. W. Mise. Publ. 253: pl. [6]; Martius,
Fl. Bras. 47: pl. 61; Pfeiffer and Otto, Abbild. Beschr.
Cact. 1: pl. 29; Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen f. 100;
Vellozo, Fl. Flum. 5: pl. 28, this last as Cactus arboreus.
Plate xxx, figure 2, represents a flowering joint
taken from a specimen in the New York Botanical
Fic. 268.—Opuntia brasiliensis. Fics. 269, 270.—Opuntia bahiensis. Xo.5.
Garden; figure 3 is from the same plant, showing terete and flat joints. Figure 267 repre-
sents a fruit collected by Dr. Rose near Iguaba Grande, Brazil, in 1915; figure 268 is
from a photograph taken by Paul G. Russell in a public park in Bahia, Brazil.
237. Opuntia bahiensis sp. nov.
Trunk 3 to 15 meters high, cylindric, 20 to 25 cm. in diameter, tapering gradually upward;
the center of trunk pithy, hollow in age, surrounded by an open woody cylinder; lateral joints
terete, the terminal ones flat and thin, ovate to oblong; leaves small, 2 to 3 mm. long, turgid;
spines on terminal joints, if present, 1 or 2, slender, red at first, then brown; spines on old trunk
forming large clusters at all the areoles; flowers not seen; fruit deep red both within and without,
oblong, 3 to 4 cm. long; its small areoles with brown glochids; seeds 1 to 5, mostly 1 or 2 in each
fruit, very hairy, thick, 8 mm. broad.
Collected in the vicinity of Toca da Onca, Bahia, Brazil, by Rose and Russell,
June 27 to 29, 1915 (No. 20068).
OPUNTIA. 211
Figure 269 represents joints of the type plant above cited; figure 270 represents a
joint with fruit; figure 271 is from a photograph of the type specimen.
Fic. 271.—Opuntia bahiensis. The tree to the left and Fic. 272.—Opuntia ammophila.
somewhat in the foreground.
238. Opuntia argentina Grisebach, Abh. Ges. Wiss. Gottingen 24: 140. 1879.
Opuntia hieronymi Grisebach, Abh. Ges. Wiss. Gottingen 24: 140. 1879.
Erect, 5 to 15 meters high, branching at the top, the lateral branches subverticillate, teretes
terminal branches flat, 5 to 12 cm. long, 3 to 8 cm. broad; ovary 2 to 2.5 cm. long; petals elliptic to
spatulate, 1.8 cm. long, 8 mm. broad, greenish yellow; filaments white; style white;. stigma-lobe;
yellowish green; ovary flattened, tuberculate, deeply umbilicate; fruit clavate, 5 cm. long, dull
purplish violet, with wine-colored pulp; seeds lens-shaped, 5 to 6 mm. long, 2.5 to 3 mm. broad.
Type locality: Near San Andrés, Oran, Argentina.
Distribution: Northern Argentina.
This species was considered identical with O. brasili-
ensis by Schumann, but they separate on very good fruit
characters.
Figure 274 is from a photograph of a flowering branch
furnished by Dr. C. Spegazzini.
Series 28. AMMOPHILAE.
One peculiar species, native of Florida, constitutes this
series, characterized by a continuous erect subterete trunk,
flat, spiny branches, and large, yellow flowers.
239. Opuntia ammophila Small, Journ. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 20:29. /
1919. /
Plant erect, more or less branched throughout or ultimately
with a stem 1 to 2 meters tall or more, becoming 2 to 2.5 dm. in
diameter, bearing several spreading branches near the top, thus tree-like, tuberous at the base;
joints various, those of the main stem elongate, ultimately fused on the ends and subcylindric,
those of the branches typically obovate or cuneate, varying to elliptic or oval, thickish, 5 to 17 cm.
long, becoming grayish green; leaves stout-subulate, 6 to 10 mm. long, green; areoles relatively
Fic. 273.—Opuntia ammophila.
212 THE CACTACEAE.
numerous, conspicuous on account of the densely crowded long bristles, especially on the older
joints, the marginal ones, at least, armed; spines very slender, solitary or 2. together, reddish or
red, at maturity gray, mostly 2 to 6 cm. long, nearly terete, scarcely spirally twisted; flowers sev-
eral on a joint; sepals lanceolate, acute or slightly acuminate; buds sharply pointed; corolla bright
yellow, 5 to 8 cm. wide; petals obovate, cuneate, notched, and prominently apiculate, 3 cm. long,
scarcely erose; stigma-lobes cream-color; berries obovoid, 2 to 3 cm. long, more or less flushed with
reddish purple, many-seeded; seeds about 4 mm. in diameter.
Fic. 274:—Opuntia argentina. Fic. 275.—Opuntia chaffeyi. Photograph
by Sefior Don Teodoro Chairez.
Type locality: Fort Pierce, Florida.
Distribution: Inland sand-dunes (scrub), peninsular Florida.
The plant was first collected by Dr. Small near Fort Pierce, Florida, in 1917, and again
studied by him in its more northern range west of St. George in 1918. He describes it as
the most conspicuous native prickly pear of Florida, always viciously armed and with a char-
acteristically unjointed trunk. In spite of its many slender spines, cattle browse upon it.
Illustration: Journ. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 20: pl. 224.
OPUNTIA. Aine
Figure 272 is from a photograph of the plant taken by Dr. Small near Fort Pierce,
Florida; figure 273 shows a fruiting joint of the type specimen.
Series 29. CHAFFEYANAE.
This series contains a single Mexican species, differing from all the other opuntias in having
an annual stem which arises from a large, fleshy root or rootstock. ‘The joints, which are elongated
and nearly terete, resemble somewhat those of O. lepiocaulis, but are more fleshy, while the flowers
and fruit are like those of the platyopuntias.
240. Opuntia chaffeyi Britton and Rose, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 16: 241. 1913.
Perennial by a large, fleshy, deep-seated root or rootstock often 35 em. long by 4 cm. in diam-
eter; stems normally annual, 5 to 15 cm. long, sometimes in cultivated specimens 25 cm. long, much
branched, often weak and prostrate; joints elongated, 3 to 5 cm. long, 6 to 7 mm. broad, slightly
Fic. 276.—Opuntia chaffeyi.
flattened, glabrous, pale bluish green or sometimes purplish; leaves minute, caducous; areoles small,
circular, with white wool in the lower parts and brown wool in the upper parts; spines 1, rarely 2 or
3, acicular, 2 to 3 cm: long, whitish or pale yellow; glochids numerous, pale yellow; flower-buds, in-
cluding ovary, 8 cm. long; flower opening at 10 a. m., closing at 2 p. m., 6 cm. broad; sepals few, small,
ovate to oblong, greenish; petals few, 7 to 9, pale lemon-yellow, but slightly pinkish on the outside;
filaments numerous, about 1 cm. long; style slender, extending beyond the stamens, about 22 mm.
long, somewhat swollen at base; ovary deeply umbilicate, somewhat club-shaped, 4 to 5 cm. long,
bearing flattened tubercles and large areoles filled with white wool; upper areoles on ovary bearing
also white bristly spines; ovules numerous, borne in the upper third of the ovary; fruit and seeds
still unknown.
Type locality: Hacienda de Cedros, near Mazapil, Zacatecas, Mexico.
Distribution: State of Zacatecas, Mexico.
Illustration: Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 16: pl. 72.
214 THE CACTACEAE.
Figure 275 is from a photograph of part of the original collection as grown by Dr. E.
Chaffey, taken and contributed by Sefior Don Teodoro Chairez, of Ciudad Lerdo, Mexico;
figure 276 is from a photograph of the type showing the large root and the young shoot.
As stated in the original description, this is a remarkable Opuntia, being the only one
known which has an annual stem. In cultivation, where the plant is grown under abnor-
mal conditions, the stem persists for more than a year; but Dr. Chaffey assures us that in the
desert, where the species grows naturally, the stem dies down to the ground in the dry
season. We have had it in cultivation since 1910, but it does not do well, and is gradually
dying out. It has not been found in flower in a wild state, but it flowered with Dr. Chaffey
at Ciudad Lerdo, Durango, Mexico,in 1915. Dr. Chaffey, who has been studying this spe-
cies for several years, has made a number of interesting observations; he states that the
large base, which usually is found 15 to 20 cm. beneath the surface of the ground, when
allowed to grow above the ground develops clusters of spines like those on the normal
stems, and finds that the plant is easily started from cuttings which soon develop the
normal, large, underground part. He further states that the desert turtle eats this plant.
Tt is well known that the Galapagos turtles feed upon the native opuntias of those islands.
The native name of this plant is sacacil.
The following described Opuntias we have been unable to refer to any of the species
otherwise mentioned in this work:
Opuntia bicolor Philippi, Linnaea 33: 83. 1864.
glaucophylla Wendland, Cat. Hort. Herrenh. 1835.
laevior Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1844. 46. 1845.
longiglochia C. Z. Nelson, Galesburg Register. July 20, 1915.
lucida Hortus, Wiener Illustr. Gartenz. 14: 146. 1889.
prostrata spinosior Schumann, Gesamtb. Kakteen 723. 1808.
spinaurea Karwinsky in Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1844. 46. 1845. As synonym for O.
pseudotuna elongata Salm-Dyck.
tuberculata Haworth, Suppl. Pl. Succ. 80. 1819, first described as Cactus tuberculatus (Enum.
Hort. Berol. Suppl. 34. 1813).
The following names of Opuntia are chiefly found in catalogues or in lists, or have
been so briefly described that we have not been able to identify them, and it does not seem
worth while even to cite the places where they first occur in literature:
Opuntia missouriensis elongata Salm-Dyck
erythrostemma WHaage and Schmidt
salmonea Haage end Schmidt
montana Sencke
morenot Schumann
myriacantha Link and Otto. Not Weber
ottonts Salm-Dyck
Opuntia alpicola Schumann
americana Forbes
attulica Forbes
barbata K. Brandegee
barbata gracillima K. Brandegee
bernhardinii Hildmann
betancourt Murillo
calacantha
calacantha rubra
carolina Forbes
ciliosa Forbes
consoleana Todaro
consolei Haage and Schmidt
demorenia Forbes
demoriana Forster
deppei Wendland
dichotoma Forbes
eborina Forster
erecta Schumann
festiva Sencke
jicus-indica albispina Haage and Schmidt
flavispina Forster
hevernickii Hildmann
hitchenizt Forbes
italica Tenore
joconostle Haage and Schmidt
jussieuii Haage
leucostata Forbes
macrophylla Haage and Schmidt
pachyarthra flava Haage and Schmidt
pachyclada rosea Haage and Schmidt
spaethiana Haage and Schmidt
parote Forbes
piccolomini Hort.
platyclada Haworth
praecox Forbes
protracta Lemaire
elongata Salm-Dyck
pseudococcinellifer Bertoloni
pseudotuna Salm-Dyck
elongata Salm-Dyck
spinosior Salm-Dyck
pulverata Forster
reptans Karwinsky
salmii Forbes
schomburgkii Salm-Dyck
speciosa Steudel
spinulifiora Salm-Dyck
spinulosa Salm-Dyck
straminea Sencke
siricta spinulescens Salm-Dyck
subinermis Link
OPUNTIA. 215
Opuntia clavata Philippi (Anal. Univ. Chile 41: 722. 1872), O. ottonis G. Don (Hist.
Dichl. Pl. 3: 172. 1834), O. phyllanthus Miller (Gard. Dict. ed. 8. No. 9. 1768), O. salicor-
nioides Sprengel (Pfeiffer, Enum. Cact. 141. 1837), and O. spiniflora Philippi (Linnaea
30: 211. 1859) are of the tribe Cereeae.
7. GRUSONIA F. Reichenbach in Schumann, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 6: 177. 1896.
A low, much branched cactus, the branches terete, jointed, and ribbed; areoles borne on the
tops of the ribs, very spiny, but all except the flowering ones without glochids, subtended by small
deciduous leaves; corolla rotate, yellow; fruit baccate.
This was first described as a Cereus from specimens collected by Mrs. Anna B. Nickels
in 1895, then as a new genus Grusonia, and lastly as an Opuntia. It clearly is not Cereus,
but when growing might easily be mistaken by its habit for Echinocereus. ‘The leaves,
glochids, flowers, and fruit are those of Opuntia, but its ribbed stem is unlike that of any
known species of that genus.
1. Grusonia bradtiana (Coulter).
Cereus bradtianus Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 406. 1896 (April).
Grusonia cereiformis F. Reichenbach in Schumann, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 6:177. 1896 (December).
Opuntia bradtiana K. Brandegee, Erythea 5: 121. 1897.
Opuntia cereiformis Weber, Dict. Hort. Bois 897. 1898.
Forming dense, often impenetrable thickets 2 meters high or less, very spiny; stems light green,
4 to 7 cm. thick, with 8 to 10 low, longitudinal, somewhat tuberculate ribs; areoles 1 to 1.5 cm. apart,
3 to 5 mm. in diameter; leaves linear, fleshy, green, 8 mm. long, early deciduous; spines 15 to 25,
yellowish brown when young, soon becoming white, acicular, terete or slightly compressed, 1 to 3
cm. long, not sheathed, some of the longer ones reflexed; wool white, turning brown, early disappear-
ing; corolla rotate, opening in bright sunlight, 3 to 4 cm. broad; sepals ovate, acute, fleshy; petals
bright yellow, spatulate, fringed; filaments brownish yellow; stigma-lobes 8, yellow; areoles of the
ovary with long, yellow, weak spines, white wool, and yellow glochids; berry (according to Schu-
mann) ellipsoid, deeply umbilicate; seeds not seen.
Type locality: Plains of Coahuila, Mexico.
Distribution: Coahuila, Mexico.
This species first appeared in print in the catalogue of Johannes Nicolai under the name
of Grusonia cereiformis, but we are informed that there was no description and therefore it
was not technically published. The same name next appears in the Monatsschrift fiir
Kakteenkunde for 1894. Here Dr.Schumann wrote a long article about the name, especially
condemning the loose manner in vogue of publishing new names without descriptions, but
giving no characters of the plant, and as a matter of fact he did not then know it. Two
months later this name again appears in this same publication, but without description.
Two years later Dr. Schumann records seeing this plant and describes it briefly, although he
does not approve of the name Grusonia. If the name is to be considered published, it should
not date earlier than this (December 1896), although Dalla Torre and Harms accept the .
date of 1894. In 1898 Weber transferred the name to Opuntia, publishing it as Opuntia
cereiformis; in the meantime Coulter (in 1896) published the name Cereus bradtianus
for the plant and Mrs. Brandegee (in 1897) transferred it to Opuntia, calling it Opuntia
bradtiana.
Illustrations: Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 21: 121, as Opuntia bradtiana; Schumann,
Gesamtb. Kakteen f. 101, as Opuntia ceretformis.
Plate xxxull, figure 4, represents a joint of the plant collected by C. A. Panpils at
Cerro de Cypriano, near Morano, Mexico, in 1910.
APPENDIX.
3a. Nopalea gaumeri sp. nov. (See page 37, amie.)
About 3 meters high, much branched; joints small, linear-oblong or oblong-oblanceolate, 6 to
12 cm. long, 2 to 3 cm. broad, rather thin; areoles small, 1 to 2 cm. apart; spines very unequal, 5
to 20 mm. long, acicular, 4 to 12, yellowish when young; flower small, including ovary and stamens
about 4 cm. long; sepals ovate, acute; petals oblong, 12 mm. long; stamens long-exserted; style
longer than the stamens; stigma-lobes 6, greenish; fruit red, darker within, obovoid, 3 cm. long, its
numerous areoles bearing spines and yellow glochids; umbilicus prominent, 1 cm. deep; seeds about
4 mm. broad, with a very narrow margin and a very thin testa.
~~ + 3S ii Rg
UCC ee LU AUG WAG He la. lu PIS
are a a
Fics. 277 and 278.— Nopalea gaumeri. Xo.8.
Collected by George F. Gaumer and sons near Sisal, Yucatan, March 1916 (No. 23250,
type); also by Dr. Gaumer from Port Silam, 1895 (No. 647).
Dr. Gaumer’s field note is as follows: “A coastal cactus, 10 feet high, much branched,
small-jointed and of slight build, not of robust build like the interior species. It blooms from
February to June. ‘The birds are very fond of the fruit and consume it as fast as it ripens.”’
Figures 277 and 278 show joints of the type-specimen.
77 a. Opuntia depauperata sp.nov. (See page rot, ante.)
Plant 1 to 2 dm. high, with a flattened, much
branched top; joints dark green, readily detached,
terete or slightly flattened, 3 to 12 cm. long, 2 to 3
em. thick, puberulent; spines on young joints 2 or 3,
on old joints sometimes 6 at each areole, reddish to
pale brown, acicular, 1 to 2.5 cm. long, nearly porrect;
glochids tardily developing, conspicuous on old joints,
yellow; ovary with a deep umbilicus.
Collected by Dr. and Mrs. J. N. Rose north of
the station of Zig Zag, along the railroad above
Caracas, Venezuela, October 17, 1916 (No. 21751).
This little cactus is very inconspicuous and
only a few specimens were observed. ‘The station
is near the top of the mountains which separate
the valley, in which Caracas lies, from the sea.
The region here is not so dry asit is farther down on
the seaward side of the mountains, but there are
several other species of cacti associated with it.
Figure 279 is from a photograph of type plant
taken by Mrs. Rose; figure 280 shows a joint.
A plant, apparently of this relationship, was collected by Dr. H. H. Rusby in 1917 on
granite rocks, narrows of Magdalena River, Colombia. The joints, however, are glabrous,
only 2 to 3 cm. long, the young joints have numerous brown spines and the young areoles
produce long white wool.
216
APPENDIX. 217
82a. Opuntia pestifer nom. nov. (See page 103, ante.)
Cactus nanus Humboldt, Bonpland, and Kunth, Nov. Gen. et Sp. 6:68. 1823.
Cereus nanus De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 470. 1828.
Low and nearly prostrate but sometimes 2 dm. high, much branched; the
joints very fragile, glabrous; young joints 2 to 5 cm. long, or when old up to
8 cm. long, nearly terete, 1 to 3 cm. in diameter, or when young flattened and
2 to 3 cm. broad, very spiny; spines 2 to 5 at each areole, acicular, brownish,
1 to 3 cm. long; glochids numerous, yellow; flowers and fruit unknown.
Type locality: Near Sondorello and Guancabamba. In Humboldt’s
time these places were in southern Ecuador, but they are now in
northern Peru.
Distribution: Northern Peru to central Ecuador.
Dr. Rose observed the plant in various places in Ecuador, usually
at an altitude ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 meters. The following col-
lections were made: at Huigra (No. 22306); at Sibambe (No. 22433);
and west of San Pedro, Province of Loja (No. 23352).
This plant, although widely distributed and very common, has See SUS ae
never been seen by botanists in flower or fruit. The joints, which
come loose easily, are freely distributed by animals. It is so small that, growing half-
hidden in the grass, it is easily overlooked but very annoying when one comes upon it
unawares. Humboldt speaks of its being troublesome to men and dogs.
Fic. 281.—Opuntia pestifer. Xo.5.
Kunth who described it as Cactus nanus referred it with hesitancy to the Section Cereus.
De Candolle transferred it from Cactus to Cereus placing it in a new subgenus Opuntiacei
along with C. moniliformis (which we know now is an Opuntia) and C. serpens. He
thought these might represent a genus between Opuntia and Cereus.
Schumann (Gesamtb. Kakteen 166) considered it an Opuntia but did not formally
refer it to that genus.
This name should not be confused with Opuntia nana (Fl. Damatica 3: 143. 1852)
which is Opuntia opuntia.
Figure 281 is from a photograph taken by George Rose at Sibambe, Ecuador, in 1918;
figure 283 shows the joints of the same plant (Rose, No. 22433.)
218 THE CACTACEAE.
96 a.. Opuntia discolor sp. nov. (See page 109, ante.)
A low plant, forming small dense clumps; joints slender, 4 to 12 cm. long, 1.5 to 2.5 cm. in
diameter, turgid, glabrous, dark green with dark purple blotches extending downward from the
under margin of the areoles; spines 1 to 6, acicular, nearly porrect, somewhat variegated but mostly
brown, 3 cm. long or less; glochids tardily developing but conspicuous on old branches, dark brown;
flowers light yellow to orange-yellow, only 3 em. long including the ovary; filaments white; style and
stigma-lobes nearly white; fruit evidently very small, bright red.
Fic. 282.—Opuntia discolor.
This species is represented by two collections made by Dr. J. A. Shafer in 1917 which
slightly differ from each other. They are No. 111, from sandy thickets, Santiago del
Estaro, Argentina, February 23 (type), and No.
95, from gravelly hills near Tapia, Tucuman,
February 9.
Apparently common in dry sandy thickets,
growing best under bushes where it is least dis-
turbed. The joints easily become detached,
sticking readily to any disturbing object.
The species differs from Opuntia retrorsa in its
more nearly terete joints and spreading spines.
Figure 282 is from a photograph of the type
plant; figure 284 represents a joint of the plant
from near Tapia, Tucuman.
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101 a. Opuntia guatemalensis sp. nov. (See page Fic. 283.—Opuntia
113, ante.) pestifer. Xo. 5. Fic. 284.—Opuntia discolor.
Low, spreading plant, resembling O. decumbens, but joints glabrous and shining; joints deep
green, sometimes with dark blotches below the areoles; areoles small, filled with brown wool, sub-
tended by small leaves; spines 1 to 3 at the areoles, terete, acicular, shining white with blackish tips
when young, soon gray, mostly deflexed, somewhat spreading; flower-buds reddish; flowers much
smaller than those of O. decumbens; petals lemon-yellow, 2.5 cm. long; stigma-lobes cream-colored.
Collected by Dr. Glover B. Wilcox in 1909 while acting as surgeon on a ship plying
between Guatemala and San Francisco. Living specimens were sent directly to Washing-
ton and flowered there in April 1915.
Figure 285 represents a joint of the type specimen.
APPENDIX. 219
102 a. Opuntia pennellii sp. nov. (See page 115, ante.)
Plant low; joints 1 to 1.5 cm. long, obovate, turgid, bright green; spines 1 or 2 at each areole,
nearly porrect, subulate, 3.5 cm. long or less, white with dark tips; glochids not very conspicuous,
yellowish.
Collected near Magangue, coastal plain of Colombia, Department of Bolivar, at
about roo meters altitude, by Francis W. Pennell in 1918.
Figure 286 shows a joint of the type plant.
Here may belong herbarium specimens which we have seen from northern Colombia
but with the material at hand it is impossible to determine them definitely. One of these
was collected by William R. Maxon, April 10, 1906 (No. 3849) at Puerto Colombia. This
plant is described as consisting of 3 to 6 joints, branching at the third or fourth joint, the
joints all being in one place. The flowers are yellow and small, only about 4 cm. long,
including the ovary. Another was collected by H. H. Smith near Bonda in 1898-1899
(No. 2728); this has joints very similar to those of Dr. Pennell’s plant. It is said to be
from 2 to 4 feet high.
Fic. 285.— Opuntia guatemalensis. Fic. 286.—Opuntia pennellii. Fic. 287.—Opuntia caracasana.
X0.33- 0.5. Xo.5.
103 a. Opuntia caracasana Salm-Dyck, Cact. Hort. Dyck. 1849. 238. 1850. (See page 116, ante.)
Stems low, bushy, 4 to 12 dm. high; joints oblong, 10 to 12.5 cm. long, turgid, pale green,
“leaves squamiform, minute’; spines 2 to 4, unequal, 2.5 to 4 cm. long or less, pale yellow; flowers
and fruit unknown.
Type locality: Near Caracas, Venezuela.
Distribution: Mountains about Caracas, Venezuela.
The type specimens were collected near Caracas by E. Otto, prior to 1849. Dr. Rose
found the plant abundant above Caracas in 1916. It usually grows on exposed hillsides
near the top of the divide which separates Caracas from the coast, and it was especially
common along the railroad just below the little station of Zig Zag. Several other cacti
are to be found in this neighborhood, among which are O. elatior and O. depauperata.
Figure 287 shows a joint of the plant collected by Dr. Rose above Caracas in 1916.
104 a. Opuntia aequatorialis sp. nov. (See page 116, ante.)
Bushy, much branched; 1 to 1.5 meters high; the branches spreading or recurved; joints nar-
rowly oblong to obovate, 1.5 to 2 dm. long, 3 to 8 cm. broad, easily becoming detached; spines pale
yellow, at first only 2 to 4 but more in age, subulate, 2.5 to 6 cm. long; flower-buds ovoid, acute, red;
petals few, 8 to 10, orange-red, spatulate; filaments and style red; stigma-lobes cream-colored.
ory
THE CACTACEAE.
iS)
is)
fe)
Collected in thickets on dry hills near Sibambe, Province of Chimborazo, Ecuador,
by J. N. Rose and George Rose, August 29, 1918 (No. 22432).
The locality at which this species is
found is semiarid and a number of other
cacti are associated with it, among which
is the little O. pestifer, described on a
preceding page. O. aequatorialis was not
so common as some of the other species
and wasusually found growing up through
open-branched bushes and was in this
way more or less protected.
Figure 288 is from a photograph of
the type plant taken by George Rose;
figure 289 shows one of its joints.
116 a. Opuntia lata Small, Journ. N. Y. Bot.
Gard. 20:26. 1919. (See page
126, ante.)
Plant prostrate, often radially branched,
sometimes forming mats nearly a meter in
width, the tip of the branches sometimes
assurgent, with elongate cord-like roots;
joints elliptic to narrowly obovate, often
narrowly so, thick, 4 to 15 cm. long, deep
green, sometimes glaucous, especially when
young; leaves subulate, 6 to 11 mm. long,
green or purple-tinged; areoles scattered,
often conspicuous, sometimes very promi-
nent and densely bristly, the marginal ones,
at least, armed; spines slender, solitary or 2
together, pink, turning red or red-banded,
at maturity gray or nearly white, nearly
(yg lll
(ee
Hus yg
c
[a ; : MS
Fics. 292 and 293:— ~
ae Opuntia macateei-.
Fic. 289.—O. aequatorialis. Xo.4. Fics. 290 and 291.—O. lata. Xo.4. Xo.4.
APPENDIX. 221
terete, slightly spirally twisted; flowers usually several on a joint, conspicuous; sepals subulate to
lanceolate, acute; corolla yellow, 7 to 9 cm. wide; petals numerous, the inner ones broadly obovate
to flabellate, erose at the broad minutely mucronate apex; berries clavate, 5 to 6.5 cm. long,
red or reddish purple, many-seeded; seeds about 5 mm. in diameter.
Type locality: Twelve miles west of Gainesville, Florida.
Distribution: Pinelands, northern peninsular Florida.
It was first observed by Dr. Small near Gainesville, Florida, in 1917, and plants were
taken to Mr. Charles Deering’s cactus garden at Buena Vista, Miami, where it has grown
luxuriantly, flowering and fruiting freely alongside of O. pollardii which it resembles in
habit, but differs from in its long clavate berries and more numerous petals.
Figure 290 shows joints of the plant; figure 291 shows its fruit.
127 a. Opuntia macateei sp. nov. (See page 133, ante.)
Small prostrate plant; joints 2.5 to 6 cm. long, orbicular to obovate, glabrous, dull green, in
age somewhat tuberculate; leaves linear, 10 mm. long or less, green; spines 1 to 3, brownish, the
longer ones up to 2.5 em. long; flowers, including the ovary, 8 to 10 cm. long, 7 to 8 cm. broad,
yellow with a red center; ovary subcylindric, 5 to 6 cm. long, bearing conspicuous leaves, some-
times 12 mm. long.
Differs from related species by its small joints and slender, elongated, leafy ovaries.
Collected by W. L. MacAtee at Rockport, Texas, December 28, 1910 (No. 1992).
Figures 292 and 293 represent the joints and flower of the plant.
159 a. Opuntia soederstromiana sp. nov.
(See page 154, ante.)
Sometimes spreading and bushy,
but usually erect, 6 to 10 dm. high, very
spiny; joints obovate, 2 to 4 dm. long,
bright green when young, or sometimes
slightly glaucous, grayish green in age;
leaves subulate, small, reddish at top;
spines at first 2 to 5, but in age ro or
more, when young reddish or pinkish
at base and paler above, soon gray
throughout, unequal, subulate, 4 cm.
long or less; flowers at first yellow but
soon orange to brick-red, rather large, 5
to 6 cm. long; petals few, about 10, ob-
long, retuse; filaments and style red-
dish; stigma-lobes pale green; fruit
obovate to oblong, 4 to 5 cm. long,
usually spiny, red, juicy, with a de-
pressed umbilicus.
Collected at San Antonio, Prov-
ince of Quito, Ecuador, by J. N.
Rose and George Rose, October 29,
1918 (No. 23559).
This plant was first collected
for us by Ludovic Séderstrom of
Quito, at the request of the Presi- = i 5 ie 5
dent of the Central and South Amer- Fic. 294.— Opuntia soederstromiana.
ican Cable Company. Although
great care was taken in shipping the plants they all died in transit. In 1918 Dr. Rose
visited Mr. Sdderstrom’s locality and collected herbarium, living, and formalin material
which has enabled us to describe the plant fully. The illustration here used was made
at the same time.
Figure 294 is from. a photograph of the type plant taken by George Rose.
B22 THE CACTACEAE.
161 a. Opuntia zebrina Small, Journ. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 20:35. 1919. (See page 155, ante.)
Plant erect, more or less branched throughout, fully 1 meter tall or less, the roots fibrous,
joints oval or obovate, thickish, mostly 1 to 2 dm. long, deep green, sometimes obscurely glau-
cous; leaves ovoid, 2 to 3 mm. long, bright green; areloes scattered, some of them, usually the lower
ones, unarmed, the upper ones irregularly armed; spines slender, solitary or 2, 3, or 4, together,
red-brown, finely banded, nearly terete, closely spirally twisted; flowers few on a joint, or soli-
tary; sepals deltoid to deltoid-reniform or nearly reniform; corolla yellow, rotate, 6 to 7 cm. wide;
petals rather numerous, the inner ones broadly obovate, undulate, minutely mucronate or notched
at the apex; berries obovoid, not constricted at the base, 3.5 to 4.5 cm. long, red-purple; seeds
many, 6 to 7 mm. in diameter.
Fic. 295.—Opuntia zebrina.
Type locality: Middle Cape Sable, Florida.
Distribution: Coastal sand-dunes, Cape Sable, Florida, and the lower
Florida Keys.
The plant was first discovered by Dr. Britton on Boot Key, Florida,
in 1909, and this is the most northern locality yet known for it. The spe-
cies is interesting not only from its strikingly banded spines but also as
being the only known member of the series Elatiores growing wild within
the United States. In habit it resembles O. dillenti, and on Key West the
two species were observed growing close together.
Illustration: Journ. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 20: pl. 226.
Figure 295 is from a photograph of the plant on Cape Sable, Florida, in cultivation at
Buena Vista, Miami, Florida; figure 296 shows a fruit collected by Dr. Rose on Key West,
Florida, in 1918.
Fic. 296.—Fruit of
O. zebrina. Xo.5.—
173 a. Opuntia keyensis Britton in Small, Journ. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 20: 31. 1919. (See p. 162, ante.)
Plant erect, much branched, sometimes forming clumps 3 meters tall, with long fibrous roots;
joints elliptic, oval, obovate, or spatulate, thick, 1 to 3 dm. long, bright green; leaves ovoid, 2 to 3
mm. long, green; areoles rather conspicuous, often relatively large and prominent, apparently
unarmed; spines stout, 4 to 13 together, very short, mostly hidden in the bristles; at first pink,
at maturity salmon-colored, slightly flattened; flowers solitary or 2 or 3 on a joint; sepals deltoid
to subreniform, acute or acutish; corolla salmon-colored, cup-like, or short-campanulate, 3 to 3.5 cm.
wide; petals rather few, thinner ones broadly obovate or orbicular-obovate, undulate, scarcely, if
at all, mucronate; berries obovoid, 4 to 6 cm. long, purple; seeds numerous.
APPENDIX. 228
Fic. 297.— Opuntia keyensis.
Type locality: Boot Key, Florida.
Distribution: Hammocks, Florida Keys and Cape
Sable.
Opuntia keyensis was first collected by Dr. Britton in
1909 on Boot Key, Florida. Plants brought subsequently
by Dr. Small from the Keys to Buena Vista, Miami, and
there observed by him under cultivation show the spe-
cies to be distinct from either O. dilleni or O. stricta,
with both of which it has been associated.
Illustration: Journ. N. Y. Bot. Gard. 20: pl. 225.
Figure 297 is from a photograph of the plant in
cultivation at Buena Vista, Miami, Florida; figures 298
and 299 show its flowers, collected by Dr. Small on Key
Largo, Florida, in 1909. See also plate xxx, figure 1.
wlll
\
183)a-) Opuntia) bonplandiiy (FIBKe) aWeberg: Dict Hontagagucn 4 anea2 sign neds Puna
Bois 894. 1898. (See page 168, ante.) aay re
Cactus bonplandit Humboldt, Bonpland, and Kunth, Nov. Gen. et Sp. 6:69. 1823.
Plants tall, 2 to 4 meters high, open-branching; joints ovate to obovate, 2 to 3 dm. long, dull
green; spines at first 2 to 7, pale yellow, acicular, 1 to 1.5 cm. long but soon falling off; flowers orange-
colored, about 6 cm. long and nearly as broad when fully expanded; petals obtuse; stamens short.
Type locality: Cuenca, Ecuador.
Distribution: Ecuador.
This species was collected by Humboldt and Bonpland at Cuenca, Ecuador, and
was first described as Cactus (Opuntia) bonplandii. Apparently the type was not pre-
224 THE CACTACEAE.
served as Dr. Rose did not find it either at Berlin or Paris in 1912. Schumann mentions
it only in a note under O. quitensis following Weber who associates the two. Dr. Rose,
while in Ecuador in 1918, spent about a week at Cuenca collecting plants in all direc-
tions from the town. The only Opuntia in this whole region is the one above described
which grows in hedges and along the roadsides. It may be an introduced species which
has escaped from gardens but we know nothing in cultivation just like it. It resembles
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Fic. 300.—Opuntia bonplandii. Xo.5-.
somewhat the Nopal de Castilla, so common in Mexico and the southwestern states
Humboldt compared it with the tuna de Espana which may be the same. Bonpland
seems to have called his plant Cactus coccinellifer which it very much resembles in the
shape of the joints and in being spineless in age. If we are right in our interpretation
of this species it has no close alliance with O. quitensis which Dr. Rose collected also;
it has very small flowers with erect petals which are not readily affected by the sun as
are those of O. bonplandiz and most of the other species.
Fic. 301.— Opuntia dobbieana.
APPENDIX. 225
Figure 300 shows a joint collected by Dr. Rose at Cuenca, Ecuador, in 1918.
207 a. Opuntia dobbieana sp. nov. (See page 187, ante.)
Usually low and bushy, forming dense thickets, but sometimes tall and then 3 to 4 meters high;
joints orbicular to short-oblong or obovate, 1 to 2.5 dm. long, pale green in color, very spiny; leaves
minute, 1 to 2 mm. long, green, spreading; areoles small, closely set; spines white, 5 to 12, usually
acicular but on old joints subulate, 1 to 3 dm. long, accompanied by 2 to 4 reflexed hairs from the
lower side of the areole; flower, including ovary, 5 to 6 cm. long; petals chocolate-colored, oblong, 2
cm. long; filaments and style pinkish; stigma-lobes dull green; overy strongly tubercled, leafy, very
spiny, especially towards the top; fruit juicy, red, at first spiny, 3 to 5 cm. long.
Common in dry places from Huigra to Sibambe, Province of Chimborazo, Ecuador.
Collected by J. N. Rose and George Rose, August to November 1918, at Huigra (No.
22201, type); at Sibambe, August 29 (No. 22434).
This species, on account of its white spines, is referred to the Streptacanthae, although
it usually is more bushy than these species generally are. So far as we could learn, the
fruit is not used by the Ecuadoreans; the plant was never seen cultivated, and there is
every reason to believe it is native to Ecuador.
The species is named for John Dobbie, general manager of the Guayaquil and Quito
Railway, whose courtesies and assistance added greatly to the success of Dr. Rose’s visit
to Ecuador in 1918.
Figures 301 and 302 (the latter at the bottom of this page) are from photographs of
the type plant, taken by George Rose.
BRITTON AND ROSE PLATE XXVIII
tnd DEE e ee tiee pe
M. E. Haton del.
1. Flowering joint of Opuntia laevis. 2. Flowering joint of Opuntia dillenit.
3. Upper part of flowering joint of Opuntia aciculata. (All natural size.)
hls
e
ss
ica ae:
: i a eran ie
OPUNTIA. 161
Figure 199 is from a photograph of a plant with narrow joints, in McCleary’s Canyon,
Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona, taken by Dr. MacDougal; figure 200 represents a joint of
a plant from the collection made by Professor J. W. Toumey at Tucson, Arizona, obtained
by Dr. MacDougal in 1902.
OPUNTIA PALMERI Engelmann in Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3:.423. 1896.
This plant has not been again collected and is still a doubtful species; it came from St.
George, southwestern Utah. In 1909 E. W. Nelson made a collection for us in this region,
but the only shrubby, juicy-fruited species which he collected has brown spines and brown
glochids, which would seem to exclude it from O. palmeri. It is not at all unlikely that
O. palmeri should be referred to O. chlorotica, a widely dispersed species, but of which we
have not seen any specimens from Utah.
172. Opuntia laevis Coulter, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 3: 419. 1896.
Loosely few-branched, 1 to 2 meters high, but in cultivation often forming a low, dense bush;
joints obovate to oblong, 1.5 to 3 dm. long, light green, often spineless but usually with a few (1 to 3)
short spines 1 cm. long or less at the areoles of the upper part of the joint; areoles rather distant,
small; flower large, 6 to 7 cm. broad; petals lemon-yellow, sometimes tinged with red, broad, and
obtuse or retuse; filaments and style short, pale yellow; stigma-lobes green; ovary turbinate, more
or less tuberculate, at first leafy, often bristly at top; fruit obovoid, 5 to 7 cm. long; seeds 4 to 5 mm.
broad.
Type locality: In Arizona.
Distribution: In the mountains about Tucson, Arizona.
Referred by Professor Schumann to O. inermis (O. stricta), but it is not that species.
Illustrations: Ariz. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 67: pl. 8, f. 1; N. Mex. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull.
72: pl. 1; Plant World 111°: f. 5.
Plate xxvull, figure 1, represents a flowering joint of a plant brought by Dr. Mac-
Dougal from Tucson, Arizona, in 1902, to the New York Botanical Garden.
173. Opuntia stricta Haworth, Syn. Pl. Suce. r91. 1812.
Cactus opuntia inermis De Candolle, Pl. Succ. Hist. 2: pl. 138 [C]. 1799.*
Cactus strictus Haworth, Misc. Nat. 188. 1803.
Opuntia inermis De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 473. 1828.
Opuntia airampo Philippi, Anal. Univ. Chile 85: 492. 1894.
Opuntia parva Berger, Hort. Mortol. 411. 1912.
Opuntia bentoni Griffiths, Rep. Mo. Bot. Gard. 22: 25. 1912.
Opuntia longiclada Griffiths, Bull. Torr. Club 43: 525. 1916 (according to description and illustration),
Bushy, low, spreading plants, sometimes forming large clumps, seldom over 8 dm. high; joints
obovate to oblong, usually 8 to 15 cm. long, but sometimes much elongated and then 30 cm. long
or more, green or bluish green, glabrous, often spineless especially in greenhouse specimens, some-
times but a spine or two on a joint, at other times spines more abundant; leaves stout, subulate,
3 to 4 mm. long; areoles distant, the wool brownish, the glochids short; spines, when present, usually
I or 2 from an areole, stiff, terete, yellow, 1 to 4 cm. long; flowers 6 to 7 cm. long; petals yellow,
broad, obtuse, apiculate; filaments yellow to greenish; style usually white; stigma-lobes usually
white but sometimes greenish; fruit purple, usually broadest at top, tapering to a slender base,
4 to 6 cm. long, with a more or less depressed umbilicus.
Type locality: Not given.
Distribution: Western Cuba; Florida to southern Texas.
Opuntia vulgaris balearica Weber (Dict. Hort. Bois 894. 1898) is given by Weber as
a synonym of O. inermis; Opuntia balearica Weber (Hirscht, Monatsschr. Kakteenk. 8:
175. 1898) has also been used, but not described, and Hirscht says it belongs here.
This species is often cultivated on the west coast of South America. It was there
given the name O. airampo by Dr. Philippi, who supposed it to be the airampo of the Peru-
vians, a native species, quite different from this one.
This species is the pest pear of New South Wales and Queensland. It has now run
wild over thousands of acres of the best agricultural and grazing land of the interior of
*Berger (flort. Mortol. 4rr. 1912) gives the date 1797.
162 THE CACTACEAE.
Australia. J. H. Maiden says: “The growth of this Opuntia is one of the wonders of the
world, and the spread of few plants in any country can be compared with it.”
Illustrations: Dept. Agr. N. S. W. Misc. Publ. 253: pl. [5]; Gard. Chron. III. 34: f. 32;
Gartenflora 31: pl. 1082, f. d, e, f; De Candolle, Pl. Succ. Hist. 2: pl. 138 [C]; De Tussac, FI.
Antill. 2: pl. 34, the last two as Cactus opuntia inermis; Agr. Gaz. N.S. W. 23: pl. opp. 713;
pl. opp. 714; pl. opp. 716; Blithende Kakteen 2: pl. 108, all these as Opuntia imermis.
Plate xxvul, figure 4, represents a flowering joint of the plant collected by Dr. Brit-
ton and John F. Cowell on limestone rocks near Pinar del Rio, Cuba, in rg1t.
173a. Opuntia keyensis Britton. (See Appendix, p. 222.)
174. Opuntia dillenii (Ker-Gawler) Haworth, Suppl. PI. Suce. 79. 1819.
Cactus dillenii Ker-Gawler, Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 3: pl. 255. 1818.
Opuntia horrida Salm-Dyck in De Candolle, Prodr. 3: 472. 1828.
Opuntia maritima Rafinesque, Atl. Journ. 146. 1832.
Opuntia tunoidea Gibbes, Proc. Elliott Soc. Nat. Hist. 1: 272. 1859.
Fic. 201.—Opuntia dillenii, Antigua, West Indies.
Low, spreading bushes growing in broad clumps and often forming dense thickets, or tall and
much branched, 2 to 3 meters high, sometimes with definite terete trunks; joints obovate to oblong,
7 to 40 cm. long, the margin more or less undulate, bluish green, somewhat glaucous, but bright
green when young, the areoles somewhat elevated; leaves subulate, curved backward, 5 mm. long;
areoles often large, filled with short brown or white wool when young, usually few and remote, on
old joints ro to 12 mm. in diameter; spines often 10 from an areole on first-year joints, very variable,
usually more or less flattened and curved, sometimes terete and straight, yellow, more or less brown-
banded, or mottled, often brownish in age, sometimes 7 cm. long, but usually shorter, sometimes few
or none; glochids numerous, yellow; wool in areoles short, sometimes brown, sometimes white;
flowers in the typical form lemon-yellow, in some forms red from the first, 7 to 8 cm. long; petals
broadly obovate, 4 to 5 cm. long; filaments greenish yellow; style thick, white; stigma-lobes white;
fruit pear-shaped to subglobose, narrowed at base, 5 to 7.5 cm. long, purplish, spineless, juicy.
Type locality: Based on_Dillenius’s illustration.
Distribution: Coasts of South Carolina, Florida, Bermuda, the West Indies, east coast
of Mexico, and northern South America; extending inland in Cuba.
INDEX.
(Pages of principal entries in heavy-face type.)
Aaron’s beard, 175
Agave, 117
Ahoplocarpus, 11
Airampo, 161
Alfilerillo, 26
Ammophilae, 45, 211
Apple, 9
Aurantiacae, 45, 74, 106
Ayrampo, 135
Barbados gooseberry, 10
Basilares, 45, 118, 193
Beaucarnea, 117
Beaver-tail, 120
Bigelovianae, 44, 58
Blade apple, 10
Brasilienses, 45, 209
Brasiliopuntia, 209
Bullsucker, 43, 116
Cactaceae, 3, 8
Cactales, 8
Cacti, 5, 6, 7, 9, 28, 33, 39, 42, 49, 66, 67, 80, 87, 94, 95,
III, 126, 137, 151, 216, 219, 220
Cactodendron, 42, 43
Cactus, 5, 6, 8, 9, 23, 30, 32, 34, 35, 43, 49, 87, 88, 93,
107, 113, 114, 116, 120, 121, 146, 164, 177, 186,
207, 210, 215, 216, 217, 221
Cactus, arboreus, 209, 210
aurantiacus, 107
bleo, 17, 63
bonplandii, 223
bradypus, 121
brasiliensis, 209
californicus, 58
chinensis, 156, 157
coccinellifer, 179, 224
cochenillifer, 34, 35, 173
compressus, 127
corrugatus, 95
curassavicus, 102
cylindricus, 63, 77
decumanus, 180
dillenii, 162, 163
eburneus, 95
elatior, 153
elongatus, 179
ferox, 199, 200, 206
ficus-indica, 177
fimbriatus, 13
foliosus, 105
fragilis, 193
frutescens, 27
heterocladus, 210
horridus, 21
humifusus, 127
humilis, 113
indicus, 156
lanceolatus, 179
linkii, 121
lucidus, 10
mamunillaris, 4
microdasys, 120, 121
monocanthos, 156
Cactus—continued.
moniliformis, 206, 207
nanus, 217
nigricans, 153
opuntia, 43,°115, 127, 128, 129, 163, 177
opuntia inermis, 161, 162
opuntia nana, 127, 128
opuntia polyanthos, 115
opuntia tuna, 157
opuntiaeflorus, 27
ottonis, 121
ovoides, 95
paradoxus, 209
pentlandii, 98
pereskia, 9, 10, 11
polyanthos, 113, 115
portulacifolius, 23
pseudococcinellifer, 153
pusillus, 105
rosa, 19, 20
rotundifolia, 27
salmianus, 74
sericeus, 134.
spinosissimus, 204
strictus, 161
subinermis, 34
subquadrifolius, 65
sulphureus, 134
tomentosus, 173
triacanthos, 112
tuberculatus, 214
tuna, 113, 114, 163 -
tuna elatior, 153
tuna nigricans, 153
tunicatus, 65
urumbeba, 156, 157
urumbella, 157
zinniaeflora, 21
Camuessa, 191
Cane cactus, 43
Cephalocereus, 116
Cereeae, 8, 24, 215
Cereus, 58, 75, 151, 215, 217
articulatus, 89
bradtianus, 215
californicus, 58
chiloensis, 79
clavarioides, 73
cylindricus, 77
imbricatus, 63
moniliformis, 206, 217
nanus, 217
ovatus, 91
paradoxus, 209
sericeus, 73
serpens, 217
syringacanthus, 89
tunicatus, 66
Chaetophorae, 174
Chaffeyanae, 45, 213
Cholla, 43, 61
Clavarioides, 44, 72
228 THE CACTACEAE.
Clavatae, 44, 79, 84
Cola de diablo, 26
Consolea, 42, 43, 202
catacantha, 208
ferox, 206
leucacantha, 175
rubescens, 43, 208
spinosissima, 204
Corotilla, 96
Cow’s tongue, 164
Criniferae, 140, 176
Cruciformes, 208
Cuija, 149
Curassavicae, 45, 102, 104, 106, 193
Cylindropuntia, 32, 44, 45, 46, 71, 75, 79, 84, 100, 142
Dildoes, 105
Dillenianae, 45, 159, 169
Durasnilla, 175
Echinocactus, 117
Echinocarpae, 44, 56
Echinocereus, 79, 215
Elatae, 45, 152, 156
Elatiores, 45, 149, 152, 155, 156, 222
Epiphyllum, 9
gaillardae, 6
Erythrina, 181
Espina, 76
Espina blanca, 41
Espinha de Sao Antonio, 19
Etuberculatae, 72, 73
Eupereskia, 10
Ficindica, 42, 43
Ficus-indicae, 45, 156, 166, 177, 191
Floccosae, 44, 86
Flor de Céra, 19
Frutescentes, 73
Fulgidae, 44, 67
Fulvispinosae, 148
Glomeratae, 44, 87
Grandifoliae, 9, 11
Grizzly bear cactus, 196
Grusonia, 24, 215
Grusonia bradtiana, 215
cereiformis, 215
Guamacho, 17
Harrisia, 24
Hibiscus, 19
Hibiscus esculentus, 19
Hylocereus, 24
Imbricatae, 44, 60
Inamoenae, 45, 125
Inarmatae, 208
Iniabanto, 19
Lemaireocereus, 116
Lemon vine, 10
Lengua de vaca, 164
Leon, 96
Leoncito, 96
Leptocaules, 44, 46, 49
Leucotrichae, 45, 174
Loranthus aphyllus, 79
Macdougalianae, 45, 169
Maihuen, 40
Maihuenia, 8, 24, 40-42, 43, 95
brachydelphys, 41, 42
patagonica, 41
philippii, 41
poeppigii, 41, 42
Maihuenia—continued.
tehuelches, 41, 42
valentinii, 40, 41, 42
Malus, 9
Mammillaria, 4
Matéare, 13
Miquelianae, 44, 78
Mission cactus, 186
Najii de Culebra, 19
Nopal, 34
Nopal cardon, 184
Nopal de Castilla, 224
Nopalea, 8, 24, 33-39, 43, 155, 216
auberi, 34, 37, 38, 39
cochenillifera, 34, 181
dejecta, 34, 36, 37
gaumeri, 34, 37, 216
guatemalensis, 33, 34, 35
inaperta, 33, 34, 37, 38
karwinskiana, 34, 37, 38, 39
lutea, 33, 34, 35
moniliformis, 33, 206
Nopaleta, 26
Nopalnochetzli, 35
Ohulago, 103
Olago, 103
Opuntia, 8, 14, 24, 25, 30, 32, 33, 34, 38; 39, 40, 42-215,
217-224
acanthocarpa, 56, 57
aciculata, 160, 165
acracantha, 91
aequatorialis, 110, 116, 219, 220
affinis, 169, 170
airampo, 161
albicans, 191
albicans laevior, 191
albiflora, 73, 74
albisetosa, 134
alcahes, 58, 67, 69, 70
alfagayucca, 185
alfayucca, 185
allairei, 126
alpicola, 214
alpina, 33
alta, 165, 166
americana, 214
ammophila, 211
amyclaea, 112, 177, 181, 185
amyclaea ficus-indica, 177
anacantha, 107, 109, 110
anahuacensis, 169
andicola, 89, 90
andicola elongata, 89
andicola fulvispina, 89
andicola major, 89
andicola minor, 90
angusta, IOI
angustata, 124, 129, 140, 142, 14¢
angustata comonduensis, 124
antillana, 110, 115, 163
aoracantha, 90, 91
aquosa, 29
arborea, 209
arborescens, 43, 63, 64, 65
arborescens versicolor, 62
arbuscula, 47, 50, 51
arechavaletai, 156, 158
arenaria, 193, 194, 195
Opuntia—continued.
argentina, 209, 21I, 212
arizonica, 147, 148
arkansana, 128
articulata, 89
assumptionis, 159
atacamensis, 90, 94
atrispina, 140, 142
atropes, 169, 170
attulica, 214
auberi, 37
aulacothele, 95
aurantiaca, 101, 107
aurantiaca extensa, 107
australis, 87, 88
austrina, 45, 126, 130
azurea, 140, 143
bahamana, 202, 203, 204
bahiensis, 209, 210, 211
balearica, 161
ballii, 137
barbata, 214
barbata gracillima, 214
bartramii, 181
basilaris, 118, I19, 120, 136
basilaris albiflora, 120
basilaris coerulea, 120
basilaris cordata, 120
basilaris cristata, 120
basilaris nana, 120
basilaris nevadensis, 120
basilaris pfersdorffii, 120
basilaris ramosa, 119, 120
basilaris treleasei, 119
beckeriana, 168
bella, 110, I1I, 112
bentonii, 161, 163
bergeriana, 149, 152, 169
bernardina, 57, 81
bernardina cristata, 57
bernhardinii, 214
betancourt, 214
bicolor, 214
bigelovii, 58, 59
blakeana, 144, 145
boldinghii, 149, 155
boliviana, 71, 97, 98
bonaerensis, 156, 158
bonplandii, 160, 168, 223, 224
borinquensis, 102, 103, 104
brachyarthra, 193, 194
brachyclada, 120
brachydelphis, 42
bradtiana, 215
brandegeei, 25, 28
brasiliensis, 209, 210, 211
brasiliensis minor, 210
brasiliensis schomburgkii, 210
brasiliensis spinosior, 210
brasiliensis tenuifolia, 210
brasiliensis tenuior, 210
brunnescens, 149, 150
bulbispina, 79, 83
bulbosa, 131
burrageana, 67, 70
cacanapa, 165, 166
caerulescens, 51
caesia, 144
INDEX.
Opuntia—continued.
caespitosa, 127
calacantha, 214
calacantha rubra, 214
calantha, 136
californica, 58
calmalliana, 60, 61
calva, 89
camanchica, 144, 145
cananchica albispina, 144
camanchica luteo-staminea,, 144
camanchica orbicularis, 144
camanchica rubra, 144
camanchica salmonea, 144
campestris, 90, 99
camuessa, 191
cafiada, 160, 167, 168
candelabriformis, 182
candelabriformis rigidior, 182
canina, 107, 108
cantabrigiensis, 121, 160, 167
canterai, 159
caracasana, I10, 116, 219
cardenche, 64
cardiosperma, 156, 157, 158
cardona, 184
caribaea, 47, 48, 49
carolina, 214
carrizalensis, 79
castillae, 185, 186
catacantha, 43, 208
cereiformis, 79, 215
cervicornis, 194
chaetocarpa, 182
chaffeyi, 30, 212, 213
chakensis, 158
chapistle, 27
chavena, 184
chihuahuensis, 144, 145
chlorotica, 142, 159, 160, 161
chlorotica santa-rita, 142
cholla, 60, 61, 62
chrysacantha, 167
ciliosa, 214
ciribe, 58, 59, 60
clavarioides, 72, 73
clavarioides cristata, 73
clavarioides fasciata, 73
clavarioides fastigiata, 73
clavarioides monstruosa, 73
clavata, 79, 81, 215
clavellina, 52, 54
coccifera, 35
coccinea, 114
cochenillifera, 33, 34, 35
cochinelifera, 34
cochinera, 192
coerulea, 134
coindettii, 184
columbiana, 193
comonduensis, 118, 124
confusa, 147
congesta, 50
consoleana, 214
consolei, 214
convexa, 165
cordobensis, 181, 189
cornigata, 95
229
230 THE CACTACEAE.
Opuntia—continued. Opuntia—continued.
corotilla, 96 digitalis, 72
corrugata, 90, 95 diguetii, 26, 29
corrugata monvillei, 95 | dillei, 147, 148
costigera, 65 | dillenii, 106, 114, 115, 116, 159, 162, 163, 181, 222, 223
covillei, 140, 145, 146 dillenii minor, 163
crassa, 178, 179 dillenii orbiculata, 163
crassa major, 178 H dimorpha, 96
cretochaeta, 183 , | diplacantha, 184
crinifera, 159, 176 discata, 140, 149
crinifera lanigera, 176 discolor, 107, 109, 218, 219
cristata, 64 distans, 149, 155
cristata tenuior, 64 dobbieana, 181, 187, 224, 225
cruciata, 207 } dolabriformis, 207
crystalenia, 193 drummondii, 102, 104, 106
cubensis, 163 | dulcis, 165, 166
cucumiformis, 97 H durangensis, 169
cuija, 149, 167 eborina, 214
cumingii, 77 eburnea, 95
curassavica, 102, 103, 112 | echinocarpa, 56, 57, 81
curassavica elongata, 102 echinocarpa major, 57
curassavica longa, 102 | echinocarpa nuda, 57, 58
curassavica major, 102 | echinocarpa parkeri, 57, 58
curassavica media, 102 | echinocarpa robustior, 57
curassavica minima, 102 | eichlamii, 181, 187, 188
curassavica minor, 102 | elata, 110, 156, 157
carassavica taylori, 103 elata delaetiana, 152
curvospina, 160 elatior, 149, 153, 219
cyanella, 165, 166 elatior deflexa, 157
cyclodes, 147, 148 ellemeetiana, 75
cycloidea, 128 | ellisiana, 166
cylindrica, 71, 75, 77 elongata, 179, 181
cylindrica cristata, 78 elongata laevior, 180
cylindrica cristata minor, 78 | emoryi, 80
cylindrica monstruosa, 78 j engelmannii, 140, 147, 148, 149, 164, 165, 167
cylindrica robustior, 78 engelmannii cuija, 167
cymochila, 131, 132 engelmannii cyclodes, 147, 148
dactylifera, 97, 98 engelmannii dulcis, 165
darrahiana, 102, 106 | engelmannii littoralis, 165
darwinii, 88, 90, 93, 94, 97 H engelmannii monstrosa, 148
davisii, 52, 54, 55 engelmannii occidentalis, 146
decipiens, 63, 65 erecta, 214
deamii, 181, 187 eocarpa, 144
decipiens major, 64 erinacea, 193, 195, 196
decipiens minor, 65 erythrocentron, 174
decumana, 157, 180, 181, 186 | exaltata, 71, 75, 76, 77
decumbens, 111, 116, 117, 121, 218 | expansa, 147, 148
decumbens irrorata, 117 | extensa, 107
decumbens longispina, 117 exuviata, 63, 65
deflexa, 157 | exuviata angustior, 63
dejecta, 37 exuviata major, 64
delaetiana, 149, 152 | exuviata spinosior, 63
delicata, 126, 132, 133 | exuviata stellata, 63
deltica, 165 exuviata viridior, 63
demissa, 146, 147
demorenia, 214
ferox, 206, 207
ferruginispina, 165
demoriana, 214 festiva, 214
depauperata, 100, 101, 216, 217, 219 ficus-barbica, 177
deppei, 214 ! ficus-indica, 43, 156, 157, 177, 178, 181, 185, 189, 191
depressa, III, 117, 118 ficus-indica albispina, 214
deserta, 57, 58 ' ficus-indica amyclaea, 185
diademata, 89, 90 ficus-incida decumana, 180
diademata calva, 89 ficus-indica gymnocarpa, 180
diademata inermis, 89 | filipendula, 137, 138
diademata oligacantha, 89 | flavicans, I9I
diademata polyacantha, 89 flavispina, 214
dichotoma, 214 flexibiNs, 114
diffusa, 37 | flexospina, 165
Opuntia—continued.
floccosa, 71, 86, 87
floccosa denudata, 86, 87
floribunda, 74
foliosa, 105, 106
formidabilis, 91, 92
fragilis, 193, 194
fragilis brachyarthra, 193
fragilis caespitosa, 193
fragilis frutescens,
fragilis tuberiformis, 193
frustulenta, 104, 105
frutescens, 47, 48
frutescens brevispina, 47, 48
frutescens longispina, 47, 48
fulgida, 67
fulgida mamillata, 67
fuliginosa, 149, 155
fulvispina, 174
fulvispina badia, 175
fulvispina laevior, 175
furiosa, 66
fuscoatra, 126, 133
fusicaulis, 191, 192
fusiformis, 130, 131
galapageia, 45, 149, 150, 151, 152
galeottii, 65
geissel, 78
gilliesii, 91
gilva, 163
gilvescens, 149
gilvoalba, 165, 166
glaberrima, 178
glauca, 178
glaucescens, 200, 201
glaucophylla, 214
glaucophylla laevior, 214
glomerata, 87, 89, 90, 94, 96
glomerata albispina, 90
glomerata flavispina, 90
glomerata minor, 90
golziana, 26
gomei, 165, 166
gorda, 191, 192
gosseliniana, 140, 141, I51
gracilis, 47
gracilis subpatens, 48
grahamii, 79, 83, 84
grandiflora, 126, 127, 129
grandis, 200, 201
grata, 92) 94, 95
greenei, 131
gregoriana, 147, 148
griffithsiana, 165
grosseiana, 107, IIO
guanicana, 208
guatemalensis, 110, 113, 218, 219
guerrana, I9I, 192
guilanchi, 173, 174
gymmnocarpa, 180
haematocarpa, 166
haitiensis, 206
hanburyana, 149, 153, 154
hattoniana, 103
helleri, 150, 152
hempeliana, 86, 87
hernandezii, 181
heteromorpha, 79
Dewi
Opuntia—continued.
hevernickii, 214
hickenii, 90, 92, 93
hieronymi, 211
hitchenii, 214
hochderfferi, 198
horizontalis, 37, 90
horrida, 162
humifusa, 127, 128, 132
humifusa cymochila, 128
humifusa greenei, 128
humifusa macrorhiza, 128
humifusa microsperma, 127
humifusa oplocarpa, 128
humifusa parva, 127
humifusa stenochila, 128
humifusa vaseyi, 146
humilis, 113, 114
humistrata, 120
hypsophila, 71, 72
hyptiacantha, 176, 181, 183, 184
hystricina, 193, 197
hystrix, 65, 66
icterica, 173
ignescens, 90, 98
ignota, 90, 99
imbricata, 48, 55, 60, 63, 64, 65, 66
imbricata crassior, 63
imbricata ramosior, 64
imbricata tenuior, 64
inaequalis, 128
inaequilateralis, 181, 187, 188, 189
inamoena, 121, 125
incarnadilla, 185, 186
inermis, 161, 162, 163
insularis, 150, 152
intermedia, 127, 128
intermedia prostrata, 128
intricata, 119
invicta, 79
involuta, 87
irrorata, 116, 117
italica, 214 5
ithypetala, 190
jamaicensis, 110, 113
joconostle, 214
juniperina, 193, 197
jussieuli, 214
karwinskiana, 38
keyensis, 159, 162, 163, 222, 223
kiska-loro, 107, 108
kleiniae, 47, 51, 64, 65
kleiniae cristata, 51
kleiniae laetevirens, 51
kunzei, 80
labouretiana, 180, 189
labouretiana macrocarpa, 181
laevis, 159, 161, 168
lagopus, 86, 87, 88
lanceolata, 177, 179, 203
lanigera, 176
larreyi, 191
lasiacantha, 181, 182, 183, 184
lata, 126, 220
laxiflora, 165
ledienii, 153
lemaireana, 156
leonina, 96
232 THE .CACTACEAE.
Opuntia—continued.
leptarthra, ror
leptocarpa, 166, 167
leptocaulis, 47, 48, 49, 73, 213
leptocaulis brevispina, 47
leptocaulis laetevirens, 48
leptocaulis longispina, 47
leptocaulis major, 48
leptocaulis stipata, 47
leptocaulis vaginata, 47
leucacantha, 174, 175
leucacantha laevior, 175
leucacantha subferox, 175
leucantha, 175
leucophaea, 96
leucostata, 214
leucosticta, 174
leucotricha, 151, 1'74, 175
leucotricha fulvispina, 174
ligustica, 128
lindheimeri, 44, 148, 160, 164, 165, 166
lindheimeri cyclodes, 147
lindheimeri dulcis, 165
lindheimeri littoralis, 165
lindheimeri occidentalis, 146
linguiformis, 160, 163
littoralis, 147, 160, 164, 165
lloydii, 60, 63
longiclada, 161
longiglochia, 214
longispina, 95
lubrica, 118, 119
lucayana, 106, 163
lucens, 149
lucida, 214
lurida, 173
macateei, 126, 133, 220, 221
macdougaliana, 169, 170, 171
mackensenil, 137, 138, 139
macracantha, 187, 202, 203, 204, 205
macrarthra, 126, 129
macrocalyx, 118, 122
macrocentra, 140, 141, 176
macrophylla, 214
macrorhiza, 126, 127, 128, 130, 131, 139, 166
maculacantha, 134
maelenii, 134
magenta, 142, 146
magna, 64
magnarenensis, 147
magnifolia, 34
maihuen, 41
maldonadensis, 75
mamillata, 67, 68
maritima, 162
maxillare, 77
maxima, 177, 180, 181
media, 199, 200
mediterranea, 128
megacantha, 178, 181, 182, 185, 186
megacantha lasiacantha, 182
megacantha tenuispina, 184
megacantha trichacantha, 186
megacarpa, 145
megalantha, 169
megalarthra, 192
megarhiza, 137
mendocienses, 65
Opuntia—continued.
mesacantha, 127, 132
mesacantha cymochila, 131
mesacantha grandiflora, 129
mesacantha greenei, 131
mesacantha macrorhiza, 130
mesacantha microsperma, 127
mesacantha oplocarpa, 131, 144
mesacantha parva, 127, 128
mesacantha sphaerocarpa, 144
mesacantha stenochila, 132
mesacantha vaseyi, 146
metternichii, 176
mexicana, 34
micrarthra, 171
microcarpa, 144, 206
microdasys, 118, 120, 121, 122, 123, 136
microdasys laevior, 120
microdasys minor, 120
microdasys rufida, 122
microdisca, 133, 135, 136
microthele, 73
mieckleyi, 156, 158
militaris, 102, 104, 163
millspaughii, 202, 204, 206
minima americana, 102
minor, 139
minor caulescens, 102
miquelii, 78
missouriensis, 199, 200
missouriensis albispina, 199, 200
missouriensis elongata, 214 -
missouriensis erythrostemma, 214
missouriensis microsperma, 199, 200
missouriensis platycarpa, 199, 200
missouriensis rufispina, 199, 200
missouriensis salmonea, 214
missouriensis subinermis, 199
missouriensis trichophora, 195
modesta, 67
mojavensis, 140, 145
molesta, 54, 60, 62, 66, 67
monacantha, 127, 156, 157
monacantha deflexa, 156
monacantha gracilior, 156, 157
monacantha variegata, 157
moniliformis, 33, 202, 206, 207, 208
montana, 214
montevidensis, 107, 109
monticola, 95
morenoi, 214
morisii, 128
mortolensis, 47
multiflora, 113, 114
myriacantha, 150, 152, 214
nana, 127, 217
nashii, 106, 163, 202, 203
nelsonii, 172
nemoralis; 102, 104
neoarbuscula, 50
nigricans, 152, 153
nigrispina, 90, 97
nigrita, 183, 184
nopalilla, 38
oblongata, 173
occidentalis, 140, 146, 147, 153, 163, 165
oligacantha, 89, 182
oplocarpa, 132
Opuntia—continued.
opuntia, 43, 126, 127, 128, 217
orbiculata, 176
orbiculata metternichii, 176
ottonis, 214, 215
ovallei, 95, 214
ovata, 90, 95, 96
ovoides, 95
pachona, 184
pachyarthra flava, 214
pachyclada rosea, 214
pachyclada spaethiana, 214
pachypus, 75, 77
pallida, 60, 65, 66
palmadora, 202
palmeri, 161
pampeana, 134
papyracantha, 89, 90
paraguayensis, 158
parishii, 57, 79, 81, 82
parkeri, 58
parmentieri, 95
parote, 214
parryi, 56, 57, 58, 81
parva, 161
parvispina, 117
parvula, 178
pascoensis, 100, LOI
patagonica, 41
pelaguensis, 90
penicilligera, 135
pennellii, r10, 115, 219
pentlandii, 71, 72, 77, 99, 97, 98
perrita, 65, 66
pes-corvi, 104
pestifer, 102, 103, 217, 218, 220
phaeacantha, 139, 140, 142, 144
phaeacantha brunnea, 144
phaeacantha major, 144
phaeacantha nigricans, 144
philippii, 41
phyllacantha, 96
phyllanthus, 215
piccolomini, 214
piccolominiana, 191
pilifera, 176, 177, 184
pintadera, 176
pititache, 29
pittieri, 181, 188, 189
platyacantha, 33, 89
platyacantha deflexispina, 89, 90
platyacantha gracilior, 89
platyacantha monvillei, 89
platyclada, 214
platynoda, 109
plumbea, 126, 131
plumosa nivea, 89, 90
poeppigii, 40, 41
pollardii, 126, 221
polyacantha, 193, 195, 196, 197, 199, 200°
polyacantha albispina, 199
polyacantha borealis, 199
polyacantha microsperma, 200
polyacantha rufispina, 200
polyacantha trichophora, 195
polyacantha platycarpa, 199
polyacantha watsonii, 199
polyantha, 113, 114, 115
233
Opuntia—continued.
polymorpha, 89
porteri, 28
pottsii, 13'7, 138
praecox, 214
prate, 191
procumbens, 160, 167
prolifera, 61, 67, 69, 70
prostrata, 128
prostrata spinosior, 214
protracta, 214
protracta elongata, 214
pruinosa, 191
pseudococcinellifer, 153
pseudotuna, 184, 214
pseudotuna elongata, 214
pseudotuna spinosior, 214
puberula, 116, 117, 121, 122
pubescens, 100, IOI, 173
pulchella, 79, 82
pulverata, 214
pulverulenta, 78
pulverulenta miquelii, 78
pulvinata, 120
pumila, 100, 101
purpurea, 97
pusilla, 102, 105, 106
pycnantha, 118, 123
pycnantha margaritana, 123
pyriformis, 160, 168
pyrocarpa, 166
pyrrhacantha, 97
quimilo, 181, 190, 191
quipa, 125
quitensis, 149, 154, 224
rafinesquei, 127, 128, 129
rafinesquei arkansana, 127, 129
rafinesquei cymochila, 131
rafinesquei cymochila montana, 131
rafinesquei fusiformis, 130
rafinesquei grandiflora, 129
rafinesquei greenei, 132
rafinesquei macrorhiza, 131
rafinesquei microsperma, 127, 199
rafinesquei minor, 127, 128
rafinesquei parva, 128
rafinesquei stenochila, 132
rafinesquei vaseyi, 146
rafinesquiana, 127, 129
rafinesquiana arkansana, 129
rahmeri, 94
ramosissima, 46, 48, 52
ramulifera, 47
tastrera, 140, 149
rauppiana, 90, 92
recedens, 128
recondita, 52, 53
recurvospina, 144
reflexa, 165
Tepens, 102, 103, 104, 115, 116
reptans, 214
retrorsa, 107, 109, 218
retrospinosa, 95
rhodantha, 193, 197, 198
rhodantha brevispina, 198
rhodantha flavispina, 198
rhodantha pisciformis, 198
rhodantha schumanniana, 198
234 THE CACTACEAE.
Opuntia—continued. | Opuntia—continued.
riparia, 149
robusta, 182, I9I, 192
robusta viridior, 191
rosea, 17, 63, 65, 78
roseana, 130
rosiflora, 78
rotundifolia, 27
roxburghiana, 156
rubescens, 163, 202, 208, 209
rubiflora, 133, 146
rubrifolia, 144
rufescens, 175
rufida, 118, 119, 122
rugosa, 145
russellii, 90, 94
ruthei, 64
rutila, 196
sabinii, 194
sacharosa, 14,
salicornioides, 215
salmiana, 73 74
salmii, 214
sanguinocula, 131
santa-rita, 140, 142
scheeri, 159, 176
schickendantzii, 74, 107
schomburgkii, 214
schottii, 79, 80, 81
schottii greggii, 80
schumannii, 90, 149, 155
schweriniana, 199, 200
segethii, 75, 76, 79
seguina, 130
semispinosa, 147
senilis, 86, 159, 176
sericea, 134
sericea coerulea, 134
sericea longispina, 134
sericea maelenii, 134
serpentina, 56, 57, 58, 69, 81
setispina, 45, 137, 138
shaferi, 71, 72
shreveana, 142
sinclairii, 165, 166
skottsbergii, 90, 96, 97
soederstromiana, 149, 154, 221
soehrensii, 133, 134, 135
spathulata, 28, 29
spathulata aquosa, 30
speciosa, 214
spegazzinii, 73, 74
sphaerica, 90, 96
sphaerocarpa, 193, 198, 199
sphaerocarpa utahensis, 199
spinalba, 130
spinaurea, 214
spiniflora, 215
spinosior, 52, 67, 68
spinosior neomexicana, 68
spinosissima, 103, 175, 202, 204, 205
spinotecta, 64
spinulifera, 178, 181, 182
spinuliflora, 214
spinulosa, 214
splendens, 199
squarrosa, 165
stanlyi, 79, 80
stapelia, 66
stapeliae, 65, 66
stellata, 64
stenarthra, 158
stenochila, 126, 132
stenopetala, 200, 201
straminea, 214
streptacantha, 181, 184, 185
stricta, 159, 161, 178, 223
stricta spinulescens, 214
strigil, 136
subarmata, 165, 166
subferox, 175
subinermis, 214
subterranea, 90, 92
subulata, 71, 75, 76, 77, 79
sulphurea, 133, 134, 150
sulphurea laevior, 134
sulphurea major, 134
sulphurea minor, 134
sulphurea pallidior, 134
superbospina, 144
syringacantha, 89
tapona, 124, 160, 164
tarapacana, 90, 94
tardospina, 140, 141
taylori, 102, 103
tenajo, 49
tenuispina, 137, 139
teres, 71
tesajo, 47, 48, 49
tessellata, 46
tessellata cristata, 46
testudinis-crus, 206
tetracantha, 52, 53, 54
texana, 165, 166
thurberi, 52, 53, 54
tidballii, 160
tomentella, 173, 174
tomentosa, 173, 174
tortisperma, 131, 132
tortispina, 126, 128, 131, 194
toumeyi, 144
tracyi, 102, 105
treleasei, 118, I19
treleasei kernii, 119
triacantha, 110, II2, 113, 115, 204
tribuloides, 186
tricolor, 165, 166
trichophora, 193, 195
tuberculata, 214
tuberiformis, 92
tuberosa, 32, 33
tuberosa spinosa, 89
tuna, I10, II3, II4, 116, 149, 157, 163
tuna humilis, 114
tuna laevior, 114
tuna orbiculata, 114
tunicata, 60, 65, 66, 83, 121
tunicata laevior, 66
tunoidea, 116, 162
tunoides, 116
turpinii, 89
turpinii polymorpha, 89
tweediei, 134
umbrella, 156
undosa, 177, 179
Opuntia—continued.
undulata, 65, 177, 179
ursina, 174, 195, 196, 197
urumbella, 157
utahensis, 198
utkilio, 107, 109, 110
vaginata, 47, 48
valida, 147
vaseyi, 140, 142, 145, 146
velutina, 169, 172
verschaffeltii, 44, 71, 72
verschaffeltii digitalis, 71, 72
versicolor, 44, 52, 54, 60, 62
vestita, 71, 72, 87
vexans, 64, 65
vilis, 79, 82, 83
violacea, 144
virgata, 47
viridiflora, 52, 55
vivipara, 52
vulgaris, 127, 128, 156, 157, 163, 177
vulgaris balearica, 161
vulgaris major, 127
vulgaris media, 127
vulgaris minor, 127
vulgaris nana, 127, 129
vulgaris rafinesquei, 127
vulgo, 157
vulpina, 134
wagneri, 74
weberi, 84, 85
wentiana, 110, 116
whipplei, 31, 43, 52, 55, 68
whipplei laevior, 55
whipplei spinosior, 68
wilcoxii, 169, 172
winteriana, 166
wootonii, 147, 148
wrightii, 51
“xanthoglochia, 130, 131
xanthostemma, 198
xanthostemma elegans, 198
xanthostemma fulgens, 198
xanthostemma gracilis, 198
xanthostemma orbicularis, 198
xanthostemma rosea, 198
xerocarpa, 198
youngii, 130
zebrina, 149, 155, 222
zacuapanensis, 183
zuniensis, 144
Opuntiacei, 217
Opuntieae, 8, 24
Orbiculatae, 45, 176
Palmadora, 202
Palmadorae, 45, 201
Palmatoria, 202
Pataquisca, 76
Peirescia, 9
Peireskia, 9
Pentlandianae, 44, 90
Perescia, 9
Pereskia, 8-24, 25, 26, 40, 75
acardia, 10
aculeata, 10, II, 14
aculeata lanceolata, 10
aculeata latifolia, 10
aculeata longispina, 10
INDEX.
Pereskia—continued.
aculeata rotunda, 10
aculeata rotundifolia, 10
aculeata rubescens, 10
affinis, 24
amapola, 14
argentina, 14
autumnalis, 9, II, 12
bahiensis, 9, 19, 20
bleo, 4, 9, 17, 18, 20
brasiliensis, 10
calandriniaefolia, 29
colombiana, 9, 17
conzattii, 9, 24
crassicaulis, 29
cruenta, 24
cubensis, 9, 22
foetens, 10
fragrans, 10
glomerata, 94
godseffiana, 10, I1
grandiflora, 24
grandifolia, 9, 18, 19, 20, 21
grandispina, 24
guamacho, 9, 15, 16
haageana, 24
horrida, 9, 21
lanceolata, 10
longispina, 10
lychnidiflora, 9, 12, 13
moorei, 9, 15
nicoyana, 9, 13
ochnacarpa, 19
opuntiaeflora, 26, 27
panamensis, 17. 18
pereskia, 7, 9, 10
philippii, 41
pititache, 29
plantaginea, 24
poeppigii, 41
portulacifolia, 9, 22, 23, 24
rosea, 17
rotundifolia, 27
sacharosa, 9, 10, 14, 15
spathulata, 28, 29
subulata, 75, 76
tampicana, 9, 17
undulata, 10
weberiana, 9, 15
zehntneri, 9, 13, 14
zinniaeflora, 9, 17, 20, 21
Pereskieae, 8, 24
Pereskiopsis, 8, 14, 17, 24, 25-30, 43
aquosa, 25, 29
autumnalis, 11, 12
brandegeei, 28
chapistle, 25, 27
diguetii, 25, 26, 27
kellermanii, 25, 30
opuntiaeflora, 25, 26, 27
pititache, 25, 29
porteri, 25, 28
rotundifolia, 25, 27, 28
spathulata, 25, 28
velutina, 25, 26
Pereskiopuntia, 25
Pest pear, 161, 163
Phaeacanthae, 45, 136, 139, 141, 148
236 THE CACTACEAE.
Pin pillow, 102
Platyopuntia, 45, 73, 84, 92, 99, 100, 135, 211
Polar bear cactus, 87
Polyacanthae, 45, 193
Portulaca, 9
Prickly pear, 43, 212
Pterocactus, 24, 30-33
decipiens, 32, 33
fischeri, 31
hickenii, 31
kuntzei, 30, 32, 33
kurtzei, 32
pumilus, 31, 32
tuberosus, 31, 32, 33
valentinii, 88
Pubescentes, 141
Puipute, 13
Pumilae, 45, 100
Quiabento, 14
Quimilo, 190
Quipa, 125
Ramosissimae, 44, 46
Rhipsalis, 8
Robustae, 45, 191
Sacacil, 214
Sacharosa, 10, 14
Salmianae, 44, 73; 75
Scheerianae, 45. 159
Sempervivum tomentosum, 41
Setispinae, 45, 136
Spear-shaped opuntia, 179
Spinosissimae, 43, 45, 201, 202, 203, 208
Stenopetalae, 45, 200
Stenopuntia, 200
Streptacanthae, 45, 112, 156, 177, 181, 192, 225
Strigiles, 45, 136
Subulatae, 44, 71, 75
Sucker, 43, 103
Sulphureae, 45, 133, 135
Tacinga, 24, 39, 40
funalis, 38, 39
Tapuna pear, 192
Tasajillo, 26, 30
Tasajo, 43
macho, 63
Tephrocactus, 42, 43, 44, 71, 72, 79) 84, 85, 90; 95, 97;
106, 135
andicolus, 89
aoracanthus, 91
calvus, 89
diadematus, 43, 89
platyacanthus, 89
pusillus, 106
retrospinosus, 95
turpinii, 89
Teretes, 71
Thurberianae, 44, 52
Tomentosae, 45, 172
Tortispinae, 45, 104, 126, 130, 133, 136, 193
Tuna, 35, 43, 114, 181, 186
Tuna cardona, 184
Tuna elatior, 153
Tuna de agua, 30
Tuna de Espana, 224
Tuna major, 163
Tunae, 45, I10, 116, 148
Vestitae, 44, 71
Weberianae, 44, 84
West Indian gooseberry, 10
Wilcoxia, 6
Zamia pumila, 181
Zygocactus, 9
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