FIG. 29.—ECHINOCACTUS CONCINNUS
[E. coptonogonus] (wavy-ribbed); Fig. 30.—Stem globose, seldom more than 5 in. in diameter, depressed on the top, with from ten to fourteen strong, sharp-edged, wavy ribs, the furrows also being wavy. Spine tufts set in little depressions along the margins of the ribs, five spines in each tuft, the two upper 1 in. long and four-angled, the two lower flattened and shorter, the fifth, which is the longest, being placed in the top of the cushion. Flowers 2 in. across, daisy-like, produced in April and May; tube very short; sepals and petals linear, spreading, white, with a purple stripe down the centre; stamens red, with yellow anthers; pistil purple, with an eight-rayed, yellow stigma. A native of Mexico. (Syn. E. interruptus.)
FIG. 30.—ECHINOCACTUS COPTONOGONUS
[E. cornigerus] (horn-bearing).—This remarkable plant, of which a portion is represented at Fig. 31, has the stoutest spines of all cultivated Cactuses, and their arrangement on the ridges of the stem is such as would withstand the attacks of all enemies. The broad tongue-like spine is purple in colour, and as strong as iron; the three erect horn-like spines yellow, and as firm as the horns of an antelope, to which they bear a resemblance. The stem is sphere-shaped, grey-green in colour, and is divided into from fourteen to twenty-one stout wavy ribs, upon which the spine tufts occur at intervals of about 2 in. The arrangement of the spines is shown in the illustration, as also is the position of the flowers, which are small, with narrow purple petals and brown-red sepals. The plant is a native of Mexico and Guatemala, and would require stove treatment. We have seen only small living examples, but according to descriptions and figures, the most interesting character it possesses is its spiny armament. It has been called Melocactus latispinus and Echinocactus latispinus.
FIG. 31.—ECHINOCACTUS CORNIGERUS
[E. corynodes] (club-like); Fig. 32.—The stem of this is about as large as a Keswick Codlin apple, with the broad end uppermost, and the sides cut up into about a dozen and a half rather prominent sharp ridges, with bunches of stout yellow spines arranged, at intervals of about 1 in., along the edges. The flowers, which are produced in a cluster on the top of the stem, form a crown of bright yellow petals, studded with scarlet eye-like stigmas. Each flower is 2 in. in diameter when fully spread out, cup-shaped, and composed of two or three rows of over-lapping petals. In the middle of these nestle the short stamens, and projecting well beyond them is the bright scarlet stigma, forming a beautiful contrast to the petals. This plant is a native of Mexico, and was introduced about the year 1837. It is also known in gardens under the names of E. rosaceus and E. Sellowianus. There was a pretty little specimen of this flowering in the Kew collection last year, and the opening and closing of the flowers, as the sunlight reached or receded from them, was almost as rapid as that observed in the daisy. The whole plant is so small, and, when in flower, so charming, that no one could fail to admire it. It requires similar treatment to E. concinnus.
FIG. 32.—ECHINOCACTUS CORYNODES