[E. Haynii] (Hayne's); Fig. 35.—An upright cylindrical-stemmed species, very much like a Mamillaria in the form and position of the tubercles and the numerous greyish hair-like spines arranged in a radiating ring on the top of each tubercle. The flowers are much longer than in any yet described, the tube being 6 in. in length, clothed with large sepals on the upper portion, and the petals are semi-erect with recurved points, and coloured a brilliant purple-red. A native of Peru, where it is found at high elevations, growing in crevices of rocks and exposed to full sunlight. With us it thrives in a warm greenhouse, producing its beautiful flowers in summer. Introduced about 1850.
FIG. 35.—ECHINOCACTUS HAYNII
[E. hexaedrophorus] (tubercles six-sided); Fig. 36.—This plant is distinguished by the gouty-looking tubercles into which its broad, spiral ridges are divided, and which look as if they would suddenly burst like a blister if pricked with a pin. It grows about 4 in. in height, and is similar in form to what is shown in the accompanying figure, except that the top is usually flatter than here represented. The whole stem has a glaucous hue, and the spines are reddish-brown. The flowers, which are produced freely in June and July, are short-tubed, spreading to a width of 2 in.; the petals toothed at the tips, and arranged in several rows, overlapping each other, the colour being white, tinted with rose, with a disk-like cluster of yellow stamens in the centre, and a white-rayed stigma. A native of North Mexico, introduced about 1830. It is very slow-growing, attaining full size in not less than six years from seed; indeed, it is stated that in twelve years a plant of it did not grow more than 2 in. Still, slow as it is, it remains in good health when kept in a sunny position on a shelf in a greenhouse or in a dwelling-room, so that it may be recommended for places where space is very limited. Like E. gibbosus, it does best when grafted on to another kind. We have seen perfect "drum-sticks" formed by grafting a full-grown plant of this on the stem of a Cereus.
FIG. 36.—ECHINOCACTUS HEXAEDROPHORUS
[E. horizonthalonis] (spreading-spined); Fig. 37.—Stem globose, usually flattened on the top, and divided into eight or nine large ribs or ridges, grey-green in colour. Spines in crowded star-shaped clusters along the apex of the ribs, seven spines in each cluster, all of them strong, slightly curved, horn-like, and marked with numerous rings; they are yellow, tipped with red when young, ash-coloured when old; the longest are about 2 in. in length. Flowers terminal, springing from the young spine tufts, each 4 in. across, with two rows of petals arranged regularly in the form of a cup; colour deep rose, paler on the inside of the cup; stamens very numerous, with white filaments and yellow anthers. The flowers expand at sunrise and close again in the evening, each one lasting about a week; they are very agreeably scented. Flowering season, May and June. The plant is a native of Mexico, and was introduced in 1838. (Syns. E. equitans, E. horizontalis.)
FIG. 37.—ECHINOCACTUS HORIZONTHALONIS
[E. Le Contei] (Le Conte's); Fig. 38.—Another of the large-stemmed kinds, which have only recently found their way into English gardens, although long since discovered and described by American travellers. The illustration represents a young plant. When full-grown, this species has a stem 5 ft. high by 2 ft. wide, with broad deep channels and ridges, wrinkled and covered with a thick network of stout spines, which are set in clusters in a cushion of whitish wool, the longest being about 3 in. in length, with curved or slightly hooked points, and distinctly angular. The flowers are 2 in. long, bell-shaped; the petals shining lemon-yellow, with a tinge of brown on the outside, whilst the sepals are like a number of fish-scales, overlapping each other down the outside of the campanulate tube. The stamens and pistil are almost hidden inside the flower. Flowers are borne by quite young plants, whilst upon full-grown specimens they are so numerous as to form a large yellow cap to the immense, prickly, conical stems. They are developed in August and September. A native of Mexico, where it is found wild on the rocky or gravelly plains and ravines, and often in crevices of perpendicular rocks. It requires warm greenhouse treatment, and plenty of water during the summer, care being taken that the soil it is planted in is perfectly drained.