Page:Memoir of a tour to northern Mexico.djvu/93

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93
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On the same day two other species of Echinocereus were found in pine timber, both with beautiful deep red flowers.[1]

We shall have occasion to speak of others hereafter.

After leaving Santa Fe, Dr. Wislizenus directed his course southward along the Rio Grande. The country was partly mountainous and rocky; partly, and principally along the river, sandy; on an average between 4,000 and 5,000 feet above the ocean. Here we find again some of the plants of the plains and of Texas, as Polanisia trachysperma, T. and G.; Hoffmanseggia Famesii, T. and G. An interesting Prosopis with screw-shaped legumes nearly allied to P. odorata, Torr. and Frem., of California, was the first shrubby mimoseous plant observed during the journey, a tribe which hereafter becomes more and more abundant; Mentzelia sp., Cosmidium gracile, Eustoma, Heliotropium currasavicum, Maurandia antirhiniflora, a beautiful large flowered Datura, Abronia, Hendecandra texensis, and many others. Near Olla the first specimens appeared of a new species of Larrea,[2] the first and most northern form of the shrubby


  1. Echinocereus triglochidiatus, n. sp. ovato-cylindricus, 6-7 costatus, costis undulatis, acutis; areolis sparsis, orbiculatis, junioribus albo-lanatis; aculeis 3-6, plerumque 3, rectis compressis angulatis, cinereis, sub-deflexis; noribus lateralibus, tubo pulvillis 15-20 albo-tomentosis setas spinosas apice fuscas 2-5 gerentibus stipato; sepalis interioribus sub-12 oblongo-linearibus obtusis; petalis 12-15 obovatis obtusis; staminibus petala subaequantibus; stigmatibus 8-10 virescentibus.

    On Wolf creek, in pine woods, flowers in June; Santa Fe (Fendler) 4 to 6 inches high, 2 to 21/2 in diameter; spines in young specimens 4 to 6, in older ones generally 3, two lateral ones 8 to 14 lines long, one bent down only 6 to 8 lines long. Flowers 2 to 21/2 inches long, 2 inches in diameter; setose spines of tube 3 to 6 or 7 lines long; petals deep crimson, 6 to 7 lines wide; filaments and anthers red. In specimens from Santa Fe, collected by Mr. Fendler, the flowers are near 3 inches long, the petals 8 to 9 lines wide, and the setae on the tube are spinous, with brownish points.

    Echinocereus coccineus, n. sp. globoso ovatus, 9-11 costatus, costis tuberculosis subinterruptis; areolis ovatis junioribus albo-tomentosis; aculeis radialibus 9-10 albidis, rectis, oblique porrectis, superioribus brevioribus; centralibus 1-3 longioribus albidis s. corneis; floribus lateralibus; tubo pulvillis 18-25 albo-tomentosis, setas tenues albidas 8-11 gerentibus stipato; sepalis interioribus 8-10 oblongo linearibus obtusis; petalis 10-12 obovatis obtusis; staminibus brevioribus; stigmatibus 6-8 virescentibus.

    With the foregoing, also about Santa Fe.–Only 11/2 to 2 inches high, 11/2 to 11/2 inch in diameter; like most other species of this genus, either single or generally branching from the base and cespitose, sometimes forming clusters of 10 to 15 heads. Spines terete all more or less erect, none appressed as in many other species; radiating ones 3 to 6, central ones 8 to 10 lines long. Flowers 11/2 to 23/4 inch long, and 1 to 11/2 wide when fully expanded; bristles of tube 3 to 6 lines long; petals deep crimson 4 to 5 lines wide; filaments red, anthers red or yellow. The flowers resemble much those of the last species, but the plant is very different.

  2. Larrea glutinosa, n. sp. divaricato-ramosissima, ad nodos glutinosa; foliis breviter petiolatis, bifoliolatis, foliolis oblique ovatis mucronatis, ner-