and the rays of the stigma spreading over them. Flowering
time, early summer. Native country, Mexico, on prairie lands, at high
elevations. This species is almost hardy in the warmer parts of this
country, suffering from damp rather than frost in winter. The stem is
not particularly handsome, but the flowers are large and bright, and
they are produced annually by plants which are grown in a cool,
well-aired greenhouse or frame, with the sun shining on them all day.

M. micromeris (small-flowered); Fig. 65.--A small, cushion-like plant,
with a stem never more than 11/2 in. across by about 1 in. in height, so
that it has the appearance of a small, flattened ball, with a raised,
disk-like portion on the top. The mammae are very small, and they are
completely hidden by the numerous fine, white, silky spines and wool
which spring in tufts from the apex of each mamma, and interlace so as
to form a spider-web-like net all over the stem. The flowers are small,
and they spring from the centre of the disk-like top of the stern; they
are composed of from three to five sepals, and five petals, which are
whitish or pink, and measure about 1/4 in. across when open. Native
country, Mexico, where it is found only in naked places on mountain tops
or sides where limestone is plentiful. It requires much care under
cultivation, water in excess being fatal to it, and a soil of the wrong
sort soon killing all its roots. It is cultivated at Kew in a small pot,
in a mixture of loam and lime rubbish, and grown in a warm greenhouse.

[Illustration: FIG. 65. MAMILLARIA MICROMERIS.]

M. multiceps (many-branched).--Stem short, with numerous branches,
which again push forth other branches, so that a dense tuft of dumpy,
globose stems is formed. The mammae are small, and arranged closely
together, and they each bear a tuft of whitish wool, with a radiating
cluster of spines, which are soft, almost hair-like in texture, the
inner ones being stiffer, and coloured dull yellow. The flowers are
small, and almost hidden by the spines and tubercles; they are pale
yellow, with a line of red down the middle of each petal. Native
country, Mexico. This plant should be grown on a shelf in a cool
greenhouse--anything like a stove temperature being fatal to it. As a
flowering plant it is of no value, but the compact tuft formed by its
numerous stems, with their attractive spines, renders it worthy of
cultivation.

M. Neumanniana (Neumann's).--This is a member