shade. A variety known as texana
differs in being more densely clothed with spines. We have seen it grown
into large clumps, covering a space 1 ft. in diameter, with dozens of
erect little pyramids of whitish spines.

M. pycnacantha (densely spined); Bot. Mag. 3972.--The name for this
kind is rather misleading, the spines being both fewer and less
conspicuous than in many other species of Mamillaria. Stem about 6 in.
high, nearly globose; tubercles--rather large, swollen, with tufts of
short white wool in their axils, and stellate clusters of spines
springing from disks of white wool on the top. The spines are 1/2 in. long,
slightly recurved, flattened, and pale brown. Flowers large, clustered
on the top of the stem, about half a dozen opening together; width 2 in.;
petals numerous, narrow, toothed at the tips, spreading; colour a deep
sulphur-yellow, anthers orange. Native of Oaxaca, Mexico. Flowering
season, July. Introduced 1840. This is a beautiful flowering plant, more
like an Echinocactus than a Mamillaria. It should be grown in a warm
greenhouse all the year round. Old stems develop offsets from the base,
by which the species may be multiplied.

M. sanguinea (bloody); Fig. 68.--This is closely related to M. bicolor,
but differs in having an unbranched stem and numerous richly-coloured
flowers. The stem is stout, 6 in. high, and 4 in. through; tubercles
crowded, short, bearing stellate tufts of shortish spines, and
projecting longer ones, all being bristly and pale yellow, except those
on the youngest tubercles, which are golden. The flowers are borne in a
crowded circle on the top of the stem, just outside the cluster of young
yellow spines, a strong plant having about forty flowers open together.
Each flower is about 1/2 in. long and wide, and coloured bright crimson,
with yellow anthers. Native of Mexico. Flowers in June. It should be
grown along with M. bicolor. The plant figured is a young one, showing
the spines much longer than is usual on mature specimens.

[Illustration: FIG. 68. MAMILLARIA SANGUINEA.]

M. Scheerii (Scheer's).--Stem 7 in. high, and 5 in. in diameter at the
base; tubercles large, swollen, somewhat flattened, pale green, watery,
woolly in the axils, the tops crowned with about a dozen brown spines,
1 in. long, one central, the others radial. Flowers terminal, erect, with
several whorls of spreading, recurved petals, the lower ones tinged with
crimson, the upper pale yellow, and forming