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.

[Illustration:  Fig. 32.—­Echinocactus corynodes.]

E. crispatus (curled); Fig. 33.—­The flattened, wavy or curled ridges of this species are characteristic of several other kinds of Echinocactus.  Its long, stout, ferocious-looking spines, directed upwards, have a very forbidding aspect.  The stem grows to a height of about 8 in., and is said to produce its large, long-tubed, purple flowers in the summer months.  It has been introduced by a Continental nurseryman, but, so far as is known, has not yet flowered in any English collection.  It is apparently closely allied to E. longihamatus.

[Illustration:  Fig. 33.—­Echinocactus crispatus.]

E. Cummingii (Cumming’s); Bot.  Mag. 6097.—­A pretty little species, with a globose stem about 3 in. in diameter, the ridges divided into tubercles, and running spirally round the stem.  From each tubercle springs a radiating cluster of yellowish, hair-like spines.  The flowers are numerous, 1 in. long and wide, the scales on the tube tipped with red, whilst the petals stamens, and stigma are an uniform bright ochre-yellow; so that, looked at from above, they suggest the flowers of the common marigold.  A well-managed plant produces as many as half-a-dozen of these flowers together, which open out widely under the influence of bright sunlight.  It is one of the hardiest of the genus, thriving well in a frost-proof house or frame.  During winter, the atmosphere surrounding it should be as dry as possible; but in summer it likes plenty of moisture, and exposure to full sunshine.  A variety of E. Cummingii was raised from seeds a few years ago by Mr. Daniel, of Epsom, the flowers of which were pale almost to whiteness.  The type is said to attain a height of 8 in. in its native country, Bolivia, whence plants were introduced to Kew in 1847, and flowered in July.