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diff --git a/13357-0.txt b/13357-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..59bb378 --- /dev/null +++ b/13357-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6744 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13357 *** + +CACTUS CULTURE +FOR AMATEURS: + +BEING + +DESCRIPTIONS OF THE VARIOUS CACTUSES +GROWN IN THIS COUNTRY. + +with + +FULL AND PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR +THEIR SUCCESSFUL CULTIVATION. + +By W. WATSON, +Assistant Curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. + +PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED. + +LONDON: +L. UPCOTT GILL, 170, STRAND, W.C. + +1889. + +[Illustration: FIG. 1.--A COLLECTION OF CACTUSES. Frontispiece.] + + + + +PREFACE + + +The idea that Cactuses were seldom seen in English gardens, because so +little was known about their cultivation and management, suggested to +the Publisher of this book that a series of chapters on the best kinds, +and how to grow them successfully, would be useful. These chapters were +written for and published in The Bazaar, in 1885 and following years. +Some alterations and additions have been made, and the whole is now +offered as a thoroughly practical and descriptive work on the subject. + +The descriptions are as simple and complete as they could be made; the +names here used are those adopted at Kew; and the cultural directions +are as full and detailed as is necessary. No species or variety is +omitted which is known to be in cultivation, or of sufficient interest +to be introduced. The many excellent figures of Cactuses in the +Botanical Magazine (Bot. Mag.) are referred to under each species +described, except in those cases where a complete figure is given in +this book. My claims to be heard as a teacher in this department are +based on an experience of ten years in the care and cultivation of the +large collection of Cactuses at Kew. + +Whatever the shortcomings of my share of the work may be, I feel certain +that the numerous and excellent illustrations which the Publisher has +obtained for this book cannot fail to render it attractive, and, let us +also hope, contribute something towards bringing Cactuses into favour +with horticulturists, professional as well as amateur. + +W. WATSON. + + + + +CONTENTS. + +INTRODUCTION + +BOTANICAL CHARACTERS + +CULTIVATION + +PROPAGATION + +THE GENUS EPIPHYLLUM + +THE GENUS PHYLLOCACTUS + +THE GENUS CEREUS + +THE GENUS ECHINOCACTUS + +THE GENUS ECHINOPSIS + +THE GENUS MELOCACTUS + +THE GENUS PILOCEREUS + +THE GENUS MAMILLARIA + +THE GENUS LEUCHTENBERGIA + +THE GENUS PELECYPHORA + +THE GENUS OPUNTIA + +THE GENUS PERESKIA + +THE GENUS RHIPSALIS + +TEMPERATURES + +DEALERS IN CACTUSES + +INDEX OF SPECIES + + + + + +CACTUS CULTURE +FOR AMATEURS + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +INTRODUCTION. + + +The Cactus family is not popular among English horticulturists in these +days, scarcely half a dozen species out of about a thousand known being +considered good enough to be included among favourite garden plants. +Probably five hundred kinds have been, or are, in cultivation in the +gardens of the few specialists who take an interest in Cactuses; but +these are practically unknown in English horticulture. It is not, +however, very many years ago that there was something like a Cactus +mania, when rich amateurs vied with each other in procuring and growing +large collections of the rarest and newest kinds. + +"About the year 1830, Cacti began to be specially patronised by several +rich plant amateurs, of whom may be mentioned the Duke of Bedford, who +formed a fine collection at Woburn Abbey, the Duke of Devonshire, and +Mr. Harris, of Kingsbury. Mr. Palmer, of Shakelwell, had become +possessed of Mr. Haworth's collection, to which he greatly added by +purchases; he, however, found his rival in the Rev. H. Williams, of +Hendon, who formed a fine and select collection, and, on account of the +eagerness of growers to obtain the new and rare plants, high prices were +given for them, ten, twelve, and even twenty and thirty guineas often +being given for single plants of the Echinocactus. Thus private +collectors were induced to forward from their native countries--chiefly +from Mexico and Chili--extensive collections of Cacti." (quoting J. +Smith. A.L.S., ex-Curator of the Royal Gardens. Kew). + +This reads like what might be written of the position held now in +England by the Orchid family, and what has been written of Tulips and +other plants whose popularity has been great at some time or other. Why +have Cactuses gone out of favour? It is impossible to give any +satisfactory answer to this question. No doubt they belong to that class +of objects which is only popular whilst it pleases the eye or tickles +the fancy; and the eye and the fancy having tired of it, look to +something different. + +The general belief with respect to Cactuses is that they are all wanting +in beauty, that they are remarkable only in that they are exceedingly +curious in form, and as a rule very ugly. It is true that none of them +possess any claims to gracefulness of habit or elegance of foliage, such +as are usual in popular plants, and, when not in flower, very few of the +Cactuses would answer to our present ideas of beauty with respect to the +plants we cultivate. Nevertheless, the stems of many of them (see +Frontispiece, Fig. 1) are peculiarly attractive on account of their +strange, even fantastic, forms, their spiny clothing, the absence of +leaves, except in very few cases, and their singular manner of growth. +To the few who care for Cactuses there is a great deal of beauty, even +in these characters, although perhaps the eye has to be educated up to +it. + +If the stems are more curious than beautiful, the flowers of the +majority of the species of Cactuses are unsurpassed, as regards size and +form, and brilliancy and variety in colour, by any other family of +plants, not even excluding Orchids. In size some of the flowers equal +those of the Queen of Water Lilies (Victoria regia), whilst the colours +vary from the purest white to brilliant crimson and deep yellow. Some of +them are also deliciously fragrant. Those kinds which expand their huge +blossoms only at night are particularly interesting; and in the early +days of Cactus culture the flowering of one of these was a great event +in English gardens. + +Of the many collections of Cactuses formed many years ago in England, +that at Kew is the only one that still exists. This collection has +always been rich in the number of species it contained; at the present +time the number of kinds cultivated there is about 500. Mr. Peacock, of +Hammersmith, also has a large collection of Cactuses, many of which he +has at various times exhibited in public places, such as the Crystal +Palace, and the large conservatory attached to the Royal Horticultural +Society's Gardens at South Kensington. Other smaller collections are +cultivated in the Botanic Gardens at Oxford, Cambridge, Glasnevin, and +Edinburgh. + +A great point in favour of the plants of the Cactus family for gardens +of small size, and even for window gardening--a modest phase of plant +culture which has made much progress in recent years--is the simpleness +of their requirements under cultivation. No plants give so much pleasure +in return for so small an amount of attention as do these. Their +peculiarly tough-skinned succulent stems enable them to go for an +extraordinary length of time without water; indeed, it may be said that +the treatment most suitable for many of them during the greater portion +of the year is such as would be fatal to most other plants. Cactuses are +children of the dry barren plains and mountain sides, living where +scarcely any other form of vegetation could find nourishment, and +thriving with the scorching heat of the sun over their heads, and their +roots buried in the dry, hungry soil, or rocks which afford them +anchorage and food. + +In beauty and variety of flowers, in the remarkable forms of their +stems, in the simple nature of their requirements, and in the other +points of special interest which characterise this family, and which +supply the cultivator and student with an unfailing source of pleasure +and instruction, the Cactus family is peculiarly rich. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +BOTANICAL CHARACTERS. + + + +Although strictly botanical information may be considered as falling +outside the limits of a treatise intended only for the cultivator, yet a +short account of the principal characters by which Cactuses are grouped +and classified may not be without interest. + +From the singular form and succulent nature of the whole of the Cactus +family, it might be inferred that, in these characters alone, we have +reliable marks of relationship, and that it would be safe to call all +those plants Cactuses in which such characters are manifest. A glance at +some members of other families will, however, soon show how easily one +might thus be mistaken. In the Euphorbias we find a number of kinds, +especially amongst those which inhabit the dry, sandy plains of South +Africa, which bear a striking resemblance to many of the Cactuses, +particularly the columnar ones and the Rhipsalis. (The Euphorbias all +have milk-like sap, which, on pricking their stems or leaves, at once +exudes and thus reveals their true character. The sap of the Cactuses is +watery). Amongst Stapelias, too, we meet with plants which mimic the +stem characters of some of the smaller kinds of Cactus. Again, in the +Cactuses themselves we have curious cases of plant mimicry; as, for +instance, the Rhipsalis, which looks like a bunch of Mistletoe, and the +Pereskia, the leaves and habit of which are more like what belong to, +say, the Gooseberry family than to a form of Cactus. From this it will +be seen that although these plants are almost all succulent, and +curiously formed, they are by no means singular in this respect. + +The characters of the order are thus defined by botanists: Cactuses are +either herbs, shrubs, or trees, with soft flesh and copious watery +juice. Root woody, branching, with soft bark. Stem branching or simple, +round, angular, channelled, winged, flattened, or cylindrical; sometimes +clothed with numerous tufts of spines which vary in texture, size, and +form very considerably; or, when spineless, the stems bear numerous +dot-like scars, termed areoles. Leaves very minute, or entirely absent, +falling off very early, except in the Pereskia and several of the +Opuntias, in which they are large, fleshy, and persistent. Flowers +solitary, except in the Pereskia, and borne on the top or side of the +stem; they are composed of numerous parts or segments; the sepals and +petals are not easily distinguished from each other; the calyx tube is +joined to, or combined, with the ovary, and is often covered with +scale-like sepals and hairs or spines; the calyx is sometimes partly +united so as to form a tube, and the petals are spread in regular +whorls, except in the Epiphyllum. Stamens many, springing from the side +of the tube or throat of the calyx, sometimes joined to the petals, +generally equal in length; anthers small and oblong. Ovary smooth, or +covered with scales and spines, or woolly, one-celled; style simple, +filiform or cylindrical, with a stigma of two or more spreading rays, +upon which are small papillae. Fruit pulpy, smooth, scaly, or spiny, the +pulp soft and juicy, sweet or acid, and full of numerous small, usually +black, seeds. + +Tribe I.--Calyx tube produced beyond the Ovary. Stem covered with +Tubercles, or Ribs, bearing Spines. + +1. MELOCACTUS. Stem globose; flowers in a dense cap-like head, composed +of layers of bristly wool and slender spines, amongst which the small +flowers are developed. The cap is persistent, and increases annually +with the stem. + +2. MAMILLARIA. Stems short, usually globose, and covered with tubercles +or mammae, rarely ridged, the apex bearing spiny cushions; flowers +mostly in rings round the stem. + +3. PELECYPHORA. Stem small, club-shaped; tubercles in spiral rows, and +flattened on the top, where are two rows of short scale-like spines. + +4. LEUCHTENBERGIA. Stem naked at the base; tubercles on the upper part +large, fleshy, elongated, three-angled, bearing at the apex a tuft of +long, thin, gristle-like spines. + +5. ECHINOCACTUS. Stem short, ridged, spiny; calyx tube of the flower +large, bell-shaped; ovary and fruit scaly. + +6. DISCOCACTUS. Stem short; calyx tube thin, the throat filled by the +stamens; ovary and fruit smooth. + +7. CEREUS. Stem often long and erect, sometimes scandent, branching, +ridged or angular; flowers from the sides of the stem; calyx tube +elongated and regular; stamens free. + +8. PHYLLOCACTUS. Stem flattened, jointed, and notched; flowers from the +sides, large, having long, thin tubes and a regular arrangement of the +petals. + +9. EPIPHYLLUM. Stem flattened, jointed; joints short; flowers from the +apices of the joints; calyx tube short; petals irregular, almost +bilabiate. + +Tribe II.--Calyx-tube not produced beyond the Ovary. Stem branching, +jointed. + +10. RHIPSALIS. Stem thin and rounded, angular, or flattened, bearing +tufts of hair when young; flowers small; petals spreading; ovary smooth; +fruit a small pea-like berry. + +11. OPUNTIA. Stem jointed, joints broad and fleshy, or rounded; spines +barbed; flowers large; fruit spinous, large, pear-like. + +12. PERESKIA. Stem woody, spiny, branching freely; leaves fleshy, large, +persistent; flowers medium in size, in panicles on the ends of the +branches. + +The above is a key to the genera on the plan of the most recent +botanical arrangement, but for horticultural purposes it is necessary +that the two genera Echinopsis and Pilocereus should be kept up. They +come next to Cereus, and are distinguished as follows: + +ECHINOPSIS. Stem as in Echinocactus, but the flowers are produced low +down from the side of the stem, and the flower tube is long and curved. + +PILOCEREUS. Stem tall, columnar, bearing long silky hairs as well as +spines; flowers in a head on the top of the stem, rarely produced. + +With the aid of this key anyone ought to be able to make out to what +genus a particular Cactus belongs, and by referring to the descriptions +of the species, he may succeed in making out what the plant is. + +For the classification of Cactuses, botanists rely mainly on their +floral organs and fruit. We may, therefore, take a plant of +Phyllocactus, with which most of us are familiar, and, by observing the +structure of its flowers, obtain some idea of the botanical characters +of the whole order. + +Phyllocactus has thin woody stems and branches composed of numerous long +leaf-like joints, growing out of one another, and resembling thick +leaves joined by their ends. Along the sides of these joints there are +numerous notches, springing from which are the large handsome flowers. +On looking carefully, we perceive that the long stalk-like expansion is +not a stalk, because it is above the seed vessel, which is, of course, a +portion of the flower itself. It is a hollow tube, and contains the long +style or connection between the seed vessel and the stigma, a (Fig. 2). +This tube, then, must be the calyx, and the small scattered scale-like +bodies, b (Fig. 2), which clothe the outside, are really calyx lobes. + +[Illustration: FIG. 2.--FLOWER OF PHYLLOCACTUS, CUT LENGTHWISE. + +a, Calyx Tube. b, Calyx Lobes. c, Ditto, assuming the form of Petals. d, +Stamens. e, Style. f, Ovary or Seed Vessel.] + +Nearer the top of the flower, these calyx lobes are better developed, +until, surrounding the corolla, we find them assuming the form and +appearance of petals, c (Fig. 2). The corolla is composed of a large +number of long strap-shaped pointed petals, very thin and delicate, +often beautifully coloured, and generally spreading outwards. Springing +from the bases of these petals, we find the stamens, d (Fig. 2), a great +number of them, forming a bunch of threads unequal in length, and +bearing on their tips the hay-seed-like anthers, which are attached to +the threads by one of their points. The style is a long cylindrical +body, e (Fig. 2), which stretches from the ovary to the top of the +flower, where it splits into a head of spreading linear rays, ½ in. in +length. When the flower withers, the seed vessel, f (Fig. 2), remains on +the plant and expands into a large succulent fruit, inside which is a +mass of pulpy matter, inclosing the numerous, small, black, bony seeds. + +It must not be supposed that all the genera into which Cactuses are +divided are characterised by large flowers such as would render their +study as easy as the genus taken as an illustration. In some, such for +instance as the Rhipsalis, the flowers are small, and therefore less +easy to dissect than those of Phyllocactus. + +The stems of Cactuses show a very wide range of variation in size, in +form, and in structure. In size, we have the colossal Cereus giganteus, +whose straight stems when old are as firm as iron, and rise with many +ascending arms or rear their tall leafless trunks like ships' masts to a +height of 60 ft. or 70 ft. From this we descend through a multitude of +various shapes and sizes to the tiny tufted Mamillarias, no larger than +a lady's thimble, or the creeping Rhipsalis, which lies along the hard +ground on which it grows, and looks like hairy caterpillars. In form, +the variety is very remarkable. We have the Mistletoe Cactus, with the +appearance of a bunch of Mistletoe, berries and all; the Thimble Cactus; +the Dumpling Cactus; the Melon Cactus; the Turk's cap Cactus; the +Rat's-tail Cactus; the Hedgehog Cactus; all having a resemblance to the +things whose names they bear. Then there is the Indian Fig, with +branches like battledores, joined by their ends; the Epiphyllum and +Phyllocactus, with flattened leaf-like stems; the columnar spiny Cereus, +with deeply channelled stems and the appearance of immense candelabra. +Totally devoid of leaves, and often skeleton-like in appearance, these +plants have a strange look about them, which is suggestive of some +fossilised forms of vegetation belonging to the past ages of the +mastodon, the elk, and the dodo, rather than to the living things of +to-day. + +By far the greater part of the species of Cactuses belong to the group +with tall or elongated stems. "It is worthy of remark that as the stems +advance in age the angles fill up, or the articulations disappear, in +consequence of the slow growth of the woody axis and the gradual +development of the cellular substance; so that, at the end of a number +of years, all the branches of Cactuses, however angular or compressed +they originally may have been, become trunks that are either perfectly +cylindrical, or which have scarcely any visible angles." + +A second large group is that of which the Melon and Hedgehog Cactuses +are good representatives, which have sphere-shaped stems, covered with +stout spines. We have hitherto spoken of the Cactuses as being without +leaves, but this is only true of them when in an old or fully-developed +state. On many of the stems we find upon their surface, or angles, small +tubercles, which, when young, bear tiny scale-like leaves. These, +however, soon wither and fall off, so that, to all appearance, leaves +are never present on these plants. There is one exception, however, in +the Barbadoes Gooseberry (Pereskia), which bears true and persistent +leaves; but these may be considered anomalous in the order. + +The term "succulent" is applied to Cactuses because of the large +proportion of cellular tissue, i.e., flesh, of their stems, as compared +with the woody portion. In some of them, when young, the woody system +appears to be altogether absent, and they have the appearance of a mass +of fleshy matter, like a vegetable marrow. This succulent mass is +protected by a tough skin, often of leather-like firmness, and almost +without the little perforations called breathing and evaporating pores, +which in other plants are very numerous. This enables the Cactuses to +sustain without suffering the full ardour of the burning sun and +parched-up nature of the soil peculiar to the countries where they are +native. Nature has endowed Cactuses with a skin similar to what she +clothes many succulent fruits with, such as the Apple, Plum, Peach, &c., +to which the sun's powerful rays are necessary for their growth and +ripening. + +The spiny coat of the majority of Cactuses is no doubt intended to serve +as a protection from the wild animals inhabiting with them the sterile +plains of America, and to whom the cool watery flesh of the Cactus would +otherwise fall a prey. Indeed, these spines are not sufficient to +prevent some animals from obtaining the watery insides of these plants, +for we read that mules and wild horses kick them open and greedily +devour their succulent flesh. It has also been suggested that the spines +are intended to serve the plants as a sort of shade from the powerful +sunshine, as they often spread over and interlace about the stems. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +CULTIVATION. + + +By noting the conditions in which plants are found growing in a natural +state, we obtain some clue to their successful management, when placed +under conditions more or less artificial; and, in the case of Cactuses, +knowledge of this kind is of more than ordinary importance. In the +knowledge that, with only one or two exceptions, they will not exist in +any but sunny lands, where, during the greater part of the year, dry +weather prevails, we perceive what conditions are likely to suit them +when under cultivation in our plant-houses. + +Cactuses are all American (using this term for the whole of the New +World) with only one or two exceptions (several species of Rhipsalis +have been found wild in Africa, Madagascar, and Ceylon), and, broadly +speaking, they are mostly tropical plants, not-withstanding the fact of +their extending to the snow-line on some of the Andean Mountains of +Chili, where several species of the Hedgehog Cactus were found by +Humboldt on the summit of rocks whose bases were planted in snow. In +California, in Mexico and Texas, in the provinces of Central and South +America, as far south as Chili, and in many of the islands contiguous to +the mainland, the Cactus family has become established wherever warmth +and drought, such as its members delight in, allowed them to get +established. In many of the coast lands, they occur in very large +numbers, forming forests of strange aspect, and giving to the landscape +a weird, picturesque appearance. Humboldt, in his "Views of Nature," +says: "There is hardly any physiognomical character of exotic vegetation +that produces a more singular and ineffaceable impression on the mind of +the traveller than an arid plain, densely covered with columnar or +candelabra-like stems of Cactuses, similar to those near Cumana, New +Barcelona, Cora. and in the province of Jaen de Bracamoros." This +applies also to some of the small islands of the West Indies, the hills +or mountains of which are crowned with these curious-looking plants, +whose singular shapes are alone sufficient to remind the traveller that +he has reached an American coast; for these Cactuses are as peculiar a +feature of the New World as the Heaths are in the Old, or as Eucalypti +are in Australia. + +Although the Cactus order is, in its distribution by Nature, limited to +the regions of America, yet it is now represented in various parts of +the Old World by plants which are apparently as wild and as much at home +as when in their native countries. + +The Indian Figs are, perhaps, the most widely distributed of Cactuses in +the Old World-a circumstance due to their having been introduced for the +sake of their edible fruits, and more especially for the cultivation of +the cochineal insect. In various places along the shores of the +Mediterranean, and in South Africa, and even in Australia, the Opuntias +have become naturalised, and appear like aboriginal inhabitants. It is, +however, only in warm sunny regions that the naturalisation of these +plants is possible. + +From these facts, we are able to form some general idea of the +conditions suitable for Cactuses when cultivated in our greenhouses; +for, although we seldom have, or care to have, any but diminutive +specimens of many of these plants as compared with their appearance when +wild, yet we know that the same conditions as regards heat, light, and +moisture are necessary for small Cactuses as for full-grown ones. + +Although the places in which Cactuses naturally abound are, for the +greater portion of the year, very dry and warm, heavy rains are more or +less frequent during certain periods, and these, often accompanied by +extreme warmth and bright sunshine, have an invigorating and almost +forcing effect on the growth of Cactuses. It is during this rainy period +that the whole of the growth is made, and new life is, as it were, given +to the plant, its reservoir-like structure enabling it to store up a +large amount of food and moisture, so that on the return of dry weather +the safety of the plant is insured. + +It is to the management of Cactuses in a small state, such as is most +convenient for our plant-houses, and not to the cultivation of those +colossal species referred to above, that the instructions given here +will be for the most part devoted; but, as in the case of almost every +one of our cultivated plants, it is important to the cultivator to know +something of the conditions which Nature has provided for Cactuses in +those lands where they are native. + +There is nothing in the nature or the requirements of Cactuses that +should render their successful management beyond the means of anyone who +possesses a small, heated greenhouse, or even a window recess to which +sunlight can be admitted during some portion of the day. In large +establishments, such as Kew, it is possible to provide a spacious house +specially for the cultivation of an extensive collection, where many of +them may attain a good size before becoming too big. And it will be +evident that where a house such as that at Kew can be afforded, much +more satisfactory results may generally be obtained, than if plants have +to be provided for in a house containing various other plants, or in the +window of a dwelling-room. Apart altogether from size, it is, however, +possible to grow a collection of Cactuses, and to grow them well, in a +house of small dimensions--given the amount of sunlight and heat which +are required by these plants. We sometimes see Cactuses--specimens, +too, of choice and rare kinds--which have been reared in a cottager's +window or in a small greenhouse, and which in health and beauty have at +least equalled what has been accomplished in the most elaborately +prepared houses. It may be said that these successes, under conditions +of the most limited kind, are accidental rather than the result of +properly understood treatment; but however they have been brought about, +these instances of good cultivation are sufficient to show that success +is possible, even where the means are of the simplest or most restricted +kind. Whether it be in a large house, fitted with the best arrangements, +or in the window of the cottager, the conditions essential to the +successful cultivation of Cactuses are practically the same. + +In Wardian Cases.--Many of our readers will be acquainted with the neat +little glass cases, like greenhouses in shape, and fitted up in much the +same way, which are sometimes to be seen in our markets, filled with a +collection of miniature Cactuses. To the professional gardener, these +cases are playthings, and are looked upon by him as bearing about the +same relation to gardening as a child's doll's house does to +housekeeping. Not-withstanding this, they are the source of much +interest, and even of instruction, to many of the millions to whom a +greenhouse or serious gardening is an impossibility. In these little +cases--for which we are indebted to Mr. Boller, a dealer in Cactaceous +plants--it is possible to grow a collection of tiny Cactuses for years, +if only the operations of watering, potting, ventilating, and other +matters connected with ordinary plant growing, are properly attended to. + +In Window Recesses.--In the window recess larger specimens may be +grown, and here it is possible to grow and flower successfully many of +the plants of the Cactus family. In a window with a south aspect, and +which lights a room where fires are kept, at least during cold weather, +specimens of Phyllocactus, Cereus flagelliformis, Epiphyllum, and, in +fact, of almost every kind of Cactus, are sometimes to be met with even +in England; whilst in Germany they are as popular among the poorer +classes as the Fuchsia, the Pelargonium, and the Musk are with us. One +of the commonest of Cactuses in the latter country is the Rat's-tail +Cactus (Cereus flagelliformis), and it is no unusual thing to see a +large window of a cottager's dwelling thickly draped on the inside with +the long, tail-like growths and handsome rose-coloured flowers of this +plant. This is only one among dozens of species, all equally useful for +window gardening, and all as interesting and beautiful as those above +described. + +In Greenhouses.--For the greenhouse proper, Cactuses are well adapted, +either as the sole occupants or as suitable for such positions as are +afforded by shelves or baskets placed near the roof glass. If the +greenhouse is not fitted with heating arrangements, then, by selecting +only those species of Cactus that are known to thrive in a position +where, during winter, they are kept safe out of the reach of frost (of +which a large number are known) a good collection of these plants may be +grown. In heated structures the selection of kinds may be made according +to the space available, and to the conditions under which they will be +expected to grow. Fig. 3 represents a section of a house for Cactuses, +which will afford a good idea of the kind of structure best suited for +them. The aspect is due south. + +[Illustration: FIG. 3. SECTION OF HOUSE FOR CACTUSES--A,A, Hot-water +Pipes; B,B, Ventilators.] + +When grown on their own roots, the Epiphyllums, as well as the +pendent-growing kinds of Rhipsalis, and several species of Cereus, may +be placed in baskets and suspended from the roof. The baskets should be +lined with thin slices of fibrous peat, and the whole of the middle +filled with the compost recommended for these plants under "Soil". When +well managed, some very pretty objects are formed by the Epiphyllums +grown as basket plants. The climbing Cactuses are usually planted in a +little mound composed of loam and brick rubble, and their stems either +trained along rafters or allowed to run up the back wall of a +greenhouse, against which they root freely, and are generally capable of +taking care of themselves with very little attention from the gardener. + +In Frames.--For cultivation in frames, the conditions are the same as +for greenhouses. Even when grown in the latter, it will be found +conducive to the health and flowering of the plants if, during the +summer months, they can be placed in a frame with a south aspect, +removing them back to the house again on the decline of summer weather. +Wherever the place selected for Cactuses may be, whether in a large +plant-house, or a frame, or a window, it is of vital importance to the +plants that the position should be exposed to bright sunshine during +most of the day. Without sunlight, they can no more thrive than a +Pelargonium could without water. In Germany, many growers of almost all +the kinds of Cactuses place their young plants in frames, which are +prepared as follows: In April or May a hot-bed of manure and leaves is +prepared, and a frame placed upon it, looking south. Six inches of soil +is put on the top of the bed, and in this, as soon as the temperature of +the bed has fallen to about 70 deg., the young plants are placed in +rows. The frames are kept close even in bright weather, except when +there is too much moisture inside, and the plants are syringed twice +daily in dry, hot weather. The growth they make under this treatment is +astonishing. By the autumn the plants are ready to be ripened by +exposure to sun and air, and in September they are lifted, planted in +pots, and sent to market for sale. This method may be adopted in +England, and if carefully managed, the growth the plants would make +would far exceed anything ever accomplished when they are kept +permanently in pots. + +Out-of-doors.--There are some kinds which may be grown out of doors +altogether, if planted on a sunny, sheltered position, on a rockery. The +most successful plan is that followed at Kew, where a collection of the +hardier species is planted in a rockery composed of brick rubble and +stones. During summer the plants are exposed; but when cold weather and +rains come, lights are placed permanently over the rockery, and in this +way it is kept comparatively dry. No fire-heat or protection of any +other kind is used, and the vigorous growth, robust health, and +floriferousness of the several species are proofs of the fitness of the +treatment for this class of plants. + +In any garden where a few square yards in a sunny, well-drained position +can be afforded for a raised rockery, the hardy Cactuses may be easily +managed. To make a suitable rockery, proceed as follows: Find a position +against the south wall of a house, greenhouse, or shed, and against this +wall construct a raised rockery of brick rubble, lime rubbish, stones +(soft sandstone, if possible), and fibrous loam. The rockery when +finished should be, say, 4 ft. wide, and reach along the wall as far as +required; the back of the rockery would extend about 2 ft. above the +ground level, and fall towards the front. Fix in the wall, 1 ft. or so +above the rockery, a number of hooks at intervals all along, to hold in +position lights sufficiently long to cover the rockery from the wall to +the front, where they could be supported by short posts driven in the +ground. The lights should be removed during summer to some shed, and +brought out for use on the approach of winter. Treated in this manner, +the following hardy species could not fail to be a success: + +Opuntia Rafinesquii and var. arkansana, O. vulgaris, O. brachyarthra, O. +Picolominiana, O. missouriensis, O. humilis, Cereus Fendleri, C. +Engelmanni, C. gonacanthus, C. phoeniceus, Echinocactus Simpsoni, E. +Pentlandii, Mamillaria vivipara. + +Having briefly pointed out the various positions in which Cactuses may +be cultivated successfully, we will now proceed to treat in detail the +various operations which are considered as being of more or less +importance in their management. These are potting, watering, and +temperatures, after which propagation by means of seeds, cuttings, and +grafting, hybridisation, seed saving, &c., and diseases and noxious +insects will be treated upon. + +Soil.--The conditions in which plants grow naturally, are what we +usually try to imitate for their cultivation artificially. At all +events, such is supposed to be theoretically right, however difficult we +may often find it to be in practice. Soil in some form or other is +necessary to the healthy existence of all plants; and we know that the +nature of the soil varies with that of the plants growing in it, or, in +other words, certain soils are necessary to certain plants, whether in a +state of nature or cultivated in gardens. But, whilst admitting that +Nature, when intelligently followed, would not lead us far astray, we +must be careful not to follow her too strictly when dealing with the +management of plants in gardens. There are other circumstances besides +the nature of the soil by which plants are influenced. Soil is only one +of the conditions on which plants depend, and where the other conditions +are not exactly the same in our gardens as in nature, it is often found +necessary to employ a different soil from that in which the plants grow +when wild. + +It has been stated that plants do not grow naturally in the soil best +suited for them, and that the reason why many plants are found in +peculiar places is not at all because they prefer them, but because they +alone are capable of existing there, or because they take refuge there +from the inroads of stouter neighbours who would destroy them or crowd +them out. There are, as every gardener knows, numerous plants that +succeed equally well in widely different soils, and a soil which may be +suitable for a plant in one place, may prove totally unsuited in +another. Hence it is why we find one gardener recommending one kind of +soil, and another a different one, for the same plant, both answering +equally well because of other conditions fitting better with each soil. +This helps us to understand how it is that many garden subjects grow +much better when planted in composts often quite different from those +the plants are found in when wild. Few plants have a particular +predilection for soil, and some have what we may call the power to adapt +themselves to conditions often widely different. + +In Cactuses we have a family of plants for which special conditions are +necessary; and, as regards soil, whether we are guided by nature or by +gardening experience, we are led to conclude that almost all of them +thrive only when planted in one kind, that soil being principally loam. +Plants which are limited in nature to sandy, sun-scorched plains or the +glaring sides of rocky hills and mountains, where scarcely any other +form of vegetation can exist, are not likely to require much decayed +vegetable humus, but must obtain their food from inorganic substances, +such as loam, sand, or lime. So it is with them when grown in our +houses. They are healthiest and longest-lived when planted in a loamy +soil; and although they may be grown fairly well for a time when placed +in a compost of loam and leaf mould, or loam and peat, yet the growth +they make is generally too sappy and weak; it is simply fat without +bone, which, when the necessary resting period comes round, either rots +or gradually dries up. In preparing soil, therefore, for all Cactuses +(except Epiphyllum and Rhipsalis, which will be treated separately) a +good, rather stiff loam, with plenty of grass fibre in it, should form +the principal ingredient, sand and, if obtainable, small brick rubble +being added--one part of each of the latter to six parts of the former. +The brick rubble should be pounded up so that the largest pieces are +about the size of hazel nuts. Lime rubbish, i.e., old plaster from +buildings, &c., is sometimes recommended for Cactuses, but it does not +appear to be of any use except as drainage. At Kew its use has been +discontinued, and it is now generally condemned by all good cultivators. +Of course, the idea that lime was beneficial to Cactuses sprang from the +knowledge that it existed in large quantities in the soil in which the +plants grew naturally, and it is often found in abundance, in the form +of oxalate of lime, in the old stems of the plants. But in good loam, +lime, in the state of chalk, is always present, and this, together with +the lime contained in the brick rubble, is sufficient to supply the +plants with as much as they require. + +For Epiphyllums and Rhipsalis, both of which are epiphytal naturally, +but which are found to thrive best in pots in our houses, a mixture of +equal parts of peat and loam with sand and brick rubble in the same +proportion as before recommended, will be found most suitable. Leaf +mould is sometimes used for these plants; but unless really good it is +best left out of the soil. The finest Epiphyllums have been grown in a +soil which consists almost wholly of a light fibry loam, with the +addition of a little crushed bones. + +Potting.--Cactuses, when healthy, are injuriously affected by frequent +disturbance at the roots. On the arrival of the potting season, which +for these plants is in April and May, established plants should be +examined at the root, and if the roots are found to be in a healthy +condition, and the soil sweet, they should be replaced in the same pots +to continue in them another year. If the roots are decayed, or the soil +has become sour, it should be shaken away from the roots, which must be +examined, cutting away all decayed portions, and shortening the longest +roots to within a few inches of the base of the plant. Cactuses are so +tenacious of life, and appear to rely so little on their roots, that it +will be found the wisest plan, when repotting them, to cut the roots +thoroughly. + +The size of pots most suitable is what would be considered small in +comparison with other plants, Cactuses preferring to be somewhat cramped +in this respect. This, indeed, is how they are found when wild, the +roots generally fixing themselves in the crevices of the rocks or stones +about which the plants grow, so that a large specimen is often found to +have only a few inches of space in the cleft of a rock for the whole of +its roots. When thus limited, growth is firmer and the flowers are +produced in much greater profusion than when a liberal amount of root +space is afforded. The pots should be well drained-about one-fifth of +their depth filled with drainage when intended for large, strong-growing +kinds, and one-third for the smaller ones, such as Mamillarias. A layer +of rough fibry material should be placed over the crocks to prevent the +finer soil from stopping the drainage. When filling in the soil, press +it down firmly, spreading the roots well amongst it, and keeping the +base of the plant only an inch or so below the surface. + +For plants with weak stems, stakes will be necessary, and even +stout-stemmed kinds, when their roots are not sufficient to hold them +firmly, will do best if fastened to one or two strong stakes till they +have made new roots and got firm hold of the soil. Epiphyllums, when +grown as standards, should be tied to strong wire supports, those with +three short, prong-like legs being most desirable, as, owing to the +weight of the head of the plant, a single stake is not sufficient to +hold the whole firmly. After potting, no water should be given for a few +weeks. In fact, if the atmosphere in which the plants are placed be kept +a little moist, it will not be necessary to water them till signs of +fresh growth are perceived. For Epiphyllums and Rhipsalis, water will be +required earlier than this; but even they are best left for a few days +without water, after they have been repotted. As soon as fresh growth is +perceived, the plants may be well watered, and from this time water may +be supplied as often as the soil approaches dryness. Newly-imported +plants, which on arrival are usually much shrivelled and rootless, +should be potted in rather dry soil and small pots, and treated as +recommended above. Cactuses, we must remember, contain an abundance of +nourishment stored up in their stems, and upon this they will continue +to exist for a considerable time without suffering; and, when their +growing season comes round, root action commences whether the soil is +wet or dry, the latter being the most favourable. + +Plants altogether exposed to the air will push roots in due time. A +remarkable instance of this has been recorded by Mr. J. R. Jackson, +curator of the museums at Kew. A plant of Pilocereus senilis, which had +grown too tall for the house, was cut off at the base, and placed in the +museum as a specimen. Here it gradually dried up to within 2 ft. of the +top, where a fracture across the stem had been made. Above this the stem +remained fresh and healthy, and, on examining it some months afterwards, +it was found that not only had the top of the stem remained green, but +it had formed roots of its own, which had grown down the dead lower +portion of the stem, and were in a perfectly healthy state. When it is +remembered that all this happened in the dry atmosphere of a museum, it +will be apparent how exceptional Cactuses are in their manner of growth, +and in the wonderful tenacity of life they exhibit under conditions +which would destroy the majority of plants in a very short time. We +sometimes find, when examining the bases of Cactus stems, that decay has +commenced; this is carefully cut out with a sharp knife, and the wound +exposed to the action of the air till it is perfectly dry, or, as we +term it, "callused." + +Watering.--It will have peen gathered from what has been previously +said in relation to the conditions under which the majority of the +plants of the Cactus family grow when wild, that during their season of +growth they require a good supply of moisture, both at the root and +overhead; and afterwards a somewhat lengthened period of rest, that is, +almost total dryness, accompanied by all the sunlight possible, and +generally a somewhat high temperature. The growing season for all those +kinds which require to be kept dry when at rest is from the end of April +to the middle of August, and during this time they should be kept +moderately moist, but not constantly saturated, which, however, is not +likely to occur if the water is not carelessly supplied, and the +drainage and soil are perfect. This treatment corresponds with what +happens to Cactuses in a wild state, the frequent and heavy rains which +occur in the earlier part of the summer in the American plains supplying +the amount of moisture necessary to enable these plants to make fresh +growth, and produce their beautiful flowers and spine-clothed fruits. +After August, little or no rain falls, and the Cactuses assume a rather +shrivelled appearance, which gives them an unhealthy look, but which is +really a sign of ripeness, promising a plentiful crop of flowers when +the rainy season again returns. + +As the sun in England is not nearly so powerful as in the hot plains of +Central America and the Southern States of North America, where Cactuses +are found in greatest abundance, it will be evident that, if flowers are +to be produced, we must see that our plants have a sufficiency of water +in early summer, and little or none during the autumn and winter, whilst +the whole year round they should be exposed to all the sunlight +possible, the temperature, of course, varying with the requirements of +the species, whether it is a native of tropical or of temperate regions. +It is important that the cultivator should understand that if water is +liberally supplied all through the summer, the plants cannot obtain the +rest which is necessary to their ripening and producing flowers, as +dryness at the root alone is not sufficient to provide this, but must be +accompanied by exposure to bright sunlight, which is not possible in +England during winter, so that the ripening process must begin before +the summer is over. + +It is possible to preserve most Cactuses alive by keeping them +constantly growing; but, with very few exceptions, such treatment +prevents the plants from flowering. The following is what is practised +in the gardens where Cactuses are successfully cultivated. For the +genera Cereus, Echinopsis, Echinocactus, Mamillaria, Opuntia, and +Melocactus, a moist tropical house is provided, and in April the plants +are freely watered at the root, and syringed overhead both morning and +afternoon on all bright days. This treatment is continued till the end +of July, when syringing is suspended, and the water supplied to the +roots gradually reduced. By the end of August, the plants are placed in +a large light frame with a south aspect, except the tall-growing kinds, +which are too bulky to remove. In this frame the plants are kept till +the summer is over, and are watered only about once a week should the +sun be very powerful. The lights are removed on all bright sunny days, +but are kept on during wet or dull weather, and at night. Under this +treatment, many of the species assume a reddish appearance, and the +thick fleshy-stemmed kinds generally shrivel somewhat. There is no +occasion for alarm in the coloured and shrivelled appearance of the +plants: on the contrary, it may be hailed as a good sign for flowers. + +A common complaint in relation to Cacti as flowering plants is that they +grow all right but rarely or never flower. The explanation of this is +shown by the fact that the plants must be properly ripened and rested +before they can produce flowers. On the approach of cold weather the +plants which were removed to a frame to be ripened should be brought +back into the house for the winter, and kept quite dry at the roots till +the return of spring, when their flowers will be developed either before +or soon after the watering season again commences. + +Hitherto we have been dealing with those genera which have thick fleshy +stems; but there still remain the genera Rhipsalis, Epiphyllum, and +Phyllocactus, which are not capable of bearing the long period of +drought advised for the former. The last-mentioned genus should, +however, be kept almost dry at the root during winter, and, if placed in +a light, airy house till the turn of the year, the branches will ripen, +and set their flower buds much more readily than when they are wintered +in a moist, partially-shaded house. During summer all the Phyllocactuses +delight in plenty of water, and, when growing freely, a weak solution of +manure affords them good food. Epiphyllums must be kept always more or +less moist at the root, though, of course, when growing freely, they +require more water than when growth has ceased for the year, which +happens late in autumn. The same rule applies to Rhipsalis, none of the +species of which are happy when kept long dry. For the several species +of Opuntia and Echinopsis, which are sufficiently hardy to be cultivated +on a sunny rockery out of doors, it will be found a wise precaution to +place either a pane of glass or a handlight over the plants in wet +autumns and during winter, not so much to serve as protection from cold +as to shield them from an excess of moisture at a time when it would +prove injurious. + +Temperature.--As the amount of heat required by the different species +of Cactus varies very considerably, and as the difference between the +summer and winter temperatures for them is often as great as it is +important, it will be as well if we mention the temperature required by +each when describing the species. It is true that the majority of +Cactuses may be kept alive in one house where all would be subjected to +the same temperature, but many of the plants would merely exist, and +could not possibly flower. It would be easy to point to several +instances of this unsatisfactory state of things. At Kew, for example, +owing to the arrangements necessary for the public, it is found +convenient to have the majority of the large collection of Cactuses in +one house, where the plants present an imposing appearance, but where, +as might be expected, a good number of the species very rarely produce +flowers. The Cactuses which inhabit the plains of the Southern United +States are subjected to a very high summer temperature, and a winter of +intense cold; whilst on the other hand the species found in Central and +South America do not undergo nearly so wide an extreme, the difference +between the summer and winter temperatures of these countries being +generally much less marked. A word will be said under each species as to +whether it is tropical, temperate, or hardy, a tropical temperature for +Cacti being in summer 70 degs., rising to 90 degs. with sun heat, night +temperature 60 degs. to 70 degs., in winter 60 degs. to 65 degs. Temperate: +in summer 60 degs., rising to 75 degs. with sun heat, night 60 degs. to +65 degs., in winter 50 degs. to 55 degs. The hardy species will, of course, +bear the ordinary temperatures of this country; but, to enable them to +withstand a very cold winter, they must be kept as dry as possible. In +the colder parts of England it is not advisable to leave any of these +plants outside during winter. + +Insect Pests.--Notwithstanding the thickness of skin characteristic of +almost every one of the Cactuses, they are frequently attacked by +various kinds of garden pests when under cultivation, and more +especially by mealy bug. There is, of course, no difficulty in removing +such insects from the species with few or no spines upon their stems; +but when the plants are thickly covered with clusters of spines and +hairs, the insects are not easily got rid of. For Cactuses, as well as +for other plants subject to this most troublesome insect, various kinds +of insecticide have been recommended; but the best, cheapest, and most +effectual with which we are acquainted is paraffin, its only drawback +being the injury it does to the plants when applied carelessly, or when +not sufficiently diluted. A wineglassful of the oil, added to a gallon +of soft water, and about 2oz. of soft soap, the whole to be kept +thoroughly mixed by frequently stirring it, forms a solution strong +enough to destroy mealy bug. In applying this mixture, a syringe should +be used, or, if the plants are to be dipped overhead, care must be taken +to have the oil thoroughly diffused through the water, or the plant, +when lifted out, will be covered with pure paraffin, which does not mix +properly with water, but swims upon the surface if allowed to stand for +a few moments. The plants should be laid on their sides to be syringed +with the mixture, and after they have been thoroughly wetted, they may +be allowed to stand for a few minutes before being syringed with pure +water. Plants that are badly infested with mealy bug should be syringed +with the paraffin mixture once a day, for about a week. It is easy to do +serious harm to these plants by using a stronger solution than is here +recommended, and also by not properly mixing the oil with the soap and +water; and the amateur cannot, therefore, be too careful in his use of +this excellent insecticide. It would be easy to recommend other +insecticides, so called, for Cactuses; but whilst they are less +dangerous to the plants, they are often as harmless as pure water to the +insects. + +For scale, which sometimes infests these plants, and which is sometimes +found upon them when wild, the paraffin may be used with good effect. + +Thrips attack Phyllocactus, Rhipsalis, and Epiphyllum, especially when +the plants are grown in less shade, or in a higher temperature, than is +good for them. Fumigation with tobacco, dipping in a strong solution of +tobacco, or sponging with a mixture of soap and water, are either of +them effectual when applied to plants infested with thrips. The same may +be said of green-fly, which sometimes attacks the Epiphyllums. + +A blight, something similar to mealy bug, now and again appears on the +roots of some of the varieties of Echinocactus and Cereus. This may be +destroyed by dipping the whole of the roots in the mixture recommended +for the stems when infested by mealy bug, and afterwards allowing them +to stand for a few minutes immersed in pure water. They may then be +placed where they will dry quickly, and finally, in a day or two, +repotted into new compost, first removing every particle of the old soil +from the roots. + +Diseases.--When wild and favourably situated as regards heat and +moisture, the larger kinds of Cactus are said to live to a great age, +some of the tree kinds, according to Humboldt, bearing about them signs +of having existed several hundred years. The same remarkable longevity, +most likely, is found in the smaller kinds when wild. Under artificial +cultivation there are, however, many conditions more or less +unfavourable to the health of plants, and, in the case of Cactuses, very +large specimens, when imported from their native haunts to be placed in +our glass houses, soon perish. At Kew, there have been, at various +times, very fine specimens of some of the largest-growing ones, but they +have never lived longer than a year or so, always gradually shrinking in +size till, finally, owing to the absence of proper nourishment, and to +other untoward conditions, they have broken down and rotted. This +rotting of the tissue, or flesh, of these plants is the great enemy to +their cultivation in England. When it appears, it should be carefully +cut out with a sharp knife, and exposed to the influence of a perfectly +dry atmosphere for a few days till the wound has dried, when the plant +should be potted in a sandy compost and treated as for cuttings. +Sometimes the decay begins in the side of the stem of the plant, in +which case it should be cut away, and the wound exposed to a dry air. +The cause of this decay at the base or in the side of the stems of +Cactuses is no doubt debility, which is the result of the absence of +some necessary condition when the plants are cultivated in houses or +windows in this country. + +Grafted plants, especially Epiphyllums, when worked on to Pereskia +stocks, are apt to grow weak and flabby through the stem wearing out, or +through the presence of mealy bug or insects in the crevices of the part +where the stock and scion join, in which case it is best to prepare +fresh stocks of Pereskia, and graft on to them the best of the pieces of +Epiphyllum from the old, debilitated plant. It is no use trying to get +such plants to recover, as, when once this disease or weakness begins, +it cannot easily be stopped. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +PROPAGATION. + + +Cactuses may be multiplied from cuttings of the stems, from seeds, and +also by means of grafting; this last method being adopted for those +species which, under cultivation, are not easily kept in health when +growing upon their own roots, or, as in the case of Epiphyllums, when it +offers a means of speedily forming large and shapely specimens. From +seeds the plants are generally freer in growth than when cuttings are +used, although the seedlings are longer in growing into flowering +specimens than large cuttings would be. To the amateur, the process of +germination and development from the seedling to the mature stage, is +full of interest and attraction, the changes from one form to another as +the plant develops being very marked in most of the genera. + +Seeds.--Good fresh seeds of Cactaceous plants germinate in from two to +four weeks after sowing, if placed in a warm house or on a hotbed with a +temperature of 80 degs. If sown in a lower temperature, the time they +take to vegetate is longer; but, unless in a very low degree of heat, +the seeds, if good, and if properly managed as regards soil and water, +rarely fail to germinate. For all the kinds, pots or pans containing +drainage to within 2 in. of the top, and then filled up with finely +sifted loam and sand, three parts of the former to one of the latter, +and pressed down moderately firm, will be found to answer. If the soil +be moist at the time of sowing the seeds, it will not be necessary to +water it for a day or two. The seeds should be scattered thinly over the +surface of the soil, and then covered with about 1/8 in. of soil. Over +this, a pane of glass may be placed, and should remain till the +seedlings appear above the soil. Should the position where the seeds are +to be raised be in a room window, this pane of glass will be found very +useful in preventing the dry air of the room from absorbing all the +moisture from the soil about the seeds. For the germination of Cactus, +and indeed of all seeds, a certain amount of moisture must be constantly +present in the soil; and after a seed has commenced to grow, to allow it +to get dry is to run the risk of killing it. + +[Illustration: FIG. 4.--SEEDLINGS OF CEREUS. a, One month after + germination. b, Two months after germination. C, Three months after + germination. (Magnified six times,).] + +The seeds of Cactuses may be sown at anytime in the year; but it is best +to sow in spring, as, after germinating, the young plants have the +summer before them in which to attain sufficient strength to enable them +to pass through the winter without suffering; whereas plants raised from +autumn-sown seeds have often a poor chance of surviving through the +winter, unless treated with great care. The seeds of all Cactuses are +small, and therefore the seedlings are at first tiny globular masses of +watery flesh, very different from what we find in the seedlings of +ordinary garden plants. The form of the seedling of a species of Cereus +is shown at Fig. 4, and its transition from a small globule-like mass of +flesh to the spine-clothed stem, which characterises this genus, is also +represented. At a we see the young plant after it has emerged from the +seed, the outer shell of which was attached to one of the sides of the +aperture at the top till about a week before the drawing was made. At b, +the further swelling and opening out, as it were, of what, in botanical +language, is known as the cotyledon stage of development, will be seen; +a month afterwards, this will have assumed the shape of a very small +Cereus. It is interesting to note how the soft fleshy mass which first +grows out of the seed is nothing more than a little bag of food with a +tiny growing point fixed in its top, and that, as the growing point +increases, the food bag decreases, till finally the whole of the latter +becomes absorbed into the young stem, which is now capable of obtaining +nourishment by means of its newly-formed roots. + +[Illustration: FIG. 5.--SEEDLINGS OF OPUNTIA, SHOWING MODE OF +GERMINATION. (Magnified three times).] + +In the genus Opuntia, the cotyledon stage (see Fig. 5) of the plant is +different from that of the Cereus, and is more like that of a cucumber. +Still, though the form is different, the purpose of the two cotyledons +and the juicy stem in the seedling Opuntia is the same as in the Cereus; +and, as the growing point develops, the cotyledons shrivel up and fall +off, the plant food they contained having passed into that part of the +young seedling which was to be permanent. The seedlings of these two +genera serve as an illustration of the process of germination from seed +of all the Cactuses; and it must be evident that there is much that is +singular and full of interest in raising these plants from seeds. As +soon as the seedlings are large enough to be handled, they may be +planted separately in small pots, using a compost similar to, but +slightly coarser than, that in which the seeds were sown. The soil +should be kept moist till the summer is over; and after that, till the +return of warm sunny weather, it will be found safest to keep the +seedlings on the dry side, a little water only to be given at intervals +of a week, and only when the sun is shining upon the plants. + +To obtain seeds from cultivated plants, it is necessary, in order to +insure fertilisation that the top of the stigma (see Fig. 2) should be +dusted over with the dust-like pollen from the anthers. This may be done +by means of a small camel-hair brush, which should be moistened in the +mouth and then pushed among the anthers till covered with pollen, which +may then be gently rubbed on to the stigma. A warm, sunny morning is the +most suitable time for this operation, as fertilisation takes place much +more readily under the influence of bright sunshine than at any other +time. Some of the kinds have their floral organs so arranged as to be +capable of self-fertilisation; still, it is always as well to give them +some assistance. The night-flowering species must, of course, be +fertilised either at night or very early in the morning. By using the +pollen from one kind for dusting on to the stigma of another, hybrids +may be obtained, and it is owing to the readiness with which the plants +of this family cross with each other, that so many hybrids and forms of +the genera Epiphyllum and Phyllocactus have been raised. It would be +useless to attempt such a cross as Epiphyllum with Cereus giganteus, +because of their widely different natures; but such crosses as +Epiphyllum with Phyllocactus, and Cereus flagelliformis with C. +speciosissimus, have been brought about. To an enthusiast, the whole +order offers a very good field for operations with a view to the +production of new sorts, as the different kinds cross freely with each +other, and the beautiful colours of the flowers would most likely +combine so as to present some new and distinct varieties. + +Cuttings.--No plants are more readily increased from stem-cuttings than +Cactuses; for, be the cutting 20 ft. high, or only as large as a thimble, +it strikes root readily if placed in a warm temperature and kept +slightly moist. We have already seen how, even in the dry atmosphere of +a museum, a stem of Cereus, instead of perishing, emitted roots and +remained healthy for a considerable time, and it would be easy to add to +this numerous other instances of the remarkable tenacity of life +possessed by these plants. At Kew, it is the common practice, when the +large-growing specimens get too tall for the house in which they are +grown, to cut off the top of the stem to a length of 6 ft. or 8 ft., and +plant it in a pot of soil to form a new plant. The old base is kept for +stock, as it often happens that just below the point where the stem was +severed, lateral buds are developed, and these, when grown into +branches, are removed and used as cuttings. Large Opuntias are treated +in the same way, with the almost invariable result that even the largest +branches root freely, and are in no way injured by what appears to be +exceedingly rough treatment. Large cuttings striking root so freely, it +must follow that small cuttings will likewise soon form roots, and, so +far as our experience--which consists of some years with a very large +collection of Cactuses--goes, there is not one species in cultivation +which may not be easily multiplied by means of cuttings. The nature of a +Cactus stem is so very different from the stems of most other plants, +that no comparison can be made between them in respect of their +root-developing power; the rooting of a Cactus cutting being as certain +as the rooting of a bulb. The very soft, fleshy stems of some of the +kinds such as the Echinocactus, should be exposed to the air for a time, +so that the cut at the base may dry before it is buried in the soil. If +the base of a plant decays, all that is necessary is the removal of the +decayed portion, exposure of the wound to the air for two or three days, +and then the planting of the cutting in a dry, sandy soil, and placing +it in a warm moist house till rooted. All cuttings of Cactuses may be +treated in this way. If anything proves destructive to these cuttings, +it is excessive moisture in the soil, which must always be carefully +guarded against. + +Grafting.--The object of grafting is generally either to effect certain +changes in the nature of the scion, by uniting it with a stock of a +character different from its own, which usually results in the better +production of flowers, fruit, &c., or to multiply those plants which are +not readily increased by the more ordinary methods of cuttings or seeds. +In the case of Cactuses, however, we resort to grafting, not because of +any difficulty in obtaining the kinds thus treated from either cuttings +or seeds, as we have already seen that all the species of Cactuses grow +freely from seed, or are easily raised from cuttings of their stems, nor +yet to effect any change in the characters of the plants thus treated, +but because some of the more delicate kinds, and especially the smaller +ones, are apt to rot at the base during the damp, foggy weather of our +winters; and, to prevent this, it is found a good and safe plan to graft +them on to stocks formed of more robust kinds, or even on to plants of +other genera, such as Cereus or Echinocactus. By this means, the +delicate plants are raised above the soil whence the injury in winter +usually arises, and they are also kept well supplied with food by the +more robust and active nature of the roots of the plant upon which they +are grafted. Grafting is also adopted for some of the Cactuses to add to +the grotesqueness of their appearance; a spherical Echinocactus or +Mamillaria being united to the columnar stem of another kind, so as to +produce the appearance of a drum stick; or a large round-growing species +grafted on to three such stems, which may then be likened to a globe +supported upon three columns. As the species and genera unite freely +with each other, it is possible to produce, by means of grafting, some +very extraordinary-looking plants, and to a lover of the incongruous and +"queer," these plants will afford much interest and amusement. Besides +the above, we graft Epiphyllums, and the long drooping Cereuses, such as +C. flagelliformis, because of their pendent habit, and which, therefore, +are seen to better advantage when growing from the tall erect stem of +some stouter kind, than if allowed to grow on their own roots. By +growing a Pereskia on into a large plant, and then cutting it into any +shape desired, we may, by grafting upon its spurs or branches a number +of pieces of Epiphyllum, obtain large flowering specimens of various +shapes in a comparatively short time. For general purposes, it is usual +to graft Epiphyllums on to stems, about 1 ft. high, of Pereskia aculeata; +pretty little standard plants being in this way formed in about a year +from the time of grafting, As an instance of how easily some kinds may +be grafted, we may note what was done with a large head of the +Rat's-tail Cactus which had been grown for some years on the stem of +Cereus rostratus, but which last year rotted off just below the point of +union. On re-grafting this head on to the Cereus a little lower down, it +failed to unite, and, attributing the failure to possible ill-health in +the stock, we determined to transfer the Rat's-tail Cactus to a large +stem of Pereskia aculeata, the result being a quick union and rapid, +healthy growth since. Upon the same stock some grafts of Epiphyllum had +previously been worked, so that it is probable these two aliens will +form on their nurse-stem, the Pereskia, an attractive combination. In +Fig. 6 we have a fine example of this kind of grafting. It represents a +stem of Pereskia Bleo upon which the Rat's-tail Cactus and an Epiphyllum +have been grafted. + +[Illustration: FIG. 6. PERESKIA BLEO, WITH EPIPHYLLUM AND CEREUS +FLAGELLIFORMIS GRAFTED UPON IT.] + +For most plants the operation of grafting must be carefully and +skilfully performed, but in the case of Cactuses very little skill is +necessary if one or two rules, which apply to all kinds of grafting, are +observed. The period of vigorous growth, and while the sap of both the +stock and the scion is in motion, is the most favourable time for the +operation. It is then only necessary, in order to bring about a speedy +union, that the parts grafted should be cut so as to fit each other +properly, and then bound or in some way fastened together so that they +will remain in close contact with each other till a union is effected. A +close atmosphere and, if possible, a little shade should be afforded the +worked plants till the grafts have taken. The ligature used should not +be bound round the graft too tightly, or it will prevent the flow of the +sap; if bound tightly enough to hold the parts together and to prevent +their slipping, that will be found quite sufficient. + +Epiphyllums are treated as follows: Cuttings of Pereskia are rooted and +grown on to the required size, and in the month of September they are +headed down, the tops being used as cuttings. Grafts of Epiphyllum are +then prepared by cutting them to the required length, usually about +6 in., and removing a thin slice of the fleshy stem on each side so as to +form a flat wedge. The stem of Pereskia is then split down about 1 in. +with a sharp knife, and into this the wedge of the graft is inserted, +and fastened either by means of a small pin passed through the stem and +graft about half-way up the slit, or by binding round them a little +worsted or matting, the former being preferred. The worked plants are +then placed in a close handlight or propagating frame, having a +temperature of about 75 degs., where they are kept moist by sprinkling +them daily with water; they must be shaded from bright sunlight. As soon +as a union has been effected, which will be seen by the grafts beginning +to grow, the ligature and pin should be removed, and the plants +gradually hardened off by admitting air to the box, till finally they +may be removed to the house where it is intended to grow them. In a +cottage window this operation may be successfully performed if a box +with a movable glass top, or a large bell glass, be used to keep the +grafts close till they have taken. + +For the spherical-stemmed kinds of Mamillaria, Cereus, Echinocactus, +&c., a different method is found to answer. Instead of cutting the base +of the graft to a wedge shape, it is simply cut across the base +horizontally, or, in other words, a portion of the bottom of the graft +is sliced off, and a stock procured which, when cut across the top, will +about fit the wound at the base of the scion; the two sliced parts are +placed together, and secured either by passing a piece of matting a few +times over the top of the graft and under the pot containing the stock, +or by placing three stakes around it in such a way that, when tied +together at the top, they will hold the graft firmly in position. +Another method is that of cutting the base of the scion in the form of a +round wedge, and then scooping a hole out in the centre of the stock +large enough to fit this wedge; the scion is pressed into this, and then +secured in the manner above mentioned. To graft one spherical-stemmed +kind on to three columnar-stemmed ones, the latter must first be +established in one pot and, when ready for grafting, cut at the top into +rounded wedges, three holes to correspond being cut into the scion. When +fixed, the top should be securely fastened by tying it to the pot, or by +means of stakes. For this last operation, a little patience and care are +necessary to make the stocks and scions fit properly; but if the rules +that apply to grafting are properly followed, there will be little fear +of the operation failing. In the accompanying illustrations, we have a +small Mamillaria stem grafted on to the apex of the tall +quadrangular-stemmed, night-flowering Cereus (Fig. 7), and also a +cylindrical-stemmed Opuntia worked on a branch of the flat, +battledore-like Indian Fig (Fig. 8.) + + +[Illustration: FIG. 7.--GRAFT OF MAMILLARIA RECURVA ON CEREUS +NYCTICALUS.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 8.--GRAFT OF OPUNTIA DECIPIENS ON O. FICUS-INDICA.] + +In the hands of a skilful cultivator, the different Cactuses may be made +to unite with one another almost as easily as clay under the moulder's +hands; whilst even to the amateur, Cactuses afford the easiest of +subjects for observing the results of grafting. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE GENUS EPIPHYLLUM. + +(From epi upon, and phyllon, a leaf). + + +It is now about a century since some of the most beautiful of Cactaceous +plants came into cultivation in this country, and amongst them was the +plant now known as E. truncatum, but then called Cactus Epiphyllum; the +name Cactus being used in a generic sense, and not, as now, merely as a +general term for the Natural Order. Introduced so early, and at once +finding great favour as a curious and beautiful flowering plant, E. +truncatum has been, and is still, extensively cultivated, and numerous +varieties of it have, as a consequence, originated in English gardens. +We do not use the seeds of these plants for their propagation, unless +new varieties are desired, when we must begin by fertilising the +flowers, and thus obtain seeds, which should be sown and grown on till +the plants flower. + +Epiphyllums have already "broken" from their original or wild +characters, and are, therefore, likely to yield distinct varieties from +the first sowing. In the forests which clothe the slopes of the Organ +Mountains, in Brazil, the Epiphyllums are found in great abundance, +growing upon the trunks and branches of large trees, and occasionally on +the ground or upon rocks, up to an elevation of 6000 ft. It was here that +Gardner, when travelling in South America, found E. truncatum growing in +great luxuriance, and along with it the species known as E. +Russellianum, which he sent to the Duke of Bedford's garden, at Woburn, +in 1839. These two species are the only ones now recognised by +botanists, all the other cultivated kinds being either varieties of, or +crosses raised from, them. The character by which Epiphyllums are +distinguished from other Cactuses, is their flattened, long, slender +branches, which are formed of succulent, green, leaf-like branchlets, +growing out of the ends of each other, to a length of from 3 ft. to 4 ft. +As in the majority of Cactuses, the stems of Epiphyllum become woody and +almost cylindrical with age, the axes of the branchlets swell out, and +the edges either disappear or remain attached, like a pair of wings. + +Cultivation.--Epiphyllums require the temperature of an intermediate +house in winter, whilst, in summer, any position where they can be kept +a little close and moist, and be shaded from bright sunshine, will suit +them. Remembering that their habit, when wild, is to grow upon the +trunks of trees, where they would be afforded considerable shade by the +overhanging branches, we cannot be wrong in shading them from direct +sunshine during summer. Some growers recommend placing these plants in a +hot, dry house; but we have never seen good specimens cultivated under +such conditions. All through the summer months, the plants should be +syringed both morning and evening; but by the end of August they will +have completed their growth, and should, therefore, be gradually exposed +to sunshine and air. + +It is advisable to discontinue the use of the syringe from September +till the return of spring, but the plants should always be kept supplied +with a little moisture at the root and in the air about them during the +winter months. In this respect, these plants and the Rhipsalis are +exceptions among Cactuses, as all the others are safest when kept dry +during the cold, dull weather between September and April. The soil most +suitable for them is a mixture of peat, loam, and sand, unless a light +and fibrous loam be obtainable, which is, perhaps, the best of all soils +for these plants, requiring only the addition of a little rotted manure +or leaf-mould, silver sand, and some small brick rubble. The Pereskia +stock is not a stout-rooted plant, and does not, therefore, require much +root-room, although, by putting in plenty of broken crocks as drainage, +the soil space in the pots may be reduced to what is considered +sufficient for the plant. If small pots are used, the head of the plant +is apt to overbalance the whole. The stems should be secured to stout +stakes, and, if large, umbrella-like specimens are wanted, a frame +should be made in the form of an umbrella, and the stem and branches +fastened to it. Smaller plants may be kept in position by means of a +single upright stake, which should be long enough to stand an inch or +two above the head of the plant, so that the stoutest branches may be +supported by attaching a piece of matting to them, and fastening it to +the top of the stake. In the remarks upon grafting we mentioned the +large pyramidal specimens of Epiphyllum which are grown by some +cultivators for exhibition purposes; and, although these plants are much +rarer at exhibitions now than they were a few years ago, yet they do +sometimes appear, especially in the northern towns, such as Liverpool +and Manchester. + +It would not be easy to find a more beautiful object during winter than +an Epiphyllum, 5 ft. or 6 ft. high, and nearly the same in width at the +base, forming a dense pyramid of drooping, strap-like branches bearing +several hundreds of their bright and delicate coloured blossoms all at +one time, and lasting in beauty for several weeks. With a little skill +and patience, plants of this size may be grown by any amateur who +possesses a warm greenhouse; and, although it is not easy to manage such +large plants in a room window, handsome little specimens of the same +form may be grown if the window is favourably situated and the room kept +warm in winter. Mr. J. Wallis, gardener to G. Tomline, Esq., of Ipswich, +has become famous for the size and health of the specimens he has +produced. Writing on the cultivation of Epiphyllums, Mr. Wallis gives +the following details, which are especially valuable as coming from one +of the most successful cultivators of these beautiful plants: + +"The Epiphyllums here are grown for flowering in the conservatory, and +are usually gay from the first week in November till February. During +the remainder of the year, they occupy a three-quarter span-roof house, +in which an intermediate temperature is maintained. All our Epiphyllums +are grafted on the Pereskia aculeata. We graft a few at intervals of two +or three years, so, if any of the older plants become sickly or shabby, +they are thrown away, and the younger ones grown on. Some of the stocks +are worked to form pyramids, and some to form standards. The height of +the pyramids is 6 ft., and, to form these, six or eight scions are +inserted. The heads of the standards are on stems ranging in height from +4½ ft. down to 1½ ft. To form these heads, only one scion is put on the +stock. Some of our oldest pyramids are 4 ft. or 5 ft. through at the base, +and the heads of the standards quite as much. When in flower, the heads +of the latter droop almost to the pots. The pyramids occupy No.2 and +No.4 sized pots, the standards 8's and 12's. Each plant is secured to a +strong iron stake, with three prongs fitting the inside of the pot, and +the Epiphyllum is kept well supported to the stake by ties of stout +wire. After the plants are well established, they are easily managed, +and go many years without repotting; but, of course, we top-dress them +annually, previously removing as much of the old soil as will come away +easily. We grow these plants with plenty of ventilation on all +favourable occasions, and they are seldom shaded. During active growth, +water is given freely, occasionally liquid manure; they are also +syringed daily. After the season's growth is completed, water is given +more sparingly, and syringing is dispensed with." + +When grown on their own roots, Epiphyllums are useful for planting in +wire baskets intended to hang near the glass; large and very handsome +specimens form in a few years, if young rooted plants are placed rather +thickly round the sides of the baskets, and grown in a warm house. +Epiphyllums are employed with good effect for covering walls, which are +first covered with peaty soil by means of wire netting, and then +cuttings of the Epiphyllums are stuck in at intervals of about 1 ft. The +effect of a wall of the drooping branches of these plants is attractive +even when without their beautiful flowers; but when seen in winter, +clothed with hundreds of sparkling blossoms, they present a most +beautiful picture. Large plants of Pereskia may be trained over pillars +in conservatories and afterwards grafted with Epiphyllums; in fact, +there are many ways in which these plants may be effectively employed in +gardens. + +SPECIES. + +E. truncatum (jagged); Bot. Mag. 2562.--Branchlets from 1 in. to 3 in. +long, and 1 in. wide, with two or three distinct teeth along the edges, +and a toothed or jagged apex (hence the specific name). The flowers are +3 in. long, curved above and below, not unlike the letter S; the petals +and sepals reflexed, and exposing the numerous yellow anthers, through +which the club-headed stigma protrudes; colour, a deep rose-red, the +base of the petals slightly paler. The varieties differ in having +colours which vary from almost pure white, with purplish tips, to a +uniform rich purple, whilst such colours as salmon, rose, orange, and +scarlet, are conspicuous among them. + +[Illustration: FIG. 9.--EPIPHYLLUM RUSSELLIANUM.] + +E. Russellianum (Russell's); Fig. 9.--This has smaller branchlets than +the type plant (E. truncatum), and is thus easily distinguished; they do +not exceed 1 in. in length and ½ in. in width, whilst the edges are +irregularly and faintly notched, not distinctly toothed, as in E. +truncatum. The flowers are a little larger than in the older kind, and +are not curved, whilst the petals are narrower; their colour is bright +rosy-red. This species flowers rather later in the year than E. +truncatum, and may be had in blossom so late as the month of May or +June. There are several varieties of it which have either larger and +darker, or smaller and variously tinted flowers. Both the species will +cross with each other, and probably many of the varieties enumerated by +nurserymen have been obtained in this way. + +VARIETIES. + +The following is a selection of the best varieties, with a short +description of the flowers of each: + +E. bicolor (two-coloured).--Tube of flower white; petals purple, +becoming almost white towards the base. + +E. Bridgesii (Bridges').--Tube violet; petals dark purple. + +E. coccineum (scarlet).--Bright scarlet, paler at the base of the +petals. + +E. cruentum (bloody).--Tube purplish-scarlet; petals bright scarlet. + +E. Gaertneri (Gaertner's).--This is an interesting and beautiful +hybrid, raised from Epiphyllum and a Cereus of some kind. The branchlets +are exactly the same as those of E. truncatum, but the flowers are not +like Epiphyllum at all, resembling rather those of Cereus or +Phyllocactus. They are brilliant scarlet in colour, shaded with violet. + +E. magnificum (magnificent).--Tube rosy-violet; petals dark red. + +E. salmoneum (salmon-coloured).--Tube and base of petals white, rest +salmon-red, shaded with purple. + +E. spectabile (remarkable).--Tube and base of petals white; tips of +petals carmine. + +E. tricolor (three-coloured).--Tube salmon-red; petals red, centre +purplish. + +E. violaceum (violet).--Tube white; petals carmine, margined with +violet-purple. + + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE GENUS PHYLLOCACTUS. + +(From phyllon, a leaf, and Cactus). + + +As in the case of the Epiphyllums, the principal character by which the +Phyllocactus is distinguished is well described by the name, the +difference between it and Epiphyllum being that in the former the +flowers are produced along the margins of the flattened branches, +whereas in the latter they are borne on the apices of the short, +truncate divisions. If we compare any of the Phyllocactuses with Cereus +triangularis, or with C. speciosissimus, we shall find that the flowers +are precisely similar both in form and colour, and sometimes also in +size. + +In all the kinds the stem is compressed laterally, so as to look as if +it had been hammered out flat; or sometimes it is three-angled, and the +margins are deeply notched or serrated. These notches are really the +divisions between one leaf and another, for the flat, fleshy portions or +wings of the stems of these plants are simply modified leaves--not +properly separated from each other and from the stem, but still to all +intents and purposes leaves--which, as the plant increases and matures, +gradually wither away, leaving the central or woody portion to assume +the cylindrical stem which we find in all old Phyllocactuses. It is from +these notches that the large, showy flowers are developed, just as in +plants the flowers of which are borne from the axils of the leaves. + +Under the names "Spleenwort-leaved Indian Figs," and "Winged +Torch-thistles," as well as those here adopted, the most beautiful +perhaps of all Cactuses, and certainly the most useful in a garden +sense, have been cultivated in English gardens for more than 150 years; +for it was in 1710 that the flowering of E. Phyllanthus was first +recorded in English horticulture. Philip Miller grew it with many other +Cactuses in the botanical garden at Chelsea which was founded by Sir +Hans Sloane, in 1673, to be maintained "for the manifestation of the +power, wisdom, and glory of God in the works of creation," and which +still exists as the botanical emporium of the Apothecaries' Society. The +majority of the gorgeous Phyllocactuses which we now possess are of only +recent introduction, or are the result of cultivation and crossing. + +The species are natives of various parts of tropical America, chiefly +Mexico and Central America, where they are found generally growing, in +company with Bromeliads and Orchids, upon the trunks of gigantic +forest-trees. Phyllocactuses are therefore epiphytes when in a wild +state, but under cultivation with us, they thrive best when planted in +pots or in baskets--the latter method being adapted for one or two +smaller kinds. It is easy to imagine the gorgeousness of a group of +these plants when seen enveloping a large tree-trunk, clothing it, as it +were, with balls of brilliant or pure white flowers. We are told by +travellers of the splendours of a Cactus haunt during the flowering +season, and those who have seen a well-managed pot specimen of +Phyllocactus when covered with large, dazzling flowers, can form some +idea of what wild plants are like when seen by hundreds together, and +surrounded by the green foliage and festooning climbers which associate +with them in the forests where they abound. + +Cultivation.--For the following cultural notes we are indebted to a +most successful grower of Cactuses in Germany, whose collection of +Phyllocactuses is exceptionally rich and well managed: The growing +season for these plants is from about the end of April, or after the +flowers are over, till the end of August. As soon as growth commences, +the plants should be repotted. A light, rich soil should be used, a +mixture of loam, peat, and leaf-mould, or rotten manure with a little +sand, being suitable. Small plants should have a fair shift; larger ones +only into a size of pot which just admits of a thin layer of fresh soil. +When pot-bound, the plants flower most freely, and it is not necessary +to repot large specimens more often than about once every three years. +When potted they should be placed in a sunny position in a close house +or frame, and be kept freely watered. In bright weather they may be +syringed overhead twice a day. For the first few days after repotting it +is advisable to shade the plants from bright sunshine. A stove +temperature is required until growth is finished. After this they should +be gradually ripened by admitting more air and exposing to all the +sunlight possible. During winter very little water is needed, just +sufficient to prevent shrivelling being safest. Excess of moisture in +winter is ruinous, as it often kills the roots, and sometimes causes the +plant to rot off at the collar. The lowest temperature in winter should +be 50 degs., lower than this being unsafe, whilst in mild weather it +might be 5 degs. higher. + +It is a bad plan to turn these plants round, in order, as some think, to +ripen the growths properly. As a matter of fact, it does no good, but +often does harm, by suddenly exposing the tender parts to the full force +of sunlight. + +The stems may be trained either in the form of a fan or as a bush. Old +branches which have flowered and are shrivelling may be cut away in the +spring. + +Some fine specimens have been grown in pockets on old walls inside +lean-to greenhouses, where the conditions have been favourable to the +healthy growth and flowering of most of the species. When grown in this +way, water must be supplied exactly as advised for plants grown in pots; +if the pockets are not within easy reach of the watering pot, the plants +can be watered by means of a heavy syringing. + +Propagation.--For the propagation of the Phyllocactus either the whole +plant may be divided at the base, or cuttings of the branches may be +used; the latter, after having dried by remaining with their bases +exposed to the air for a day or two, should be planted in small pots +filled with very sandy soil; they may be placed on a dry, sunny shelf +near the glass, and be slightly sprinkled overhead daily till rooted. +Seeds, which sometimes ripen on cultivated plants, should be gathered as +soon as the fleshy fruits have turned to a purplish colour, dried for a +day or so, then sown in a light, porous soil, and placed in a warm frame +or house to germinate. + +SPECIES. + +P. Akermanni (named after a Mr. Akermann, who introduced it from Mexico +in 1829); Fig. 10.--Stem becoming cylindrical at an early age, and +clothed with little clusters of spiny hairs; the branches are flattened +out, and form broad, rather thin, blade-like growths, with the margins +sinuately lobed (waved and notched). The flowers are large--over 6 in. +in diameter--the petals, very acutely pointed and undulated along the +edges; flower tube 2 in. long, with a few small scales scattered over its +surface; stamens curved, clustered around the stigma, and almost hiding +it. Colour of whole flower a rich scarlet, with a satin-like lustre. +Flowers in June and July. + +[Illustration: FIG. 10. PHYLLOCACTUS AKERMANNI.] + +This is one of the best-known kinds, having been extensively cultivated +as an ornamental greenhouse plant till within the last few years. It was +grown by several nurserymen for Covent Garden Market about eight years +ago; small plants, about 1 ft. high, and bearing each from two to six +flowers, finding much favour among the costermongers, as the plants +could be bought at a low price, and, owing to their large, brilliant +flowers, always sold well at a good profit. This species has been +employed by the hybridists for the obtaining of new kinds, and some very +handsome and distinct varieties have consequently been raised. As well +as crossing with other species of Phyllocactus, P. Akermanni has been +used in combination with several species of Cereus, good hybrids having +been the result. As a compact-growing and free-flowering species, this +may be specially recommended. + +P. anguliger (angle-stemmed); Fig. 11.--The branches of this kind are +distinguished by having the notches along their margins more like the +teeth of a saw than the others. The habit is rather stiff and erect. The +flowers are produced near the apex of the branches, and are composed of +a curved tube 6 in. long, spreading out at the top to a width of 6 in., +and surmounted by a whorl of pure white petals, in the centre of which +are the stamens, rather few in number, and the large, ten-rayed stigma. +The flowers are developed in December and January, and have a powerful +and delicious odour. Introduced, in 1837, from West Mexico, where it is +said to grow in oak forests. + +[Illustration: FIG. 11.--PHYLLOCACTUS ANGULIGER.] + +P. (Disocactus) biformis (two-formed); Fig. 12.--This is a small plant, +and is intermediate between this genus and the Epiphyllums. It possesses +no particular beauty or distinctive character such as would render it of +much value for garden purposes. The branches are short, rather narrow +and drooping, the margins notched and tinged with red. The flowers are +borne generally on the ends of the branches, and are drooping in habit; +in form they are more like the Epiphyllums than the ordinary +Phyllocactuses, as they have their petals arranged in a sort of tube +about 3 in. long. The fruit is a red berry as large as a gooseberry. +Honduras, 1839. + +[Illustration: FIG. 12.--PHYLLOCACTUS BIFORMIS.] + +P. crenatus (toothed); Bot. Reg. 3031.--A large-flowered and very +beautiful species, rivalling, in the size and fragrance of its blossoms, +the gigantic night-flowering Cereus grandiflorus. It grows to a height +of about 2 ft., with round-based branches, the upper portion flattened +out and the margins serrated. The flower tube is 4 in. long, +brownish-green, as also are the sepals; petals 4 in. long, in a whorl, +the points curving inwards; stamens and pistil erect, forming along with +the petals a large star of a pale cream-colour. The beauty and fragrance +of these flowers, which open in June, render them specially valuable for +cutting and placing in rooms, where, notwithstanding their short +duration, they never fail to win much admiration. Introduced from +Honduras, in 1839. This fine species is one of the parents of the +hybrids which have been raised both in this country and in America, +where Mr. Hovey succeeded in obtaining some of the choicest as regards +colour and size. Some of these latter were exhibited in London two or +three years ago, and were much admired. + +P. grandis (large-flowered).--The large, creamy-white flowers of this +plant are like those of the night-flowering Cereus; and, in addition to +the similarity in form and size between these two, there is a further +one in the time when the flowers expand, this species, along with one or +two others, opening its flowers after sunset; and although they remain +in good condition till late on in the day following, and sometimes even +longer, we may suppose that the proper flowering time is at night. The +delicious almond scent of the flowers of this fine Cactus is so strong, +that during the flowering period the atmosphere of the large +Cactus-house at Kew Gardens is permeated with it, the large specimens +there having usually a score or more flowers open together, the effect +of which is truly grand. Even this number of flowers is, for this +species, by no means extraordinary, specimens having been grown +elsewhere, in pots only 8 in. across, with as many flowers open on each. +From this it will be seen that P. grandis is one of the most useful +kinds, its large, sweet-scented flowers, and its free-growing nature, +rendering it of exceptional value as a decorative plant. Its branches +are broad and notched along the margins, and the flowers are 1 ft. in +length, including the tube, whilst across the broad, spreading petals +they measure almost as much. Honduras. Introduced 1837 (?). Time of +flowering, summer and autumn. + +P. Hookeri (Hooker's); Bot. Mag. 2692, under Cactus Phyllanthus.--A +robust-growing kind, often attaining to the size of a good shrub. Its +flowers expand in the evening, and are sweet-scented. They are produced +along the margins of the broad, flat, deeply-notched branches, the +serratures being rounded instead of angled, as in some of the kinds. The +tube of the flower is long and slender, no thicker than a goose quill, +and covered with reddish scales; the petals are spreading, and form a +cup 6 in. across; they are narrow, pointed, and pure white, the outer +whorl, as well as the sepals, being tinged on the under side with a +tawny colour. The stamens form a large cluster in the centre, and are +bright yellow, the style being red and yellow. It is probable that this +plant has been in cultivation for many years, as it was figured in the +work quoted above under the name of one of the first introduced kinds of +Phyllocactus, from which, however, it is abundantly distinct, as will be +seen by a comparison of the descriptions of the two. There are, in the +Kew collection, several large plants of P. Hookeri that flower annually +during the summer and autumn. Brazil. + +P. latifrons (broad-stemmed); Bot. Mag. 3813.--This is another +large-growing species, as large at least as P. Hookeri, to which, +indeed, it bears a close resemblance, both in flowers and in habit. Like +that species, too, its date of introduction is not known, though it +appears to have been cultivated in England at an early period. It may be +grown so as to form a large shrub in a few years; or by cutting it back +annually, or growing on young plants from cuttings every two years, nice +little pot plants may be obtained; and as the plant produces flowers +freely when in a small state, it is available for small greenhouses as +well as for large ones. A fine specimen, such, for instance, as that at +Kew, which is over 8 ft. in height, and well furnished with branches, is +an attractive object when clothed with numerous creamy-white flowers, +here and there tinged with red. The branches are from 4 in. to 5 in. +broad, and deeply notched; the flowers are about 8 in. in length, and the +same across the spreading petals. Mexico. Spring. + +P. phyllanthus (leaf-flowering).--This species is now rarely seen in +cultivation. As the oldest of the garden kinds it is, however, deserving +of a little notice. Philip Miller grew it in his collection in 1710. The +branches are broad and flat, the edges waved, not notched, and the +flowers are composed of a thin tortuous tube, 9 in. in length, bearing at +the top a whorl of recurved greenish petals, 1 in. long, with a cluster +of whitish stamens and a green, club-shaped style and stigma. Brazil. + +P. phyllanthoides (phyllanthus-like); Bot. Mag. 2092.--For the +introduction of this handsome-flowered kind we are indebted to the great +travellers and naturalists, Humboldt and Bonpland, who discovered it +growing in the woods upon the trunks of old trees around Cartagena in +South America. Plants of it were forwarded by them to France, where they +flowered for the first time in 1811. From that time till now this +species has been in favour as a garden plant, though it is, at the +present time, much less common in English gardens than it deserves to +be. The branches are broad, triangular when young, flat when old, about +1 ft. long by 2 in. wide, with shallow incisions, the serrations rather +sharply angled. The height of the plant is from 2 ft. to 3 ft. The flowers +are produced on the margins of the young branches, and are composed of a +short, thick tube, not more than 2 in. in length, and short, dark, +recurved scales; the petals are broad, pointed, and form a stellate +cluster about 4 in. across; they are of a bright rose-colour, streaked +with white, and shaded here and there with a darker colour of red. The +stamens are numerous and pure white. The flowers open in the day-time, +and are scentless; they last in perfection for two or three days, and +may, therefore, be employed as cut flowers for vases, &c. Early summer. + +HYBRIDS AND VARIETIES. + +In addition to the cultivated species of Phyllocactus there are numerous +hybrids and varieties, many of which are beautiful and distinct either +in colour or in size of blossom. + +The following is a selection of the best of them: + +P. albus superbus (superb white).--The most beautiful of white-flowered +kinds. Flowers fragrant, 6 in. across, resembling those of the +night-blossoming Cereus grandiflorus; sepals greenish-white, petals pure +white. + +P. aurantiacus superbus (superb orange).--A compact plant, with +numerous large, brick-red flowers, 5 in. to 6 in. in diameter. + +P. Conway's Giant.--Flowers full, deep scarlet, about 8 in. in diameter. + +P. Cooperi (Cooper's).--An English hybrid, remarkable for its large, +beautiful yellow flowers. + +P. Franzi (Franz's).--Flowers 3 in. to 4 in. across; petals numerous, +outer ones scarlet, inner violet. + +P. General Garibaldi.--Flowers very large, scarlet, tinged with orange +on the reflex side. + +P. grandiflorus (large-flowered).--Flowers bell-shaped, 4 in. across; +sepals narrow, scarlet; petals incurved and of a fiery orange-scarlet +colour. + +P. Haagei (Haage's); Fig. 13.--Flowers about 5 in. across, +flesh-coloured when first expanded, becoming carmine before fading. + +[Illustration: FIG. 13.--PHYLLOCACTUS HAAGEI.] + +P. ignescens (fiery).--Flowers 8 in. across, almost flat when expanded; +petals numerous, deep brilliant scarlet. + +P. Jenkinsoni (Jenkinson's).--Flowers medium in size, colour +cherry-red. + +P. Johnstonei (Johnstone's).--Flowers large, with broad scarlet petals. + +P. Kaufmanni (Kaufmann's).--Flowers purplish-red, very large. + +P. kermesina magnus (large scarlet).--An enormous-flowered kind, having +produced blossoms which measured 10 in. across; petals vivid orange with +a tip and central stripe of red; sepals blood-red. + +P. Pfersdorffii. (Pfersdorff's).--Flowers as in Cereus grandiflorus, +8 in. to 10 in. across, very fragrant; petals white; sepals yellow, +brownish outside. + +P. Rempleri (Rempler's).--Branches three-angled; flowers with short, +linear, incurved sepals; petals long, broad, arranged like a tube, +colour salmon-red. + +P. roseus grandiflorus (large rose-flowered); Fig. 14.--Flowers 6 in. +long and broad, nodding, white. + +[Illustration: FIG. 14.--PHYLLOCACTUS ROSEUS GRANDIFLORUS.] + +P. Schlimii (Schlim's).--Branches three-angled; flowers large, sepals +bright purple; petals broad, purple, tinged with scarlet. + +P. splendens (splendid).--Flowers 8 in. across, purple-pink. + +P. Wrayi (Wray's).--Flowers 5 in. long by 8 in. in diameter; sepals brown +on the outside, yellow inside; petals yellowish-white, fragrant when +first expanded. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE GENUS CEREUS. + +(From cereus, pliant; in reference to the stems of some species.) + + +Over 200 distinct species of Cereus are, according to botanists, +distributed over the tropical and temperate regions of America and the +West Indies, extending to the Galapagos, or "Tortoise" Islands, 200 +miles off the coast of Peru. It was in these islands that the late +Charles Darwin found several small kinds of Cereus, some of them growing +near the snow-line in exposed situations on the highest mountains. In +Mexico, C. giganteus, the most colossal of all Cacti, is found rearing +its tall, straight, columnar stems to a height of 60 ft., and branching +near the top, "like petrified giants stretching out their arms in +speechless pain, whilst others stand like lonely sentinels keeping their +dreary watch on the edge of precipices." In the West Indies most of the +night-flowering kinds are common, their long, creeping stems clinging by +means of aerial roots to rocks, or to the exposed trunks of trees, where +their enormous, often fragrant, flowers are produced in great abundance, +expanding only after the sun has set. Between these three distinct +groups we find among the plants of this elegant genus great variety both +in size and form of the stem and in the flower characters of the +different species. A large proportion of the 200 kinds known are not +cultivated in European gardens, and perhaps for many of them it is not +possible for us to provide in our houses the peculiar conditions they +require for their healthy existence. But there are a good many species +of Cereus represented in gardens, even in this country, and among them +we shall have no difficulty in finding many useful and beautiful kinds, +such as may be cultivated with success in an ordinary greenhouse or +stove. Lemaire, a French writer on Cactuses, groups a number of species +under the generic name of Echinocereus; but as this name is not adopted +in England, it is omitted here, all the kinds being included under +Cereus. + +THE NIGHT-FLOWERING SPECIES. + +The most interesting group is that of the climbing night-flowering +kinds, on account of their singular habit of expanding their flowers in +the dark and of the very large size and brilliant colours of their +flowers. In habit the plants of this set are trailers or climbers, their +stems are either round or angled, and grow to a length of many feet, +branching freely as they extend. By means of their roots, which are +freely formed upon the stems, and which have the power of attaching +themselves to stones or wood in the same way as ivy does, these kinds +soon spread over and cover a large space; they are, therefore, useful +for training over the back walls in lean-to houses, or for growing +against rafters or pillars--in fact, in any position exposed to bright +sunlight and where there is a good circulation of air. Soil does not +appear to play an important part with these plants, as they will grow +anywhere where there is a little brick rubble, gravel, or cinders for +their basal roots to nestle in. They have been grown in the greatest +luxuriance and have produced flowers in abundance with nothing more than +their roots buried in the crumbling foundations of an old wall, upon +which the stems were clinging. The chief consideration is drainage, as, +unless the roots are kept clear of anything like stagnation, they soon +perish through rot. During the summer, the stems should be syringed +morning and evening on all bright days, whilst in winter little or no +water will be required. + +Like all other Cactuses, these plants may be propagated by means of +large branches, which, if placed in a porous soil, will strike root in a +few weeks. We saw a very large specimen of C. triangularis, which last +autumn suddenly rotted at the base, from some cause or other, and to +save the specimen, a mound was built up of brick rubble and soil, high +enough to surround the base of the plant above the rotted part. In a few +weeks there was a good crop of new roots formed, and the plant has since +flowered most satisfactorily. With almost any other plant, this course +would have proved futile; but Cactuses are singularly tenacious of life, +the largest and oldest stems being capable of forming roots as freely +and as quickly as the young ones. + +C. extensus (long-stemmed); Bot. Mag. 4066.--This has long rope-like +stems, bluntly triangular, less than 1 in. thick, with very short spines, +arranged in pairs or threes, about 1 in. apart along the angles, and +aerial roots. The flowers are developed all along the stems, and are +composed of a thick, green, scale-clothed tube, about 3 in. long; the +larger scales yellow and green, tipped with red, and a spreading cup +formed of the long-pointed sepals and petals, the former yellow, green, +and red, the latter white, tinted with rose. The flower is about 9 in. +across. When in blossom, this plant equals in beauty the finest of the +climbing Cactuses, but, unfortunately, it does not flower as freely as +most of its kind. It is cultivated at Kew, where it has flowered once +during the last five years. A native of Trinidad, whence it was +introduced, and first flowered in August, 1843. Judging by the +conditions under which it grows and blossoms in its native haunts, no +doubt its shy-flowering nature under cultivation here is owing to the +absence of a long continuance of bright sunshine and moisture, followed +by one of drought and sunlight. If placed in a favourable condition as +regards light, and carefully treated in respect of water, it ought to +flower. + +C. fulgidus (glittering); Bot. Mag. 5856.--In the brilliant deep +scarlet of its large buds, and the bright orange-scarlet of the expanded +flowers, this species stands quite alone among the night-flowering, +scandent-stemmed Cereuses. Its one drawback is its shy-flowering nature, +as it is rarely seen in blossom even when liberally treated, and along +with the other kinds which flower so freely. The history of this plant +is not known; but it is supposed to be a hybrid between C. Pitajayi or +variabilis and one of the scarlet-flowered Phyllocactuses, or, possibly, +C. speciosissimus. It first flowered at Kew, in July, 1870. Stems bright +green, slow-growing, three or four-angled, about 2 in. wide; angles much +compressed, so that a section of the stem shows a cross; margins +notched, with clusters of short, hair-like spines at each notch. Flowers +6 in. long, and about the same across the top; tube covered with soft +hairs and short deep-red scales, which are enlarged towards the top, +where they spread out, and form, along with the petals, a large rosette +of several whorls, arranged as in a semi-double rose, the centre being +occupied by a brush-like cluster of greenish stamens, with the radiating +stigma standing erect in the middle. It is to be regretted that the +flowers are not more freely produced by cultivated plants. + +C. grandiflorus (large-flowered); Bot. Mag. 3381.--There is scarcely +any plant that makes a more magnificent appearance when in full blossom +than this. A strong plant will produce many flowers together, but they +do not remain long expanded, opening at seven or eight o'clock in the +evening, and fading at sunrise the next morning; nor do they ever open +again, even when cut and placed in warm water in a dark place. The +closing of the flowers may, however, be retarded for a whole day by +removing the bud before it is fully open and placing it in water. The +stems are almost cylindrical, with four to seven slight ridges, or +angles, which bear numerous tufts of wool and short stiff spines. Roots +are thrown out from all parts of the stem, even when not in contact with +anything. The flowers are developed on the sides of the stems, +principally the younger, shorter ones; the flower tube is about 4 in. +long by 1 in. in diameter, and is covered with short brown scales and +whitish hairs; the calyx is 1 ft. across, and is composed of a large +number of narrow sepals of a bright yellow colour inside, brown on the +outside; the petals are broad, pure white, and arranged in a sort of cup +inclosing the numerous yellow stamens and the club-shaped stigma. The +flower has a delicious vanilla-like odour, which perfumes the air to a +considerable distance. Flowers in July. Native of the West Indies. +Introduced 1700, at which time it is said to have been cultivated in the +Royal Gardens at Hampton Court. + +C. Lemairii (Lemaire's); Bot. Mag. 4814.--In the size and fragrance of +its blossoms, and also in the brilliancy of its colours, this species +rivals C. grandiflorus; differing in the following particulars: the tube +is covered with large green, crimson-edged scales instead of small brown +scales and white hairs; the sepals do not spread out in a star-like +manner, as in C. grandiflorus, and they are tinged with crimson; the +stem of the plant shows a bluntly triangular section, and the angles are +marked with a row of distant spines instead of the clusters of spines +and wool in C. grandiflorus. In all other particulars, these two species +are almost identical, so that where space is limited either the one or +the other will be sufficient to represent both. C. Lemairii was +introduced into England through Kew, whither a plant was sent in 1854 +from the Royal Botanical Garden of Hanover, under the name of C. +rostratus. It blossoms in the Kew collection every June, the flowers +lasting for several hours after sunrise. Seeds are freely ripened by +this plant. Native of Antigua (?) + +C. Macdonaldiae (Mrs. MacDonald's); Bot. Mag. 4707.--A magnificent +Cactus, producing flowers often 14 in. in diameter, with the same +brilliant colours as are described under C. Lemairii. The stems are +slender, cylindrical, not ridged or angled, bearing at irregular +intervals rather fleshy tubercles instead of spines, and branching +freely. Its flowers are produced on both young and old stems, several +crops appearing in the course of the summer when the treatment is +favourable. Roots are not so freely thrown out from the stems of this +kind, and as the latter are slender and very pliant, they may be trained +round a balloon trellis, so as to form handsome pot specimens, which, +when in flower, may be carried into the house, where their large, +beautiful flowers may be enjoyed. Writing of this species over thirty +years ago, Sir Wm. Hooker said: "Certainly, of the many floral +spectacles that have gratified lovers of horticulture at the Royal +Gardens, Kew, of late years, few have been more striking than this to +those who were privileged to see the blossoms in bud and fully expanded. +The plant was received from Honduras through the favour of Mrs. +MacDonald, and was planted at the back of the old Cactus-house, and +trained against a wall. It first showed symptoms of blossoming in July, +1851. A casual observer might have passed the plant as an unusually +large form of the 'night-blooming Cereus' (C. grandiflorus), but the +slightest inspection of the stems and flowers, the latter 14 in. in +diameter by 14 in. long, shows this to be a most distinct species." + +C. Napoleonis (Napoleon's); Bot. Mag. 3458.--This is very like C. +grandiflorus, and is slightly and not very agreeably perfumed. The +flowers sometimes open very early in the morning and fade in the +afternoon, so that they may be enjoyed during the day-time. The flower +tube is 6 in. long, curved upwards, and clothed with rose-tinted scales, +which become gradually larger towards the top, where they widen out into +a whorl of greenish-yellow sepals, above which are the white petals +forming a broad shallow cup, 8 in. across, with a cluster of yellow +stamens in the centre. The stems are three-angled, light green, and bear +clusters of short stiff spines along the angles at intervals of 2 in. +Flowers in autumn. Mexico (?), 1835. + +C. nycticalus (flowering at night); Fig. 15.--Stems four to six-angled, +2 in. wide, dark green, bearing little tufts of hair and thin white +spines along the angles, and a profusion of aerial roots. Flowers as +large as those of C. grandiflorus; tube covered with tufts of white +hairs; sepals or outer whorl of segments bright orange, the inner pure +white, and arranged like a cup. They open at about seven o'clock in the +evening, and fade at seven on the following morning. This plant may +still be met with in some old-fashioned gardens, but only rarely as +compared with its popularity a generation ago, when it was to be found +in almost every collection of stove plants. At that time, the flowering +of this Cactus was looked upon as an event, and it was customary for the +owner to invite his friends to meet and watch the development of the +flowers, and enjoy to the full their almost over-powering but delicious +fragrance. So bright are the colours of the flowers, that a sort of +luminosity seems to surround them when at their best. Flowers in autumn. +Mexico, 1834. + +[Illustration: FIG. 15.--CEREUS NYCTICALUS.] + +C. triangularis (three-angled); Bot. Mag. 1884.--This plant is easily +recognised because of its stout triangular stems, which increase at a +rapid rate and bear roots freely; by means of these roots they cling to +almost any substance with which they come in contact. There are large +examples of it in the Kew collection, where it bears numerous flowers +annually, which open in the evening and close at about eight o'clock +next morning. The flowers measure 1 ft. in length by about the same in +width of cup, and are composed of a whorl of long narrow green sepals, +with pale brown points, a cluster of pure white petals, bright yellow +stamens, and a large club-like stigma; they appear in autumn. Mexico. +This species was cultivated at Hampton Court in 1690. + +C. speciosissimus (most beautiful).--Although not a night-flowering +kind, nor yet a climber, yet this species resembles in habit the above +rather than the columnar-stemmed ones. It is certainly the species best +adapted for cultivation in small greenhouses or in the windows of +dwelling-houses, as it grows quickly, remains healthy under ordinary +treatment, is dwarf in habit, and flowers freely--characters which, +along with the vivid colours and large size of the blossoms, render it +of exceptional value as a garden plant. Its stems are slender, and it +may be grown satisfactorily when treated as a wall plant. For its +cultivation, the treatment advised for Phyllocactuses will be found +suitable. When well grown and flowered it surpasses in brilliancy of +colours almost every other plant known. Specimens with thirty stems each +6 ft. high, and bearing from sixty to eighty buds and flowers upon them +at one time, may be grown by anyone possessing a warm greenhouse. The +stems are three to five angled, spiny, the tufts of spines set in little +disks of whitish wool. The flowers are as large as tea saucers, with +tubes about 4 in. long, the colour being an intense crimson or violet, so +intense and bright as to dazzle the eyes when looked at in bright +sunlight. When cut and placed in water they will last three or four +days. April and May. Mexico, 1820. "Numberless varieties have been +raised from this Cereus, as it seeds freely and crosses readily with +other species. Many years ago, Mr. D. Beaton raised scores of seedlings +from crosses between this and C. flagelliformis, and has stated that he +never found a barren seedling. Much attention was given to these plants +about fifty years ago, for Sir E. Antrobus is said to have exhibited +specimens with from 200 to 300 flowers each. I have been informed that +an extremely large plant of this Cereus, producing hundreds of flowers +every season, is grown on the back wall of a vinery at the Grange, +Barnet, the residence of Sir Charles Nicholson, Bart." (L. Castle). + +THE SEMI-SCANDENT SPECIES. + +These are characterised by a thin, drooping or trailing stem, and, +though not strictly climbers, they may most fittingly be considered in a +group by themselves. Some botanists have made a separate genus for them, +viz., Cleistocactus, but for all practical purposes they may be grouped +under the above heading, whilst popularly they are known as the +Rat's-tail or Whipcord Cactuses. Two of them--viz., C. flagelliformis +and C. Mallisoni--are generally grafted on the stem of some erect, +slender Cereus or Pereskia, or they may be worked on to the stem of a +climbing Cereus, such as C. triangularis, in such a way as to hang from +the roof of a house. A large specimen of C. flagelliformis, growing from +the climbing stem of C. rostratus, was, for a long time, conspicuous +among the Cactuses at Kew, but owing to the decay of the "stock" plant, +this fine specimen no longer exists. A large Pereskia, trained along the +roof in the Cactus-house at Kew, has recently been grafted with a number +of pieces of C. flagelliformis, which in a few years will, no doubt, +form a handsome specimen. In the same establishment a specimen of C. +Mallisoni is grafted on the stem of another kind, and is very attractive +when in flower. C. serpentinus thrives well upon its own roots. For the +cultivation of this little group, the instructions given for the +climbing and other kinds may be followed. + +C. flagelliformis (whip-formed).--Stems prostrate, or, when grafted on +a tall stem, pendent, ½ in. in diameter, round, with numerous ridges +almost hidden by the many clusters of fine bristle-like hairs. Flowers +2 in. long and 1 in. wide; colour bright rosy-red. In some parts of +Germany this plant is one of the commonest of window ornaments, and it +is so well grown by the peasants there, that the whole window space is +completely screened by the numerous long, tail-like stems, 4 ft. or 6 ft. +long, which hang from baskets. It is sometimes cultivated by cottagers +in England, and we have seen a very fine specimen in a cottager's window +in Gunnersbury. Without its pretty bright-coloured flowers, this Cactus +has the charm of novelty in the form and habit of its stems, and as it +is easily cultivated in a window through which the sun shines during +most of the day, it is just the plant to grow for the double purpose of +a screen and a curiosity. If planted in baskets, it should be potted in +a porous loamy soil, and kept moist in the summer and perfectly dry in +winter. Summer. Peru. Introduced 1690. + +C. Mallisoni ( Mallison's); Bot. Mag. 3822.--This is supposed to be of +hybrid origin, a Mr. Mallison having sent it to Dr. Lindley to be named, +and stating that he obtained it by fertilising flowers of C. +speciosissimus with pollen from C. flagelliformis. Whatever its origin, +it is a distinct kind, with stems similar to those of the last-named, +but thicker and slightly less spiny, and flowers 4 in. long by 4 in. +across the spreading petals, the whole being bright red with a cluster +of pale yellow stamens protruding 1 in. beyond the throat. The flowers +are produced from the sides of the stems, a few inches from the apex, +and as they are borne in abundance and last three or four days each, a +large specimen makes a very attractive display for several weeks in the +summer. The plant at Kew, a large one, is grafted on the stem of C. +Macdonaldiae, which is trained along a rafter, so that the stems of C. +Mallisoni hang conspicuously from the roof. + +C. serpentinus (serpent-like); Fig. 16.--When young, the stems of this +plant are erect and stout enough to support themselves; but as they +lengthen they fall over and grow along the ground, unless supported by a +stake or wire; they have numerous ridges, with clusters of hair-like +spines, which are usually purplish. Flowers large, handsome, fragrant; +tube 6in, long, green; petals and sepals spreading and forming a star +3 in. in diameter, the petals purplish on the outside, and pinkish-white +inside; stamens arranged in a sort of cup 1 in. deep. This plant rarely +produces aerial roots. Small specimens are ornamental even when not in +flower, the bright green, regularly ridged stem, with its numerous +little clusters of fine spines, at the base of which are short tufts of +a white woolly substance, being both curious and pretty. It flowers +freely every summer. South America, 1814. + +[Illustration: FIG. 16.--CEREUS SERPENTINUS.] + +THE GLOBOSE AND COLUMNAR STEMMED SPECIES. + +Many of these are unsuited for culture in ordinary plant-houses, whilst +others are so rare that, although cultivated in botanical collections, +they are not available for ordinary gardens, not being known in the +trade. There are, however, a good many species that may be obtained from +dealers in Cactuses, and to these we shall confine ourselves here. At +Kew, the collection of Cereuses is large and diversified, some of the +specimens being as tall as the house they are in will allow them to be, +and the appearance they present is, to some eyes at least, a very +attractive one. Such plants are: C. candicans, which is a +cluster-stemmed kind, very thick and fleshy, and in shape like an Indian +club; C. chilensis;--with tall hedgehog-skinned stems, the numerous +ridges being thickly clothed with clusters of yellowish spines, which +become dark brown with age; C. Dyckii, 10 ft. high, the stems thick and +fleshy, with ridges 1½ in. deep; C. gemmatus, a hexagonal, almost +naked-stemmed species 10 ft. high; C. strictus, C. peruvianus, C. +geometrizans, and C. Jamacaru, which are tall, weird-looking plants, +10 ft. or more high, some of them freely branched. The following is a +selection of the largest-flowered and handsomest kinds: + +C. Berlandieri (Berlandier's); Fig. 17.--A distinct and beautiful +plant, of dwarf, creeping habit, forming a tuft of short branchlets +springing from the main procumbent stems, none of which exceed 6 in. in +length by ¾ in. in thickness. They are almost round when old, the younger +ones being slightly angled, and bearing, along the ridges, little +tubercles, crowned with short spines. Even old stems are very soft and +watery, and, on this account, it is necessary for the safety of the +plant, in winter, that it should be kept absolutely dry. The flowers are +produced on the young upright stems, and they are as much as 4 in. +across. They are composed of a regular ring of strap-shaped, bright +purple petals, springing from the erect bristly tube, and in the centre +a disk-like cluster of rose-coloured stamens, the stigma standing well +above them. In form the flowers are not unlike some of the Sunflowers or +Mutisia decurrens. They are developed in summer, and on well-grown +plants the display of blossom is exceptionally fine. This species is +sometimes known as C. repens and C. Deppii. It is a native of South +Texas and Mexico, where it is found growing in sandy or gravelly soils, +on dry, sunny hill-sides. It should be grown in a cool greenhouse or +frame, in a position where it would get plenty of sunshine to ripen its +growth and induce it to flower. In winter it should be placed close to +the glass, where the sun can shine full on it, and where it will be safe +from frost. It will not thrive if wintered in a warm house. In April, it +should be examined, repotted if the soil is sour, and kept watered as +growth commences. + +[Illustration: FIG. 17.--CEREUS BERLANDIERI.] + +C. Blankii (Blank's); Fig. 18.--This is very similar to the C. +Berlandieri in habit and stem characters, differing only in having +longer, broader, less spreading petals, a club-shaped stigma, and in the +colour, which is a deep rose, flushed in the throat with crimson. A +comparison of the figures here given will show the differences better +than any description. C. Blankii comes from Mexico at high elevations, +and thrives under cultivation with the same treatment as the preceding. +It is very common in Continental gardens, where it is grown +out-of-doors, being protected from cold in winter by a handlight and +straw. It flowers in summer. + +[Illustration: FIG. 18.--CEREUS BLANKII.] + +C. caerulescens (blue-stemmed); Bot. Mag. 3922.--An erect-growing, tall +Cactus, rarely branching unless made to do so by cutting off the top of +the stem; furrows and ridges about eight, the ridges prominent, waved, +and bearing tufts of blackish wool, in which are set about a dozen black +spines, ½ in. long; the stem when young and in good health is bluish in +colour. Flowers springing from the ridges, about 8 in. long, the tube +covered with reddish-grey scales, which pass upwards into the sepals; +petals spreading, white, the margins toothed, and forming a spreading +top, not unlike a large white single Camellia; the stamens are arranged +in a sort of cup, and are yellow-anthered, with a large rayed yellow +stigma in the middle. In the Botanical Magazine it is stated that the +flowers of this species are equal and even superior to those of C. +grandiflorus; but we have not seen flowers such as would bear out that +statement. This species is too tall-stemmed to be recommended for +windows or small greenhouses; but where room can be afforded it, the +attractive colour of its stems, together with the size and beauty of its +flowers, should win it favour. It blossoms in summer, generally about +July, and is a native of Mexico. Introduced in 1841. + +C. caespitosus (tufted); Fig. 19.--A dwarf species, the stem not more +than 8 in. high by about 4 in. in diameter, sometimes branched, or bearing +about its base a number of lateral growths, which ultimately form a +cluster of stems--hence the name. The bark or skin of the stem is +greyish-green, and the ribs, of which there are from a dozen to +eighteen, are thickly covered with clusters of whitish wool and spines, +the latter rose-tinted, and radiating in all directions. The flowers are +produced on the top of the stems, and are short-tubed, the tube clothed +with little bundles of spines; spread of the petals (from thirty to +forty in each flower), 4 in.; colour deep rose; anthers and stigma +forming an eye-like cluster, the former yellow, and the latter bright +green. Flowered at Kew for the first time in 1882, but, although new to +cultivation, it is becoming plentiful. Native of New Mexico and Texas. +For windows or small greenhouses this is a most suitable plant, as it +flowers freely and keeps in good health in an ordinary greenhouse +temperature, always, however, requiring plenty of sunlight and rest +during winter. By placing it upon a shelf near the glass from October to +March, allowing it to remain perfectly dry, and afterwards watering it +freely, the flowers should make their appearance early in summer. A +plant with several stems, each bearing a large bright rose blossom, +sometimes two, presents an attractive appearance. + +[Illustration: FIG. 19.--CEREUS CAESPITOSUS.] + +C. cirrhiferus (tendril-bearing).--A prostrate, branching-stemmed, +small-growing kind, very proliferous, with roots along the main stems; +branchlets upright, five-angled, with slightly raised points, or +tubercles, upon which are ten short hair-like spines, arranged in a +star, and surrounding three or four central erect spines, all whitish +and transparent. Flowering branches erect, 4 in. high, by about 1 in. in +diameter, bearing, near the apex, the large bright red flowers, nearly +4 in. in diameter, regular as a Sunflower, and lasting about a week. This +species was introduced from Mexico in 1847. It is one of the best-known +and handsomest of this group. It requires similar treatment to C. +Berlandieri. + +C. ctenoides (comb-like); Fig. 20.--Stem 3 in. to 5 in. high, and about +3 in. in diameter, egg-shaped, unbranched, rarely producing offsets at +the base. Ribs fifteen or sixteen, spiral, with closely-set cushions of +stiff, whitish spines, which interlace and almost hide the stem; there +are from fourteen to twenty-two spines to each cushion, and they are +¼ in. long. Flowers produced on the ridges near the top of the stem; tube +short, spiny; petals spreading, like a Convolvulus, 3 in. to 4 in. across, +bright yellow; stamens yellow, pistil white. The flowers expand at about +9 a.m., and close again soon after noon. They are developed in June or +July. This species is a native of Texas, and is rare in cultivation. +When not in flower it might easily be mistaken for Echinocactus +pectinatus. It should be grown in a sunny position, in a warm house or +pit, all summer, and wintered on a shelf, near the glass, in a +temperature of from 45 degs. to 50 degs. during winter. Under cultivation +it is apt to rot suddenly at the base, more especially when old. Should +this happen, the rotten parts must be cut away, and the wound exposed to +the air in a dry house for a week or two. + +[Illustration: FIG. 20.--CEREUS CTENOIDES.] + +C. enneacanthus (eight-spined); Fig. 21.--Stem seldom more than 6 in. +high by less than 2 in. in diameter, cylindrical in shape, bright green, +simple when young, tufted in old specimens. Ribs shallow, broad, +irregular on the top, with spine-cushions on the projecting parts; +spines straight, yellowish-white, semi-transparent, variable in length, +longest about 1 in. There are frequently as many as twelve spines in a +tuft, although the specific name implies eight spines only. Flowers on +the ridges near the top of the stem, with spiny tubes, spreading petals +of a deep purple colour, and yellow stamens and pistil. They are +developed freely in June and July. This is a soft-fleshed species, from +Texas; it is not easily kept in health, and is therefore rarely seen. It +should be treated as advised for C. ctenoides. Neither of these plants +will flower unless it is grown in a sunny position as near to the +roof-glass as is possible. + +[Illustration: FIG. 21.--CEREUS ENNEACANTHUS.] + +C. Fendleri (Fendler's).--One of the best of the dwarf-stemmed kinds. +It has a pale green stem, about 6 in. high, rarely branching at the base, +but often found growing in clusters. Ridges nine to twelve, running +spirally round the stem, and bearing clusters of brown spines, some of +them nearly 2 in. in length. Flowers composed of a tube 1 in. long, green, +fleshy, and spiny, with a spreading cup-like arrangement of petals and +sepals, 3 in. in diameter, and of a bright purple colour; stigma and +anthers green. It produces its flowers in June. It was introduced from +the mountainous region of New Mexico about five years ago, and has +blossomed freely in several collections, notably in that of Mr. Loder, +of Northampton, who has cultivated this and several other species from +the same region in a sunny sheltered position out of doors, where, for +several years, they have withstood winter's cold with no other +protection than that afforded by an over-hanging wall. Mr. Loder says of +C. Fendleri that it is the best of all Cactuses for cool treatment, as +the flowers last more than a week, closing at night, and opening only in +sunshine, when its rich purple colour is quite dazzling to the eye. It +also blossoms freely under glass; but the colour of the flowers is not +so vivid as when they are produced in full sunshine out of doors. + +C. giganteus (gigantic); Fig. 22.--This is the most colossal of all +Cactuses, in which respect it is chiefly interesting. Its stem, when +young, is very similar to that of other dwarfer species, whilst, so far +as is known, its flowers have not been produced under cultivation. It +grows very slowly, a plant 6 in. high being eight or ten years old, so +that, to attain its full development, a very long time indeed is +necessary. When young, the stems are globose, afterwards becoming +club-shaped or cylindrical. It flowers at the height of 10 ft. or 12 ft., +but grows up to four or five times that height, when it develops lateral +branches, which curve upwards, and present the appearance of immense +candelabra. The flowers are 4 in. or 5 in. long, and about the same in +diameter. There is a small specimen, about 3 ft. high, in the succulent +collection at Kew. The appearance of a number of tall specimens of this +wonderful Cactus, when seen towering high above the rocks and scrub with +which it is associated, is described by travellers as being both weird +and grand. Judging by the slowness of its growth, the prospect of seeing +full-sized specimens of this species in English gardens is a very remote +one, unless full-grown stems are imported, and this is hardly possible. +Native of Mexico and California. + +[Illustration: FIG. 22.--FLOWER OF CEREUS GIGANTEUS.] + +C. Leeanus (Lee's); Bot. Mag. 4417.--A dwarf plant, the stems not more +than 1 ft. in height, and about 5 in. in diameter at the base, tapering +gradually towards the top, so that it forms a cone; the furrows number +about a dozen, and the ridges are ½ in. high, the angles sharp, and +clothed with clusters of pale brown spines, the central one 1 in. long, +the others much shorter. The flowers are produced on the top of the +stem, four or five together, and are large, handsome, brick-red in +colour, the tube 2 in. long, clothed with yellowish, green-tipped scales, +and little clusters of hair-like bristles. The arrangement of the +petals, and the cluster of yellow anthers in the centre, give the +flowers the appearance of Camellias, if looked at from above. Introduced +from Mexico by Mr. Lee, of Hammersmith, in 1848, and flowered soon +afterwards at Kew, in summer. Being a native of the higher, more +northerly regions of Mexico, this species needs only to be protected +from severe frosts; it has been known to bear a little frost without +injury. For windows and greenhouses it is a very desirable plant. + +C. leptacanthus (slender-spined); Fig. 23.--One of the most beautiful +of all Cactuses, and one of the easiest to cultivate, the only drawback +being that it rarely flowers under cultivation. In habit it is similar +to C. Berlandieri. A plant 8 in. across bears about twenty short +branches, each of which, under careful cultivation will produce several +flowers in the months of May and June, and these, when expanded, last +about eight days before withering; they close every afternoon, opening +about ten o'clock in the morning. The petals are arranged in a single +series, spreading so as to form a shallow cup, and are notched on the +edges near the upper end. They are coloured a deep purple-lilac on the +upper half, the lower part being white, like a large pied daisy. The +stamens are pure white; the anthers orange-coloured, as also is the +star-shaped stigma. The plant is a native of Mexico, and was introduced +in 1860. It requires the same treatment as the preceding kinds. The +illustration is sufficient to show the beauty of this little creeping +Cactus, which, although so long known, is not grown in English gardens, +though it is common enough in Continental collections. + +[Illustration: FIG. 23.--CEREUS LEPTACANTHUS.] + +C. multiplex (proliferous); Fig. 24.--A globose-stemmed species, +becoming pear-shaped with age; height 6 in., by 4 in. in diameter; ridges +angled, clothed with clusters of about a dozen spines, the central one +longest. Flowers 6 in. to 8 in. long, and about the same across the +spreading petals; tube clothed with small, hairy scales; the sepals long +and pointed; petals 2 in. or more long, 1 in. wide, spreading out quite +flat; stamens arranged in a ring, with the whitish-rayed stigma in the +middle. This species flowers in autumn. It is a native of South Brazil, +and was introduced in 1840. It thrives best when kept in a warm, sunny +position in a window or heated greenhouse. + +[Illustration: FIG. 24.--CEREUS MULTIPLEX.] + +At Fig. 25 is a curious variety of the above, the stem being fasciated +and divided into numerous crumpled, flattened branches. It is remarkable +as a monster form of the type plant. So far as is known, neither this +nor any other of the monster Cactuses produces flowers. + +[Illustration: FIG. 25.--CEREUS MULTIPLEX CRISTATUS.] + +C. paucispinus (few-spined); Bot. Mag. 6774.--A dwarf-stemmed species +of recent introduction, and one which, owing to the beauty of its +flowers and the hardy nature of the plant, is certain to find much +favour among growers of Cactuses. The stem is about 9 in. high, by 2 in. +to 4 in. in diameter, the base much wider than the apex, the ridges +irregular, very thick and rounded, giving the stem a gouty or tumid +appearance. Upon the prominent parts of these ridges are stellate tufts +of long, pale brown spines, some of them nearly 2 in. long, and each tuft +containing about eight spines. When young, the stems are more like some +of the Mamillarias than the Cereuses. The flowers are developed near the +top of the stem, two or three opening together; they are composed of a +tube 2 in. long, clothed with long spines and large, green, scaly sepals +below, the latter gradually enlarging till at the top they become as +large as the petals, which are 2 in. long, with a spread of nearly 3 in., +rounded at the tips, and coloured deep blood-red, tinged with orange +inside. The stamens are clustered together sheaf-like, with the dark +green stigmas protruding through them. This is a native of New Mexico, +whence it was introduced in 1883, and flowered in May. Mr. Loder, of +Northampton, has successfully cultivated it in a cool frame in the open +air, and it has also grown well in the Kew collection when treated in a +similar way. This suggests its hardiness and fitness for window +cultivation. Owing to the watery nature of the stems, it is necessary +that they should be kept quite dry during the winter. + +C. pentalophus (five-winged); Bot. Mag. 3651.--As the name denotes, the +stem of this erect-growing, somewhat slender species has five very +prominent sharp-edged ridges, along which are little clusters of small +spines about ½ in. apart; the stem is 1 in. in diameter, and the angles +are wavy. The flowers are about 3 in. wide, spreading, the petals, broad +and overlapping, rose-coloured, except in the centre of the flower, +where they become almost pure white; the anthers are yellow, whilst the +colour of the rayed stigma is purplish-blue. A native of Mexico, +introduced and flowered in 1838. For its cultivation, the temperature of +a warm greenhouse is required, though during summer it may be placed in +a sunny position in a frame out of doors. If grown in windows, it should +be kept through the winter in a room where there is a fire constantly. + +C. peruvianus (Peruvian).--A tall-grower, the stems fleshy when young, +and very spiny. The ridges on the stem number from five to eight, with +stellate bundles, about 1 in. apart, of small, stiff black spines. The +flowers appear upon the upper portion of the stem, and are 5 in. across, +the petals pure white above, tinged with red below, and forming a large +saucer, in the middle of which the numerous stamens, with yellow +anthers, are arranged in a crown. There is something incongruous in the +tall, spine-clothed, pole-like stem, upon which large, beautiful, +water-lily-like flowers are developed, looking quite out of place on +such a plant. Flowers in spring and early summer. It requires warm +greenhouse or stove treatment. There are some fine examples of this +species at Kew. A variety of this species, with a fasciated or monstrous +habit, is sometimes cultivated. Introduced in 1830. + +C. pleiogonus (twisted-angled); Fig. 26.--An erect cylindrical-stemmed +species, from 6 in. to 1 ft. high by 4 in. in diameter, with from ten to +fourteen angles or ridges; these are somewhat tumid, and marked with +depressions, from which the star-like clusters of spines spring, about a +dozen spines in each cluster, the central one much the largest. The +flowers are about 8 in. long, the tube being rather thick and +cylinder-like, expanding at the top, so as to form a sort of cup, in +which the petals are arranged in several rows, with the middle filled by +the numerous stamens, surmounted by the club-like pistil. The colour of +the flowers is purple-red. This species appears to have first found its +way into cultivation through some Continental garden, its native country +being unknown. It thrives only in a warm house, developing its flowers +in summer. + +[Illustration: FIG. 26.--CEREUS PLEIOGONUS.] + +C. polyacanthus (many-spined).--A newly-introduced species, from El +Paso, in Mexico, where it is common on the sand ridges and stony hills. +Stem 10 in. high, 2 in. to 4 in. wide, pale green or glaucous, with about +eight ridges, the spines being placed along the angles in clusters of +half a dozen or so, and about ½ in. apart. The flowers are 2 in. to 3 in. +long; the tube spiny; the petals semi-erect and concave, rounded at the +tip, and forming a shallow cup or wine-glass-like flower; the colour of +the petals is deep blood-red. This beautiful Cactus is exceptional in +the length of time its flowers remain expanded and fresh, lasting a week +or more; and as the plant is very free flowering, there is usually a +beautiful display of rich red blossoms for about six weeks. It may be +grown in a cool greenhouse or window, requiring no artificial heat +beyond what would be necessary to insure its protection from frost. It +flowers in spring. + +C. procumbens (trailing); Fig. 27.--This is a very pretty little +Cactus, with spreading prostrate stems, from which upright branches grow +to a height of 3 in. or 4 in.; they are ½ in. thick, generally only +four-angled or square, with small spines in tufts along the angles. The +flowers are developed on the ends of the branches, and are 3 in. long and +wide, the sepals spreading and recurved, as in a Paris daisy, their +colour being bright rose purple. The anthers form a corona-like ring, +inclosing the upright, rayed stigma. A native of Mexico; flowers in May +and June. In its native haunts we learn that this little Cactus is very +free-flowering, but under cultivation in this country it flowers only +rarely. It thrives best when grown in a dry, sunny greenhouse, and kept +perfectly dry during autumn and winter. If allowed to get wet in that +season, it is apt to rot, the stems being soft and watery. + +[Illustration: FIG. 27.--CEREUS PROCUMBENS.] + +C. reductus (dingy); Bot. Mag. 4443.--Stem erect, sometimes 3 ft. high, +and about 4 in. wide, deeply furrowed, the furrows usually numbering +about fourteen; the ridges tumid and irregular, and coloured a dingy +glaucous-green. Spines embedded in a tuft of grey wool, about a dozen +spines in each cluster, 1 in. long, a few of them only half that length. +Flowers on the top of the stem, three or four opening together, each +being 3 in. long and wide; the tube short and scaly, with overlapping +sepals and saw-edged petals, which are white, slightly tinged with rose. +Stamens filling the whole of the flower-cup, bright yellow. A native of +Mexico, introduced in 1796, flowering in summer. This species was +evidently a favourite many years ago, but it is rare with us now. It +thrives in a house where the winter temperature does not fall below +45 deg., requiring no water at that time, but a liberal supply in the +summer when growth is being made, and all the sunlight possible. When +without its star-shaped, handsome flowers, the stem is remarkably +ferocious-looking, the spines upon it being quite as thick and as strong +as on a hedgehog. + +C. repandus (undulated); Fig. 28.--Stem erect, 10 ft. or more high, +unbranched, unless compelled to do so by the removal of the top. Ribs +eight or nine in number, rounded, somewhat undulated, and bearing +spine-tufts nearly 1 in. apart; each tuft contains about ten spines, +which are almost equal in length, fine, stiff, brown, and persistent; +there is a little cushion of white wool about the base of the spines. +Flowers produced on the side, within a few inches of the top of the +stem; they are composed of a scaly tube, 4 in. long, a circular row of +spreading, incurved, pale brown sepals, and two rows of broad, +overlapping, snow-white petals; stamens white, with yellow anthers; +stigma yellow. The flowers, developed in summer, are very beautiful, +but, unfortunately, each lasts only a few hours. A native of the West +Indies, and an old introduction to English gardens (1720), but rare in +cultivation now. It requires the treatment of a stove all the year +round. + +[Illustration: FIG. 28.--CEREUS REPANDUS.] + +C. Royeni (Royen's); Bot. Mag. 3125.--This plant is not one of the +handsomest as regards flowers; but its stems are ornamental, and the +form of the flowers is such as would please those who admire the +curious. The stem is erect, several feet high, 2 in. in diameter, with +about ten acute ridges, along which are little tufts of white wool about +the base of the clustering spines, which are dark brown and 1 in. long. +The flower-tube is 2 in. long, thick, spineless, scaly, the scales +becoming large near the top of the flower, where they form a cup-like +whorl, enclosing the small rose-coloured petals, the stamens being +white. Introduced from New Grenada, in 1832. It flowers in spring and +summer. It should be grown in a stove. + +C. variabilis (variable); Bot. Mag. 4084, under the name of C. pitajaya. +--A tall-growing plant, rather straggling in habit, branching freely, +the stems usually four-winged, but sometimes with three, five, or more, +constricted at intervals, as in Phyllocactus, the wings spiny along the +edges; spines 1 in. long. Flowers on the sides of the stems, rather low +down, long-tubed; large, showy; tube 6 in. long, smooth, fleshy, with a +few scales near the top, and a whorl of greenish, strap-shaped, pointed +sepals, the petals spreading, with toothed margins and a long acute +point, white or cream-coloured; anthers yellow. A native of various +parts of South America and the West Indies, but always close to the sea. +It flowers in July; the flowers, which open generally in the evening, +remain expanded all night, and close before noon the day following. This +species requires tropical or warm house treatment. There are some old +plants of it in the Kew collection, where it flowers annually. Except +for large houses, this species is not recommended for general +cultivation, as it blossoms only after attaining a good size, and the +stems, when old, are not at all ornamental. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE GENUS ECHINOCACTUS. + +(From echinos, a hedgehog, and Cactus.) + + +Many of the plants included in the genus Echinocactus are very similar +in habit and stem-characters to the Cereus. Botanists find characters in +the seed vessel (ovary) and in the seeds by which the two genera are +supposed to be easily separable; but, so far as can be made out by a +comparison of their more conspicuous characters, there is very little +indeed to enable one to distinguish the two genera from each other when +not in flower. A comparison of the figures given in these pages will +show that such is the case. + +The name Echinocactus was given to E. tenuispinus, which was first +introduced into English gardens in 1825. The spiny character of this +species is surpassed by that of many of the more recently introduced +kinds; still it is sufficient to justify its being compared to a +hedgehog. Some of the kinds have spines 4 in. long, broad at the base, +and hooked towards the point, the hooks being wonderfully strong, whilst +in others the spines are long and needle-like, or short and fine as the +prickles on a thistle. The stems vary much in size and form, being +globose, or compressed, or ovate, a few only being cylindrical, and +attaining a height of from 5 ft. to 10 ft. They are almost always +simple--that is, without branches, unless they are compelled to form +such by cutting out or injuring the top of the stem; the ridges vary in +number from about five to ten times that number, and they are in some +species very firm and prominent, in others reduced to mere undulations, +whilst in a few, they are separated into numerous little tubercles or +mammae. The species are nearly all possessed of spines, which are +collected in bundles along the ridges of the stem. Generally, the +flowers are about as long as wide, and the ovary is covered with scales +or modified sepals. The fruit is succulent, or sometimes dry, and, when +ripe, is covered with the persistent calyx scales, often surrounded with +wool, and usually bearing upon the top the remains of the withered +flower. The position of the flowers is on the young part of the stem, +usually being perched in the centre, never on the old part, as in some +of the Cereuses. The flowers open only under the influence of bright +sunlight, generally closing soon after it leaves them. + +The geographical distribution of the species, of which over 200 have +been described, extends from Texas and California to Peru and Brazil; +they are in greatest abundance in Mexico, whence most of the garden +kinds have been introduced. The conditions under which they grow +naturally vary considerably in regard to temperature and soil; but they +are all found in greatest numbers and most robust health where the soil +is gravelly or sandy, and even where there is no proper soil at all, the +roots finding nourishment in the clefts or crevices of the rocks. As a +rule, the temperature in the lands where they are native is very high +during summer, and falls to the other extreme in winter, some of the +species being found even where frost and snow are frequent; the majority +of them, however, require what we would call stove treatment. + +Turning now to a consideration of those kinds known as garden plants, we +find that comparatively few of the species known to botanists are +represented in English collections, though, perhaps, we may safely say +that not one of the kinds known would be considered unworthy of +cultivation except by those who despise Cactuses of whatever kind. Their +flowers are conspicuous both in size and brilliancy of colour; and in +the curious, grotesque, and even beautifully symmetrical shapes of their +stems, one finds attractions of no ordinary kind. The stem of E. Visnaga +shown at Fig. 48 may be taken as an instance of this--apart from the +cluster of star-like, bright yellow flowers seen nestling upon the top +of their spine-protected dwelling, the whole suggesting a nest of young +birds. This plant is indeed one of the most remarkable of the +Echinocactuses, owing to the size and number of its spines--which are +3 in. long, almost as firm as steel, and are used by the Mexicans as +toothpicks--and to the gigantic size and great weight of the stem. The +following account of a large specimen of this species introduced to Kew +in 1845, is taken from an article from the pen of the late Sir Wm. +Hooker in the Gardeners' Chronicle of that year. This gigantic plant was +presented to the nation, in other words to Kew, by F. Staines, Esq., of +San Luis Potosi. Such was its striking appearance, that it was stated +that, if exhibited in the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, some hundreds of +pounds might be realised by it. In a letter from Mr. Staines, here +quoted, our readers will perceive how difficult it often is to obtain +living specimens of these plants from their native habitats. He writes: +"I mean to have a large specimen of E. Visnaga deposited in a strong +box, sending the box first to the mountain where the monsters grow, and +placing it on the springs of a carriage which I shall despatch for that +purpose. My monstrous friend cannot travel any other way, from his +stupendous size and immense ponderosity, which cannot be adequately +calculated for here, where the largest machine for conveying weights +does not exceed sixteen arrobes, or 400lb. This enormous plant will +require twenty men at least to place it upon the vehicle, with the aid +of such levers as our Indians can invent. It grows in the deep ravines +of our loftiest mountains, amongst huge stones; the finest plants are +inaccessible to wheeled vehicles, and even on horseback it is difficult +to reach them. I shall pack him carefully in mats before applying to his +roots the crowbars destined to wrench him from his resting place of +unknown centuries. He will have to travel 300 leagues before he reaches +Vera Cruz." Being too large to be packed in a box, it was first +surrounded with a dense clothing of the Old Man's Beard or Spanish moss +(Tillandsia usneoides)--and a better covering could not have been +devised--and well corded. Fifteen mats, each as large and as thick as +an ordinary doormat, formed the exterior envelope. When unpacked on its +arrival at Kew, this monster Cactus was seen as perfect, as green, and +as uninjured as if it had been that morning removed from its native +rocks, its long, rope-like roots arranged in coils like the cable of a +ship. When placed in scales it weighed 713lb., its circumference at 1 ft. +from the ground was 4½ ft., and its total height, 8 ft. 7 in.; the number +of ridges was forty-four, and on each ridge were fifty bundles of +spines, four spines to each bundle. Thus there were 8800 spines or +toothpicks, enough for the supply of an army. A still larger specimen +was a year or so later successfully brought to Kew, and which weighed 1 +ton; but this, as well as the smaller one, survived only a short time. +There have been numerous other large specimens of this Cactus in English +gardens lately, all of them, however, succumbing to the unfavourable +conditions of our climate. Mr. Peacock, of Hammersmith, recently +possessed two large plants of E. Visnaga, one of which weighed nearly +5cwt., and measured 8 ft. 6 in. in circumference. + +Cultivation.--The soil for Echinocactuses should be similar to that +recommended for the Cereuses, as also should be the treatment as regards +sunlight and rest. It cannot be too clearly understood that during the +period between October and March these plants should be kept perfectly +dry at the root, and in a dry house, where the temperature would not +fall below 50 deg. There is no occasion for re-potting the Echinocactuses +every year, it being by far the safest plan to allow them to remain in +the same pots several years, should the soil be fresh and the drainage +perfect. + +All the larger-stemmed kinds may be kept in health when grown on their +own roots; but for some of the smaller species it is a good plan to +graft them upon the stem of some of the Cereuses, C. tortuosus or C. +colubrinus being recommended for the smaller kinds, and for the larger +C. peruvianus, C. gemmatus, or any one the stem of which is robust, and +of the right dimensions to bear the species of Echinocactus intended to +be grafted. Some growers prefer to graft all the small Echinocactuses +upon other kinds, find certainly, when properly grafted, they are safer +thus treated than if grown on their own roots. In grafting, the two +stems (stock and scion) must be cut so that their edges meet, and in +securing them two or three stakes must be placed in such a way as to +afford support to the graft and hold it firmly in position. + +Propagation.--Besides grafting, cuttings of the stems may be utilised +for the multiplication of Echinocactuses, first removing the upper +portion of the stem and putting it into soil to root, and afterwards, as +lateral stems develop on the old stock, they may be cut away with a +sharp knife, and treated in a similar manner. Should a plant become +sickly, and look shrivelled and cankered at the base, it is always best +to cut away the healthy part of the stem, and induce it to form fresh +roots, thus giving it a new lease of life. Seeds of these plants may be +obtained from dealers, more especially Continental nurserymen, and to +watch the gradual development of the plant from the seedling is both +interesting and instructive. The seeds should be sown in soil, and kept +moist and warm; in about a month after sowing, the little pea-like, +green balls will be seen pushing their way through the thin covering of +soil, and gradually but slowly increasing in size, their spines also +increasing in number and strength, the ridges forming according to the +character of the species, till, finally, they assume the mature +characters of the plant, both in stem and habit. The flowers, of course, +appear according to the length of time it takes for the species to grow +to flowering size. + +SPECIES. + +E. brevihamatus (short-hooked).--Several kinds of Echinocactus are +distinguished from the rest in having the ridges divided into tubercles, +which are often globular and arranged in a spiral round the stem, as in +the genus Mamillaria; to this section the present species belongs. The +stem is almost sphere-shaped, from 4 in. to 6 in. high, the tuberculated +ridges about ¼ in. deep, and upon each tubercle is a tuft of about a +dozen brown, radiating spines, with a long central one hooked at the +point. The flowers are borne in clusters on the top of the stem, three +or four opening together; they are 1 in. in length, and the same across +the spreading petals, which are pink, shaded with deep rose. A native of +the mountainous regions of South Brazil; introduced about 1850. Flowers +in summer. This pretty little plant will thrive if placed upon a shelf +in a greenhouse where it will have full sunshine during the greater part +of the day. It grows very slowly, especially when on its own roots, but +succeeds better when grafted on another kind. + +E. centeterius (many-spined); Bot. Mag. 3974.--This has a +conical-shaped stem, 6 in. high by 4 in. wide, with about fourteen ridges, +which are notched, and bear star-shaped clusters of pale brown spines, +½ in. long. The blossoms are borne rather thickly on the summit of the +stem, from six to nine flowers being sometimes open together; and as +they are each nearly 3 in. across, and of good substance, they present an +attractive appearance. The petals are of a deep straw-colour, with a +reddish streak down the centre, and 1½ in. long, with the apex notched or +toothed. The stamens are spirally coiled round the stigma, which is +club-shaped and white. This species is probably a native of Mexico, and +was first flowered in England at Kew, in 1841. A cool, dry greenhouse +suits it best; or it may be grown in a sunny room window where frost +would not be allowed to reach it in winter. Unless subjected to very dry +treatment during the winter months, and also kept in a position where +all the sunlight possible would reach it--even when at rest--there is +not much chance of this plant producing its large flowers. It may be +kept alive by giving it uniform treatment all the year round, but it +would never flower. + +E. cinnabarinus (cinnabar-flowered); Bot. Mag. 4326.--This is another +of the Mamillaria-like kinds, and is remarkable for the depressed form +of its stem, which may be likened to a sea urchin, both in size and +shape. Old plants are from 6 in. to 8 in. in diameter, and about 4 in. +high; the spiral formed by the tubercles rises very gradually, and each +of the latter is surmounted by a tuft of strong, brown, radiating +spines, imbedded in a little cushion of wool. The flowers spring from +the outside of the depressed top of the stem, two or three opening +together and forming a beautiful picture, both as to size and colour. +The tube is short and green, with a row of long green sepals at the top, +and above these the petals, which are 2 in. long, overlapping, recurved, +the edges toothed, and the colour a brilliant cinnabar-red. The stamens +are in two series, very numerous, and the anthers are bright yellow. +Looking at the flattened, spiny stem, it seems impossible that such +large, handsome flowers should be produced by it. A native of Bolivia; +introduced about 1846. It blossoms in July, and may be grown on a shelf +in a cool greenhouse, as advised for the E. centeterius. + +E. concinnus (neat); Fig. 29.--A small species with a globose stem, +2 in. high and 3 in. wide, and about twenty ridges, which are rounded, +rather broad, each bearing about half-a-dozen little bunches of spines +arranged in a star. The flowers are numerous, as large as, or larger +than, the stem, being 3 in. long and broad, the tube covered with brown +hair-like spines, and having a few reddish scales, whilst the petals are +in several rows, overlapping, with pointed tips, and are coloured dark +yellow with a red streak down the centre. Several flowers are sometimes +developed together on a little stem, when they have the appearance of +being much too large for so small a plant to support. The pale green of +the stem and its brown spines contrast prettily with the handsome yellow +flowers, which are brightened by the streaks of red on the petals and +the clear red colour of the stigma. It is a native of Mexico, and was +introduced about 1840, flowering early in summer. It requires a warm +greenhouse temperature all the year round, with, of course, plenty of +sunshine. It may be grafted on the stem of an erect-growing Cereus, such +as C. serpentinus or C. Napoleonis, the stock to be not higher than +6 in., and about as wide as the plant of E. concinnus is at the base. + +[Illustration: FIG. 29.--ECHINOCACTUS CONCINNUS.] + +E. coptonogonus (wavy-ribbed); Fig. 30.--Stem globose, seldom more than +5 in. in diameter, depressed on the top, with from ten to fourteen +strong, sharp-edged, wavy ribs, the furrows also being wavy. Spine tufts +set in little depressions along the margins of the ribs, five spines in +each tuft, the two upper 1 in. long and four-angled, the two lower +flattened and shorter, the fifth, which is the longest, being placed in +the top of the cushion. Flowers 2 in. across, daisy-like, produced in +April and May; tube very short; sepals and petals linear, spreading, +white, with a purple stripe down the centre; stamens red, with yellow +anthers; pistil purple, with an eight-rayed, yellow stigma. A native of +Mexico. (Syn. E. interruptus.) + +[Illustration: FIG. 30.--ECHINOCACTUS COPTONOGONUS.] + +E. cornigerus (horn-bearing).--This remarkable plant, of which a +portion is represented at Fig. 31, has the stoutest spines of all +cultivated Cactuses, and their arrangement on the ridges of the stem is +such as would withstand the attacks of all enemies. The broad +tongue-like spine is purple in colour, and as strong as iron; the three +erect horn-like spines yellow, and as firm as the horns of an antelope, +to which they bear a resemblance. The stem is sphere-shaped, grey-green +in colour, and is divided into from fourteen to twenty-one stout wavy +ribs, upon which the spine tufts occur at intervals of about 2 in. The +arrangement of the spines is shown in the illustration, as also is the +position of the flowers, which are small, with narrow purple petals and +brown-red sepals. The plant is a native of Mexico and Guatemala, and +would require stove treatment. We have seen only small living examples, +but according to descriptions and figures, the most interesting +character it possesses is its spiny armament. It has been called +Melocactus latispinus and Echinocactus latispinus. + +[Illustration: FIG. 31.--ECHINOCACTUS CORNIGERUS.] + +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. + +E. cylindraceus (cylindrical).--A large-growing kind, attaining a +height of several feet, very broad, and, as the name denotes, +cylindrical in shape. When large, the stem often develops lateral +branches about its base. Cultivated plants of it are 6 in. high, the +sides marked with about a score of ridges, upon which, arranged in a +dense cluster, are the stout, strong spines, the longest of them 3 in. +long, hooked, and projecting outwards, the shorter spreading and +interlacing so as to form a sort of spiny network all round the stem. +The flowers are yellow, 2 in. long, and are composed of a short, thick +tube bearing from forty to fifty fringed sepals, and about half that +number of petals, which are also fringed. There are as many as a dozen +flowers opened together on stout, aged plants; it is, however, more +because of the densely spinous stems than the flowers that this species +has found its way into cultivation. It cannot be recommended for any +except large collections, and where it can be grown in a stove +temperature. It is a native of the hot deserts of Colorado, and was +introduced about ten years ago. There are several healthy young +specimens of it in the Kew collection. + +E. echidne (viper; probably in allusion to the fang-like spines).--This +species is remarkable in having a stout cylindrical stem, 12 in. high by +8 in. wide, with about a dozen deep ridges; these are disposed spirally, +and bear tufts of rigid, broad spines, 1 in. or more long, spreading, so +as to interlace and form a wire-like network all round the stem. It may +be mentioned here that an American naturalist has recently suggested +that the object of these iron-like spines on the stems of many Cactuses, +and more especially on the majority of the Hedgehog kinds, is not so +much to defend the fleshy stems from browsing animals as to afford +protection from the scorching rays of the sun, which would otherwise +cause the stems to blister and shrivel; and the nature of the spiny +covering of E. echidne seems to support such a view. As in many others, +the clusters of spines in this plant have their bases embedded in a tuft +of whitish wool. The flowers are developed near the centre of the top of +the stem, and are of medium size, bright yellow, with whitish stamens; +they are produced two or three together, in summer. This species is a +native of Mexico; it thrives in a greenhouse where frost is excluded, +but only rarely flowers with us under cultivation. + +E. Emoryi (Emory's); Fig. 34.--This is a very large-stemmed kind, +specimens having been found nearly 3 ft. in height and about 2 ft. in +diameter. Smaller plants, such as are in English collections, have +globose stems 1 ft. through, with about thirteen ribs, the ribs +tuberculated, the tubercles large, and rounded; the spines are borne on +the apex of the tubercles in star-shaped bundles of eight or nine, and +are angled, often flat on the top side, articulated, with hooked points, +whilst in length they vary from 1 in. to 4 in. The flowers are 3 in. long, +the tube clothed with heart-shaped scales or sepals; the petals are red, +with yellowish margins, spreading so as to form a beautiful, large, +cup-like flower, with a cluster of deep yellow stamens in the centre. +The flowering period is in the autumn, and the plant is a native of the +Lower Colorado and California. Living plants of it have only recently +been introduced into English collections. At Kew, it is cultivated in a +warm greenhouse, where it is in good health. From accounts of it in its +native haunts, it will, however, probably prefer a cool house in winter, +and as much sun and warmth as possible in spring and summer; for we are +told that during winter it is often subjected to severe frosts and heavy +snowfalls, whilst in summer the fierce heat of the sun is such as to +burn up all vegetation, except Cactuses and other similar plants. + +[Illustration: FIG. 34.--FLOWER AND SPINES OF ECHINOCACTUS EMORYI.] + +E. gibbosus (humped).--A small apple-like plant, not more than 4 in. +high, with a depressed top, the lower part being narrowed. It has +sixteen ribs or ridges, composed of rows of thick fleshy tubercles, upon +every other of which are six or eight horny spines, 1 in. long. The +flowers are pushed out from the edge of the depression on the top of the +stem, and are large; the tube 1½ in. long. The petals spread to a width +of 3 in., and are arranged in several rows, overlapping each other, +becoming smaller towards the centre of the flower, as in an aster; they +are pure white, except for a tinge of red on the tips of the outer ones, +the stamens being bright yellow. Two flowers are usually developed on a +plant, generally in June. This species was introduced from Jamaica about +1808, by a nurseryman in Hammersmith; but as no Echinocactuses are wild +in the West Indian Islands, it must have been introduced into Jamaica +from some of the Central American States, or probably from Mexico. It +may be grafted on to another free-growing kind with advantage, as it +does not always keep healthy when on its own roots. It should be grown +in a cool greenhouse, or in the window of a dwelling-room, always, +however, in a position where it would get plenty of sunlight. + +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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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.) + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: FIG. 38.--ECHINOCACTUS LE CONTEI.] + +E. Leeanus (Lee's); Bot. Mag. 4184.--This species has many characters +in common with E. hexaedrophorus and E. gibbosus, the stem being no +larger than a small orange, with plump globose tubercles, bearing +star-shaped clusters of short brown spines. The flowers are 1½ in. long +and wide, and are composed of a green fleshy tube, with a few whitish +scales, which gradually enlarge till, with the white, rose-tipped +petals, they form a spreading cup, the large cluster of pale yellow +stamens occupying the whole of the centre. This pretty little Cactus was +raised from seeds by Messrs. Lee, of the Hammersmith Nursery, in 1840. +It is a native of the Argentine Provinces, and flowers in May. The +treatment recommended for E. gibbosus will be found suitable for this. +It is happiest when grafted on to another kind. For the amateur whose +plants are grown in a room window or small plant-case, these tiny +Hedgehog Cactuses are much more suitable than larger kinds, as they keep +in health under ordinary treatment, and flower annually; whereas, the +larger kinds, unless grown in properly-constructed houses, rarely +blossom. + +E. longihamatus (long-hooked); Fig. 39.--We heartily wish all species +of Cactaceous plants were as readily distinguished and as easily defined +in words as in the present remarkably fine and handsome one--remarkable +in the very prominent ridges, the large and regularly-arranged spines, +the central one very long, flattened, and usually hooked at the end, and +handsome in the size and colouring of its flowers, both in the bud and +when fully expanded. The stem is globose, 8 in. or more high; it has +about thirteen prominent rounded ridges with waved tumid edges, from +which, about 1½ in. apart, spring clusters of spines, about a dozen in +each cluster, dark red when young, becoming brown with age. In length, +these spines vary from 1 in. to 6 in., the latter being the length of the +central, hooked one, which is broad and flattened at the base. The +flowers are 4 in. broad and long, the tube short, green, and bearing +reddish scales, which gradually pass into bright yellow petals blotched +with red on the outside, the inner ones spreading and forming a shallow +cup, in the centre of which are the short yellow stamens and large +pistil. Plants of this species have been grown with stems 20 in. high; +but it takes a great number of years for the development of such +specimens. The flowers are produced on the apex of the stem in July. +This species was introduced from Mexico about 1850; it thrives only when +grown in a warm greenhouse, where the temperature in summer may be +allowed to run up to 90 degs. with sun heat. For large collections it is +one of the most desirable. + +[Illustration: FIG. 39.--PORTION OF PLANT OF ECHINOCACTUS +LONGIHAMATUS.] + +E. Mackieanus (Mackie's); Bot. Mag. 3561.--A small plant, not more than +about 5 in. high, and 2 in. broad at the base, widening slightly upwards. +The ridges are broken up into numerous fleshy, rounded, green tubercles, +crowned with a tuft of thin brown spines from ½ in. to 1 in. long, their +bases set in a small pad of yellow wool: As the stem gets older, it +loses its tubercles at the base, which are changed into brown wrinkles. +The flowers are developed on the top of the stem, generally two or three +together, egg-shaped and scaly when in bud, 2½ in. across when expanded; +the petals white, tipped with brown; the stigma green, club-shaped. This +curious little Cactus is one of about a dozen species found in the +Chilian Andes. It was introduced in 1837 by the gentleman whose name it +bears, and who, at that time, possessed a famous collection of Cacti. +Like the rest of the Chilian kinds, it should be cultivated in a cool +greenhouse in full sunshine, where it will produce its flowers in +summer. + +E. mamillarioides (Mamillaria-like); Bot. Mag. 3558.--This is another +small, tubercled species, which, like the preceding, is a native of +Chili. Its stem is very irregular in form, owing to the crowding of the +tubercles, which look as if they were filled with water. The spines are +small, in tufts of about half a dozen, set in a little cushion of +yellowish wool. In size, the whole plant is like E. Mackieanus, but it +blossoms more freely, as many as sixteen flowers having been borne at +one time by a plant at Kew. These were short-tubed, the calyx clothed +with green scales, and the petals 2 in. long, recurved at the apex, +forming a beautiful cup-like flower of a bright yellow colour, with a +band of red down the centre of each petal; the stamens and pistil +yellow. The number of flowers developed on the small stem formed by this +plant is quite extraordinary. It grows and flowers freely in an ordinary +greenhouse, and would thrive in a sunny window if kept dry during the +winter. + +E. mamillosus (nipple-bearing).--A short, dumpy plant, with numerous +tubercled ridges, bearing bunches of dark brown hair-like spines, which +form a close network about the stem. The flowers are developed on the +top of the stem, and are about 4 in. in diameter, with a thick tube; the +petals are spreading, bright yellow in colour, and arranged in a +regular, bell-like whorl. Inside this bell is a circle of purple +filaments or stamens, forming a pretty contrast with the clear yellow of +the petals. This is a recent introduction, which flowered in the Kew +collection for the first time in June, 1886. It is one of the most +beautiful of the large-flowered kinds, and, as it thrives in a warm +greenhouse and is very free-flowering, it may be expected to become a +favourite with Cactus growers. Owing to the lack of information +respecting the conditions under which many of the Cactuses are found +wild, and to the fact that little in the way of experimental culture has +been done by growers of this family, cultivators are sometimes in the +dark as regards the lowest temperature in which the rarer kinds can be +safely grown. Many of the species of the present genus, for instance, +were grown in stoves years ago but are now known to thrive in a cool +greenhouse where frost alone is excluded. + +E. multiflorus (many-flowered); Bot. Mag. 4181.--A well-named Cactus, +as its small stem (seldom more than 5 in. high, and the same in width) +often bears a large cap-like cluster of beautiful white flowers, except +for a slight tinge of brown on the tips of the petals. Each flower is +composed of a green, scaly tube, and several rows of reflexed petals, +which form a shallow cup 2½ in. across. The stamens are tipped with +orange-coloured anthers, and the stigma is rayed and snow-white. The +stem is ridged with rows of fleshy mammae or tubercles, which are +curiously humped, and each bears a cluster of spreading, brown spines, +1 in. long. The number of flowers this little plant annually produces +seems more than could be possible without proving fatal to its health; +but we have seen it blossom year after year, and in no way has its +health appeared impaired. It may be grown on a shelf in a warm +greenhouse, or in the window of a heated dwelling-room. Introduced, +probably from Mexico, in 1845. This, like all the small, +globular-stemmed kinds, may be grafted on the stem of a Cereus of +suitable thickness. Some cultivators believe that grafting causes the +plants to flower more freely, but we have not observed any difference in +this respect between grafted and ungrafted plants. + +E. myriostigma. (many-dotted); Fig. 40.--In the form of the stem of +this species we have a good illustration of how widely a plant may +differ from others of the same genus in certain of its characters, for +the spines are almost totally suppressed, and the ridges are regular, +deep, and smooth. There are usually five or six ridges, a transverse +section of the stem revealing a form exactly like the common star-fish +(Astrophyton), a resemblance to which the name Astrophytum, sometimes +applied to this plant, owed its origin. The form of the stem is well +represented in the Figure. The white dots shown on the bark, and which +look like scales, are composed of very fine interwoven hairs, which, +under a microscope, are very pretty objects. This species was introduced +from Mexico along with the large plant of E. Visnaga described at the +beginning of this chapter, and was first flowered at Kew, in July, 1845. +Stems 1 ft. in length were received, along with shorter ones; but only +the small ones were established. The flowers are daisy-like, 1½ in. +across, and are straw-coloured, the petals being tipped with black. It +thrives under warm greenhouse treatment. When without its flowers, it +looks more like a piece of chiselled stone than a living plant. + +[Illustration: FIG. 40.--ECHINOCACTUS MYRIOSTIGMA.] + +E. obvallatus (fortified); Fig. 41.--The form of stem in this species +is shown in the Figure. It grows very slowly plants 4 in. through taking +about ten years to reach that size from seeds. The spines are stout, all +deflexed, and arranged along the edges of the numerous ribs into which +the stem is divided. The flowers are developed from the centre of the +plant, and are surrounded by the erect spines, which crown the, as yet, +undeveloped tubercles. Two or three flowers are produced at about the +same time, each one being composed of a short, spiny tube, and a whorl +of erect petals, which are pointed, purple-coloured, paler at the +margin, the stamens being yellow. Native of Mexico. It requires a stove +temperature, and flowers in summer. + +[Illustration: FIG. 41.--ECHINOCACTUS OBVALLATUS.] + +E. Ottonis (Otto's); Bot. Mag. 3107.--A dwarf kind, with a +balloon-shaped stem, rarely exceeding 4 in. in height, and divided into a +dozen wide ridges with sharp, regular edges, along which are clusters of +small, brown spines, set in little tufts of wool, and looking like an +array of spiders. The flowers are borne on the tops of the ridges, and +are pale yellow in colour, with a band of red hair-like spines +surrounding the calyx just below the petals, which are narrow, +spreading, and look not unlike the flowers of the yellow Marguerite; the +stigma is bright red. The symmetrical form of the stem, with its rows of +spider-like spines, renders this plant attractive, even when without its +bright and pretty flowers. It thrives only in a warm stove. Introduced +from Brazil in 1831, flowering in the month of July. As it produces +young plants about its base, it may be easily propagated by removing +them and planting them in soil; or they may be grafted as advised for +other of the small, globose-stemmed kinds. + +E. pectiniferus (comb-bearing); Bot. Mag. 4190.--One of the most +striking of the plants of this genus, owing to the character of its +stem, and the large size and beauty of its flowers. The former resembles +a pear with the thin end downwards; its height is from 4 in. to 6 in., and +it has about twenty ridges, which are sharply defined and bear along +their angles little cushions of white wool ½ in. apart, with a radiating +cluster of brown spines springing from each. The arrangement of the +spines in rows is not unlike the teeth of a comb. The flowers are borne +near the top of the stem, and consist of a green, fleshy tube, clothed +with spines and little tufts of white wool; the sepals form a row +beneath the petals, and are yellowish, tinged with purple; petals 2 in. +long, broad, with the upper margins toothed and the tip acute, their +colour being bright rose, tinged with greenish-white at the base; +stamens yellow; stigma large, green. The form of the flowers is that of +a cup, nearly 3 in. across. Introduced from Mexico in 1845. Flowering +season, April and May. It requires warm-house treatment. + +E. polycephalus (many-headed); Fig. 42.--Stem globose when young, +becoming cylindrical with age; number of ribs varying from twelve to +twenty, sharply defined, and bearing, at intervals of 1 in., clusters of +stout, reddish spines, somewhat flattened on the upper side, and marked +with raised rings, or, as it is termed, annulated, the central ones +attaining a length of over 3 in. on old plants, and sometimes curved. The +flowers are enveloped at the base in a dense mass of white wool, which +hides the tube, its spines only showing through; petals narrow, 1 in. +long, spreading like a saucer, and coloured bright yellow; stamens +numerous, yellow, as also is the large rayed stigma. California and +Colorado, on stony and gravelly hills. Flowers in spring; introduced to +Kew in 1886. This new plant is remarkable in that it is often found wild +with as many as twenty to thirty stems or heads springing from the same +base, and even young plants show early a disposition to develop several +heads. The largest stems are from 1½ ft. to 2½ ft. high, and have a +somewhat forbidding appearance, owing to the size and strength of their +numerous spines. For its cultivation, a warm-house temperature appears +most suitable; it bears a close resemblance to E. texensis. + +[Illustration: FIG. 42.--RIDGE, WITH SPINES, OF ECHINOCACTUS +POLYCEPHALUS.] + +E. Pottsii (Potts').--The stem of this is shown in Fig. 43. Full-sized +plants are 1½ ft. in diameter, and have about a dozen ridges with acute +sinuses, the ridges being rounded and even. The spines are 1 in. long, +bristle-like, and are arranged in clusters of seven or nine, with a +cushion of white wool at the base of each cluster. Flowers short-tubed, +about 2 in. across, and coloured yellow; they are produced on the top of +the stem in summer, several expanding together. The plant is a native of +California, and was introduced about 1840. Under cultivation this +species proves to be a shy-flowering Cactus, although in a warm house it +grows freely, and remains in good health. It is well adapted for +grafting on to the stem of some kind of Cereus, and in this way may be +made to look very singular, as was shown in Mr. Peacock's collection of +succulents some years ago, when a fine specimen, over 1 ft. across, was +successfully grafted on to three stems of C. tortuosus, and had much the +appearance of a melon elevated on a short tripod. + +[Illustration: FIG. 43.--ECHINOCACTUS POTTSII.] + +E. rhodophthalmus (red-eyed); Bot. Mag. 4486, 4634.--Stem cone-shaped, +4 in. to 1 ft. high, deeply furrowed; ridges about nine, 1 in. high, the +angles bearing closely-set clusters of radiating spines, with a +projecting one in the middle of each cluster, which contains nine spines +1 in. long, purple when young, becoming white when old. The flowers are +produced from the summit of the stem, and have a thick, green, scaly +calyx tube, upon which the spreading, rose-coloured petals are arranged +in a regular series, and form a shallow bell nearly 3 in. across. The +throat of the flower is coloured a deep crimson, against which the +little sheaf of white stamens and the star-shaped yellow stigma form a +pretty contrast. Three or more flowers are expanded together on a plant. +It is a native of Mexico; introduced in 1845. It thrives in a house or +frame where it is protected from frost, and during summer gets plenty of +sunlight and air. It flowers in August. During the months of April and +May, when it starts into growth, it should be kept close; but by the end +of June, it should be exposed to the open air and allowed to ripen, so +that its flowers may be produced in the autumn. The plant called E. v. +ellipticus does not differ from the type, owing its name to the form of +the stem of the first plant that flowered at Kew. + +E. scopa. (brush-like); Fig. 44.--The stem of this species, when seen +covered with numerous tufts of bristly spines, has been compared to a +brush, a comparison not, however, applicable to the form represented in +the Figure. In height the stems sometimes reach l½ ft., with from thirty +to forty ribs, bearing little discs of white wool at the bases of the +clusters of spines. The flowers spring from the upper part of the stem +(the nodules shown in the illustration represent the places where +flowers have been developed at an earlier stage of growth), from four to +six being borne in the same season; they are 1½ in. long and wide, the +tube short and brown, bristly; the petals are arranged in several +overlapping series, rather wide for their length, toothed at the ends; +their colour is a bright sulphur-yellow, as also are the stamens, whilst +the stigma, which is rayed, is bright crimson. Native of Brazil. +Introduced about 1840; it is more like a Cereus, in the form of its +stem, than an Echinocactus. It flowers in June, and requires stove +treatment. The stems, when dried carefully and stuffed with wadding, +form pretty ornaments. + +[Illustration: FIG. 44.--ECHINOCACTUS SCOPA.] + +E. scopa cristata. (crested variety); Fig. 45.--This curious +monstrosity owes its origin to fasciation similar to what occurs in the +Celosias or Cockscombs, in some Echeverias, &c. These monster varieties +of Cactuses do not flower, but they are nevertheless interesting, and +worth growing on account of their curious shapes. The plant shown in +Fig. 45 is grafted on the stem of a Cereus, and it is remarkable that a +portion of the crest of the Echinocactus will, if grafted on to another +plant, develop the abnormal form of its parent, proving that the +variation, whatever its cause, has become fixed. + +[Illustration: FIG. 45.--ECHINOCACTUS SCOPA CRISTATA.] + +E. Simpsoni (Simpson's).--One of the smallest plants in the genus, and +one of the prettiest. It produces tufts of irregularly-formed stems +about 4 in. high, and composed of numerous rounded tubercles over ½ in. +wide, bearing on the top of each a tuft of about twelve spines ½ in. +long. The flowers are borne from the apex of the young tubercles, and +are 1 in. wide and long, cup-shaped; petals pale purple, the stamens +yellow. Native of Mexico and Colorado, where it is found at elevations +of 8000 ft. to 10,000 ft., in great abundance, forming large patches on +gravelly morains, where the climate during the summer is dry, whilst in +winter a thick covering of snow protects the plants from severe frosts. +In England, this species is said to have withstood 32 degs. of frost +without being injured. It has been grown out of doors in a garden at +Northampton, where it passed several winters planted in a raised border +at the foot of a south wall with a natural coping of ivy. In New York, +where the frosts of winter are severer than in England, it is cultivated +out of doors. In this country it is apt to be injured by excessive +moisture and fogs; but by protecting it with a handlight from November +to March or April, this is overcome. If grown in pots, it should be kept +in a position where it can enjoy all the sunlight possible. + +E. sinuatus (undulated).--Stem about 8 in. wide and long; globose, +bearing fourteen to sixteen ridges, the edges of which are wavy or +undulated, the prominent points crowned with tufts of thin, flexuous, +yellow spines, the longest 1½ in., and hooked, the shorter ¾ in., and +straight. The stem of E. longihamatus is very similar to this. Flowers +developed on the top of the stem; tube short, scaly, green; petals +yellow, spreading, and forming a cup 3 in. across, which is greenish +outside. A native of Mexico, where it flowers in April. A +recently-introduced kind, not yet flowered in this country. It is +described as being a distinct, large-flowered, handsome species. + +E. tenuispinus (thin-spined); Bot. Mag. 3963.--Stem globular, +depressed, with ridges and spines similar to those of E. Ottonis; +indeed, by some these two are considered forms of the same species. In +the number and size of the flowers, their colour and form, and the time +of flowering, there is no difference between them. Native of Mexico (and +Brazil ?). + +E. texensis (Texan); Fig. 46.--A short-stemmed plant, with a thick, +leathery skin and broad-based ridges of irregular form, crowned with +tufts of stout horny spines, the central one much the longest, flattened +at the base, and strong as steel. The flowers are produced near the +centre of the top, from the tufts of whitish wool which accompany the +spines on the young parts of the ridges. They are 2½ in. long and wide; +the tube short and woolly; the petals spreading, beautifully fringed, +and rose-coloured. Native of North-east Mexico, where it grows on stony +hillsides in full exposure to sunshine, and where, during winter, it has +to endure weather verging on to frost. It thrives in a greenhouse under +cultivation. Like several of the stout-spined, robust-stemmed kinds, +this may find favour as a garden plant because of the character of its +stem, and the extraordinary strength of its large iron-like spines. + +[Illustration: FIG. 46.--ECHINOCACTUS TEXENSIS.] + +E. turbiniformis (top-shaped).--A very distinct dwarf kind, with +globular stems 2 in. high and about 3 in. wide, clothed with +spirally-arranged rows or ridges of tubercles, similar to those shown in +the figure of E. hexaedrophorus, except that, in the former, there are +no spines on the mature tubercles, although, when young, they have each +a little cluster of fine spines. The flowers expand in June, several +together, from the top of the stem; they are round, 1 in. across, the +petals being numerous, pale yellow in colour, tinged with red on the +outside. Introduced from Mexico, 1840. This curious little plant +requires stove treatment, and thrives when grafted on the stem of some +other kind. It is sometimes known as Mamillaria turbinata. + +E. uncinatus (hooked); Fig. 47.--A small species, with oval stems when +young, older plants becoming cylindrical, as shown in the accompanying +Figure. The height of the largest plant does not exceed 6 in., so that, +when wild, it is often hidden by the long grass in which it is +frequently found on stony hillsides at high elevations, in Mexico. The +ridges are broken up into large tubercles, upon each of which is a tuft +of short straight spines, arranged in a circle, and a long hooked one +springing from the centre, and often attaining a length of about 4 in. In +old plants the spines are almost white, whilst in young ones they are +purplish. The flowers are borne in a cluster on the apex of the stem, +and are nearly 2 in. long, the tube being short and spiny, and the petals +numerous, arranged in a cup, their colour dark purplish-red, the tips +pointed; the stamens are yellow, with orange tips. The flowers expand +only when the sun shines on them, closing up again in dull light, but +opening again, and remaining fresh for about a week. Introduced in 1850. +Flowers in March and April. This plant may be grown in a cool, sunny +greenhouse, or window, requiring only protection from frost in winter, +and in summer plenty of light, with a moderate amount of water. There +are several varieties of it described, their differences being chiefly +in the shape of the stem. + +[Illustration: FIG. 47.--ECHINOCACTUS UNCINATUS.] + +E. viridescens (greenish).--Stem 1 ft. high and 9 in. across, young +plants being broader than high; the sides split up into about twenty +ridges, which are again divided into knotty tubercles or waves. The +spines are remarkable for their size and strength, those on large plants +being 4 in. long by ½ in. broad at the base, gradually narrowing to a +stiff point; there are four central spines of this size, the others, of +which there are about a dozen, being shorter and thinner, and arranged +stellately. The flowers, which are rarely produced, are poor in +comparison with the majority of the flowers of this genus. As the name +denotes, their colour is yellowish-green; and they are about 1½ in. wide +and high. There are often as many as a dozen flowers expanded together +on a stem of this plant when wild, and they are arranged in a circle +around the growing point. The interest in this species, however, centres +in its spines rather than its flowers. It is a native of the dry hills +of California, extending sometimes down to the sea-beach. There is a +plant of it at Kew 6 in. high and about fifteen years old; it has not +been known to flower there. Mr. Peacock also possesses a large plant of +it. + +E. Visnaga. (visnaga means a toothpick among the Mexican settlers); Fig. +48.--Of the most remarkable features of this truly wonderful Cactus we +have already spoken earlier in this Chapter. In 1846, Sir W. J. Hooker +described, in the Illustrated London News, a large plant of it, which +had been successfully introduced alive to Kew, and which, a year or so +later, flowered, and was figured in the Botantical Magazine (4559). Its +height was 9 ft., and it measured 9½ ft. in circumference; its weight a +ton. Afterwards, it exhibited symptoms of internal injury. The inside +became a putrid mass, and the crust, or shell, fell in by its own +weight. The shape of the stem is elliptical, with numerous ridges and +stout brown spines arranged in tufts along their edges. The flowers are +freely produced from the woolly apex; the tube is scaly and brown, and +the petals are arranged like a saucer about the cluster of +orange-coloured stamens. The colour of the petals is bright yellow, and +the width of the flower is nearly 3 in. This plant is a native of Mexico, +and is usually cultivated in a tropical temperature, but it would +probably thrive in a warm greenhouse. It flowers in summer. As we have +stated, large specimens do not live long in this country; and as the +flowers are only borne by such, the plant, except only for its stems, is +not to be recommended for ordinary collections. + +[Illustration: FIG. 48.--ECHINOCACTUS VISNAGA.] + +E. Williamsii (Williams's); Bot. Mag. 4296.--A very distinct dwarf +species, often called the "Dumpling Cactus," from the puffed-out, tumid +appearance of its stems, which frequently branch at the base, so as to +form a tuft of several heads; these are turbinate, 3 in. or 4 in. high, +and 2 in. across the top, where the smooth, pale green flesh is divided +into about half-a-dozen rounded tubercles, pressed closely together, and +suggesting a number of small green potatoes joined by their bases. Each +tubercle bears several tufts of short hairs. The flowers proceed from +the young tubercles near the centre of the crown, their bases being +enveloped in pale brown wool, the petals spreading out daisy-like to the +width of 1 in., with a short disk of stamens in the middle; they are +white, tinged with rose, and are developed in the summer months. Native +of the rocky hills of Mexico, whence it was introduced in 1845. The +stems of this plant are its most distinctive feature. It thrives on a +shelf in a warm greenhouse, if kept perfectly dry in winter, and it +should be potted in a compost consisting of broken brick two-thirds, +loam one-third. + +E. Wislizeni (Wislizen's); Fig. 49.--A large-stemmed kind, second only +in size to E. Visnaga. Young plants have depressed stems, those in older +specimens being cylinder-shaped. A specimen at Kew is 8 in. high by 18 in. +in diameter, with twenty-one ridges, which are regular and sharp-edged, +and bear bunches of spines at regular intervals, the outer and shorter +ones being spreading and white, whilst from the middle of each tuft +arise four longer and stouter spines, three of them 2 in. long, and one +3 in., with the point hooked, and as strong as if made of steel. The +flowers, which are developed only on large plants, are greenish-yellow, +about 2 in. long and wide, and expand during summer and autumn. The juice +of the stems is said to serve as a substitute for water when the latter +is scarce, and instances have been known among the white trappers where +the lives of men have been saved by this plant. A novel use the stems +are put to by the Indians is that of boilers, a purpose which they are +said to answer well. The fleshy inside is scooped out, and the tough +skin, with its iron-like spine protection, is then filled with +vegetables and water and placed on the fire. As there is a plentiful +supply of plants, the Indians do not trouble to carry this "boiler" +about with them, but make a fresh one at every stage of their +journeyings. + +[Illustration: FIG. 49.--SPINES AND FLOWERS OF ECHINOCACTUS +WISLIZENII.] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE GENUS ECHINOPSIS. + +(From echinos, a hedgehog, and opsis, like.) + + +No less than three sections of Cactuses, viz., the above, Echinocactus, +and Echinocereus, owe their names to their hedgehog-like stems. From a +horticultural point of view, there is perhaps no good reason for keeping +the above three genera and Cereus separate; but we follow Kew in the +arrangement adopted here. The genus Echinopsis, as now recognised by +most English botanists and cultivators, comprises about thirty species, +most of which have been, or are still, in cultivation. They are +distinguished from Echinocactuses by the length of their flower tube, +from Cereuses by the form and size of their stems, and from both in the +position on the stem occupied by the flowers. They are remarkable for +the great size, length of tube, and beauty of their flowers, which, +borne upon generally small and dumpy stems, appear very much larger and +handsomer than would be expected. + +The distribution of Echinopsis is similar to that of Echinocactus, +species being found in Chili, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, &c. They +grow only in situations where the soil is sandy or gravelly, or on the +sides of hills in the crevices of rocks. + +Cultivation.--The growing and resting seasons for Echinopsis are the +same as for Echinocactus, and we may therefore refer to what is said +under that genus for general hints with regard to the cultivation of +Echinopsis in this country. The following is from the notes of the late +Curator of the Royal Gardens, Kew (Mr. J. Smith), as being worthy the +attention of Cactus growers. Writing about Echinopsis cristata, which he +grew and flowered exceptionally well, he says: "This showy plant is a +native of Chili, and, like its Mexican allies, thrives if potted in +light loam, with a little leaf mould and a few nodules of lime rubbish. +The latter are for the purpose of keeping the soil open; it is also +necessary that the soil should be well drained. In winter, water must be +given very sparingly, and the atmosphere of the house should be dry; the +temperature need not exceed 50 degs. during the night, and in very cold +weather it may be allowed to fall 10 degs. lower, provided a higher +temperature (55 degs.) be maintained during the day. As the season +advances, the plants should receive the full influence of the increasing +warmth of the sun; and during hot weather, they will be benefited by +frequent syringing overhead, which should be done in the evening. It is, +however, necessary to guard against the soil becoming saturated, for the +soft fibrous roots suffer if they continue in a wet state for any length +of time." + +None of the species require to be grafted to grow freely and remain +healthy, as the stems are all robust enough and of sufficient size to +take care of themselves. The only danger is in keeping the plants too +moist in winter, for although a little water now and again keeps the +stems fresh and green, it deprives them of that rest which is essential +to the development of their large, beautiful flowers in summer. + +SPECIES. + +E. campylacantha. (curved-spined); Bot. Mag. 4567.--Stem 1 ft. or l½ ft. +high, globe-shaped, with a somewhat pointed top, the sides divided into +from fourteen to sixteen ridges, with tubercled edges, bearing clusters +of about ten strong brown spines, which are stellately arranged, a +central one projecting outwards, then suddenly curving upwards, and +measuring 3 in. in length. The flowers are developed from the ridges on +the side of the stem; they are 6 in. long, the tube shaped like a +trumpet, brownish in colour, and clothed with tufts of short black +hairs; petals arranged in three rows, spreading so as to form a limb +2½ in. across, pale rose-coloured, with a large cluster of yellow-tipped +stamens, forming a disk-like centre. This species is a native of Chili, +and was introduced in 1831. It blossoms in spring and summer. The long +curving central spine and remarkable length of the flower-tube +distinguish it from the other kinds. It may be grown in a cool +greenhouse, where it will thrive, if kept freely watered during summer +and rested on a dry, sunny shelf in winter. It is rare in English +collections, but frequently occurs in Continental gardens. + +E. cristata (crested); Bot. Mag. 4687.--Stem globe-shaped, 1 ft. high, +slightly narrowed towards the top; ridges fifteen, 1 in. deep, sharply +angular, the edges bearing tufts of spreading, yellowish spines, over +1 in. long, slightly curved, and tipped with red. Flowers creamy-white, +springing from the ridges on the top of the stem; tube 4 in. long, +clothed with tufts of black hairs, and surmounted by a whorl of +reddish-yellow sepals, above which are two rows of broad-spreading +petals. The width of the flower is over 6 in., and the stamens are +arranged in a corona-like whorl inside the petals. This very fine Cactus +is a native of Bolivia, whence it was introduced in 1850. When in +flower, the broad, long-tubed, pale-coloured blossoms equal in beauty +those of the Night-flowering Cereus. It blossoms in July. It thrives if +kept in a warm, sunny greenhouse, but must be liberally treated in +summer, so as to induce vigorous growth, and then be subjected to +complete rest in winter in full sunlight, or it will not flower. + +E. c. purpurea (purple ).--This variety differs from the type in having +deep rose-coloured flowers and a slightly longer tube. It is impossible +to find among all the species of the Cereus section a more beautiful +plant than this; the size of the flowers, their rich colour, their +developing three or four together in the month of July, being almost +exceptional, even among Cactuses. A splendid example of it was flowered +at Kew in 1846 for the first time. It thrives under the conditions +recommended for E. cristata. This variety is often made very sickly by +treating it as a tropical Cactus, and, like most of these plants, if +once it gets into a bad condition, it remains so a long time, in spite +of liberal and careful treatment. So many of the Cactuses found in cool +regions are ruined by an excess of heat in winter, and a close +atmosphere during their season of growth, that too much attention cannot +be given to the question of temperature in relation to their cultivation +in English gardens. + +E. Decaisneanus (Decaisne's).--As represented in Fig. 50, this plant +appears to have a columnar stem, but this is owing to the specimen +having been formed by cutting off the upper portion of an old plant and +striking it. Naturally, the stem in this species is globular or slightly +egg-shaped, and bears about fourteen ridges, upon which are tufts of +short spines, springing from little cushions of whitish wool. The +position of the flowers is shown in the figure. The tube is covered with +tufts of hair-like spines, and the petals and sepals are broad, +spreading, and white, tinged with yellow, as in E. cristata. The native +country of this plant is not known; but it is a well-known garden +Cactus, and thrives in a warm, airy greenhouse in summer, and on a dry, +sunny shelf in winter. The swollen base of the tube is a good example of +the nature of what is usually termed the flower-stalk in these plants. +It is, as has been pointed out, the elongated calyx, and the swollen +portion is the ovary or seed vessel. If, therefore, seeds are desired, +the withering flowers should be allowed to remain, and, in time, the +upper portion of the tube will fall away, leaving the base, which +continues to grow till it attains the proportions of a hen's egg. + +[Illustration: FIG. 50.--ECHINOPSIS DECAISNEANUS.] + +E. Eyriesii (Eyries').--Stem no larger than an orange, with about a +dozen ridges, the edges sharp, and bearing little globular tufts of +whitish wool and red, hair-like spines. Flower exceedingly large for the +size of the stem, the tube being more than 6 in. long, funnel-shaped, +pale green, with tufts of brown hairs, which look very much like +insects, scattered over the surface. The petals are numerous, +narrow-pointed, spreading, pure white, the stamens pale yellow, and the +star-like stigma white. This species is a native of Mexico, and was +introduced by the late Sir John Lubbock, about 1830. It blossoms at +various seasons, generally in summer. "Independently of the large size +of the flowers, which rival in dimensions those of the Cereuses, it is +remarkable for the rich, delicate odour they exhale at night, at which +time its glorious blossoms expand. When young, they resemble long, +sooty-grey horns, covered over with a thick, shaggy hairiness, and would +never be suspected to conceal a form of the utmost beauty and a clear +and delicate complexion. When the hour of perfection has arrived, and +the coarse veil of hair begins to be withdrawn by the expansion of the +unfolding petals, one is amazed at the unexpected loveliness which +stands revealed in the form of this vegetable star, whose rays are of +the softest white" (Lindley). For its cultivation, this plant requires a +warm house always; but care should be taken to give it plenty of fresh +air and as much light as possible. The soil best suited for it is a rich +loam with a little sand and charcoal. It likes liberal watering in +summer. + +E. E. flore-pleno (double-flowered); Fig. 51.--A form with several rows +of petals, which give the flowers a doubled appearance. + +[Illustration: FIG. 51.--ECHINOPSIS EYRIESII FLORE-PLENO.] + +E. E. glauca (hoary-grey). This variety differs from the type in the +absence of the dark brown hairs from the flower-tube, which is also +shorter than in E. Eyriesii. Probably a native of Mexico. + +E. oxygonus (sharp-angled).--This is very similar to E. Eyriesii. Stem +globular in shape, and divided into about fourteen acute-edged ridges, +upon which are tufts of brown spines, varying from ½ in. to 1½ in. in +length. Flower 8 in. long, the tube slightly curved, covered with little +scales and hairs, and coloured green and red. The petals form an +incurved cup, and are broad, with pointed tips; their colour a bright +rose, with a lighter shade towards the centre of the flower. As in E. +Eyriesii, the flowers of this kind are borne several together from the +ridges near the growing centre of the stem. It is a native of Brazil, +whence it was introduced nearly half a century ago. It thrives in an +intermediate house, if treated as advised for E. Eyriesii, and its +flowers will develop in summer. The extraordinary size and beauty of the +blossoms are sufficient to compensate for their comparatively short +duration after expanding; it is also interesting to watch the gradual +development of the tiny, hairy cone, which is the first sign of the +flower, and which increases in length and size at a surprising rate. + +E. Pentlandi (Pentland's); Fig. 52.--A pretty little species, with a +globose stem 3 in. in diameter, divided into about a dozen rounded +ridges, which are undulated or broken up into irregular tubercles, when +the ridges do not run parallel with each other. Each tubercle is crowned +with a tuft of brown, bristle-like spines, ½ in. or so long. The flowers +are large in proportion to the size of the plant, the tube being 4 in. +long, and trumpet-shaped; petals arranged in several overlapping rows +and forming a cup 2 in. across, the lowest whorl turning downwards; in +colour, they are a brilliant red, the stamens white, and the stigmas +yellow. Three or four flowers are often expanded together on the same +stem, springing from the side instead of the top of the plant. Native of +Mexico (?); introduced about 1840. There are several distinct seedling +or hybrid forms of this species, remarkable in having the colour of +their flowers either red, yellow and white, or white, whilst some, such +as the one known as flammea, have flowers only 2 in. long. These kinds +may all be grown in a sunny greenhouse or window, as they only require +protection from frost. They may be placed out of doors in summer, and be +kept under glass only during winter, treatment which will result in +better growth and more flowers than if the plants were kept permanently +under glass. + +[Illustration: FIG. 52.--ECHINOPSIS PENTLANDI.] + +E. P. longispinus (long-spined); Fig. 53.--This is a long-spined form, +and differs also in the shape of the stem, which is oblong, rather than +globose. + +[Illustration: FIG. 53.--ECHINOPSIS PENTLANDI LONGISPINUS.] + +E. tubiflorus (tube-flowered).--This species has an orange-shaped stem, +about 4 in. high, and divided into about twelve prominent, sharp-angled +ridges, along which are tufts of blackish spines, ½ in. long, and set in +little cushions of white wool. The flower springs from the side of the +stems, where it replaces a tuft of spines, and, as in E. Eyriesii, the +tube is remarkably long, whilst the size of the whole flower much +exceeds that of the rest of the plant, the length of the tube being +about 6 in., and the width of the flower over 4 in. The petals are pure +white, recurved, displaying the crown of yellow stamens, arranged in a +ring about the rather small, rayed stigma. The tube is uniformly green, +except that the scale-like bracts are edged with long, blackish, silky +hairs. A native of Mexico; introduced about fifty years ago, when it was +figured in the Botanical Magazine and elsewhere as a species of +Echinocactus. E. tubiflorus may be placed along with E. Eyriesii and E. +oxygonus, as it requires similar treatment. The three kinds here +mentioned may be recommended as a trio of very fine-flowered, +small-stemmed Cacti, which may be grown successfully in any ordinary +greenhouse. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE GENUS MELOCACTUS. + +(From melon, a melon, and Kaktos, a name applied by Theophrastus to a +spiny plant; the species are melon-formed, and their angles are beset +with tufts of spines.) + + +This genus forms a group of well-marked and curious plants, with stems +similar to those of the globose Echinocactuses and floral characters +quite distinct from all other genera. They cannot be said to possess any +particular beauty, as their stems are stiff and dumpy, their spines +large and rigid, and their flowers small and unattractive. But what is +wanting in beauty of form or colour is atoned for in the cap which +crowns the stem, and forms the flower-head, growing taller and taller +whilst the stem remains stationary, till, under favourable +circumstances, a cylindrical mass of spines and hairs, not unlike a +large bottle-brush, and 1 ft. or more in length, is developed before the +whole plant succumbs to old age. This character belongs more +particularly to M. communis, the commonest species, and the one best +known in English gardens. Additional interest attaches to this species, +from the fact of its having been the first Cactus introduced into +Europe, for we are informed that in the year 1581 living plants of the +Melon Cactus were known in London. Fifty years later, Gerard, the Adam +of English gardening, wrote: "Who can but marvel at the care and +singular workmanship shown in this Thistle, the Melocarduus echinatus, +or Hedgehog Thistle? It groweth upon the cliffes and gravelly grounds +neere unto the seaside in the islands of the West Indies, called St. +Margaret's and St. John's Isle, neere unto Puerto Rico, and other places +in these countries, by the relation of divers that have journied into +these parts who have brought me the plant itself with his seed, the +which would not grow ill my garden, by reason of the coldnesse of the +clymate." After this, the plant appears to have been frequently +cultivated in gardens in this country, and it has only been in recent +years that this and similar curiosities have almost disappeared from all +except botanical collections. + +The most prominent distinctive characters of Melocactus reside in the +cap or cluster of spines, wool, and flowers on the summit of the stem. +Thirty species are included in the genus, their stems ranging from 1 ft. +to 3 ft. in height, the ridges straight, and, as a rule, large; whilst +all have stiff stout spines in clusters about 1 in. apart. The small +flowers are succeeded by bright red, cherry-like berries, containing +numerous black, shining seeds. The distribution of the species is over +the hottest parts of some of the West Indian Islands and a few places in +Central and South America. + +Cultivation.--The cultivation of the several kinds known in gardens is +as follows: A tropical temperature all the year round, with as much +sunlight as possible, and a moist atmosphere for about three months +during summer, when growth is most active. Very little soil is required, +as the largest stems have comparatively few roots; indeed, imported +stems have been known to live, and even make growth, nearly two years +without pushing a single root; but, of course, this was abnormal, and +was no other than the using-up of the nourishment stored up in the stem +before it was removed from its native home. M. Louis de Smet, a +well-known Ghent nurseryman, who grows a fine collection of Cactuses, +stated that he had kept M. communis a long time in robust health and +growth by feeding it with a very weak solution of salt. Tried at Kew, +this treatment did not appear to make any perceptible difference; but, +bearing in mind that the Turk's-Cap Cactus is found in great abundance +within the reach of sea spray, in some of the West Indian Islands, there +seems much reason in M. de Smet's treatment. The same gentleman informed +us that he had a specimen of this Cactus bearing no less than thirteen +heads. There is, at the time of writing, a specimen at Kew bearing four +fine heads. Large imported plants are very rarely, established; and even +when established, they do not thrive long, owing to the fact that, after +the cap has commenced to form, no further stem-growth is made. Young +plants grow very slowly, a plant 3 ft. across taking, according to Sir W. +Hooker, from 200 to 300 years to reach that size. It has been stated +that grafting is a good plan to adopt for the Melocactus, Mr. F. T. +Palmer, in "Culture des Cactées", recommending the following treatment +for M. communis: Take a Cereus peruvianus of about the same diameter as +that of the base of the Melocactus, cut off the head of the former, but +not so low as to come upon the hard, ligneous axis, and then pare off +the hard epidermis and ribs for about 1 in. Then take off a slice from +the base of the Melocactus, also paring off about 1 in. of the epidermis +all round; place the two together, and bind on firmly with strong +worsted. In warm weather, a union should take place in about two months, +but it will be safest to allow the ligature to remain till growth +commences. The precaution of paring off the hard skin and ribs is +absolutely necessary, as the juicy centre contracts, and the rind, or +epidermis, does not. There would, therefore, be a cavity formed +sufficient to prevent all cohesion, be the graft tied on ever so +tightly. + +Large imported stems should be kept perfectly dry for about a fortnight, +and, if they show any signs of rottenness, they should be carefully +examined and the bad portions cut away; exposure to the air for a few +days will generally cause these pared places to callus over. At all +times, even when the stems appear to be in good health, a sharp look-out +should be kept for patches of rottenness in the stem, and especially +about its base. + +Propagation.--This is effected by means of seeds, which usually follow +quickly after the flowers produced on cultivated specimens. +Multiplication is also possible by means of offsets, which are formed +about the base of the stem if the top of a growing plant is cut out. The +thirteen-headed plant mentioned above was the result of the removal of +the top of a stem which had developed these lateral growths, and thus +formed a family of red-capped stems; this had, however, taken place +before the plant was removed from its native home. As the cap is the +most remarkable part of M. communis, the purchase of large imported +stems, in preference to young ones raised from seeds, is recommended; +for, as the cap does not form till the stem attains a large size, there +would be small hope of seedlings reaching the flowering stage during a +lifetime. + +SPECIES. + +M. communis (common); Fig. 54.--Stem from 2 ft. to 3 ft. in diameter, +globose, with from twelve to twenty ridges, and armed with numerous +clusters of strong, short spines, the clusters placed closely together. +On the summit of the stem is a cylindrical crown, about 4 in. broad, and +varying in height from 5 in. to 12 in. This cylinder is composed of a +thick pad of whitish, cotton-like substance, through and beyond which a +great number of bristle-like red spines are developed, the whole being +not unlike a bottle-brush. About the top of this brush-like growth the +flowers are produced. These are small, red, fleshy, and tube-shaped, the +calyx and corolla forming a regular flower, as in a Hyacinth. They are +borne at various times in the year, as long as the cap is growing; +afterwards the latter falls off; and the stem rots. We have a cap that +was cast by an old plant, and which has stood as an ornament on a shelf +in a room for about four years, and is still in perfect condition. In +addition to the name of Turk's-Cap Cactus this plant is also known as +"Englishman's Head" and "Pope's Head." It is a native of several of the +islands of the West Indies, being very abundant in St. Kitt's Island, +where it grows in very dry, barren places, often on bare porous rocks. + +[Illustration: FIG. 54. MELOCACTUS COMMUNIS.] + +M. depressus (flattened); Bot. Mag. 3691.--Stem broader than high, +deeply cut into about ten broad furrows, along the sharp angles of which +are clusters of pale brown spines, from ½ in. to 1 in. long, arranged in a +star, each cluster 1 in. apart. Instead of the cylinder-like cap of the +Turk's-Cap species, this one has a short, broad tuft of white wool and +red spines, like a skull-cap. The flowers are small, and soon wither, +but remain attached to the oblong berries, which stand erect in a dense +cluster in the centre of the cap, and are of a delicate rose-colour. The +first introduced plant of this was sent home by Mr. Gardner, who +introduced the Epiphyllums and other Cactuses. It flowered on the way to +England, and matured its seeds soon after its arrival. It is a native of +Pernambuco. + +M. Miquelii (Miquel's); Fig. 55.--This species appears to have been +introduced in 1838, when two plants of it were sent from the West Indian +Island, St. Croix, to the Hamburg Botanic Gardens. The stem is oval, +dark green, with fourteen well-defined ribs, as regular as if they had +been carved with a knife. The spine-tufts are small; spines short, +black-brown, about nine in each tuft, one of which is central, the +others radiating; they are less than ½ in. long. The "cap" is cylindrical, +3 in. high by 4 in. in diameter, and composed of layers of snow-white +threads, mixed with short reddish bristles. + +[Illustration: FIG. 55. MELOCACTUS MIQUELII.] + +These three are the only species of Melocactus that have become known in +English gardens, although various other kinds, named M. Lehmanni, M. +Zuccarini, M. Ellemeetii, M. Schlumbergerianus, &c., occur in books. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE GENUS PILOCEREUS. + +(From pilos, wool, and Cereus, in allusion to the long hairs on the +spine cushions, and the affinity of the genus.) + + +One of the most striking plants in this order is the "Old Man Cactus," +botanically known as Pilocereus senilis, which is the only member of +this genus that has become at all known in English gardens. In +Continental gardens, however, more than a dozen species are to be found +in collections of succulent plants; and of these one of the most +remarkable is that represented at Fig. 56. The limits of the genus +Pilocereus are not definitely fixed, different botanists holding +different views with respect to the generic characters. Recent writers, +and among them the late Mr. Bentham, sunk the genus under Cereus; but +there are sufficiently good characters to justify us in retaining, for +garden purposes, the name Pilocereus for the several distinct plants +mentioned here. The botanist who founded the genus gives the following +general description of its members: Stems tall, erect, thick, simple or +branched, fleshy, ridged; the ridges regular, slightly tubercled, and +placed closely together. Tubercles generally hairy, with bunches of +short spines; the hairs long and white, especially about the apex of the +stem, where they form a dense mass. Flowers on the extreme top of the +matured stems, and arranged in a cluster as in the Melon Cactus, small, +tubular; the petals united at the base, and the stamens attached to the +whole face of the tube thus formed, expanding only at night, and fading +in a few hours. These flowers have a disagreeable odour, not unlike that +of boiled cabbage. Fruit fleshy, round, persistent, usually red when +ripe. The species are natives of tropical America, and are generally +found in rocky gorges or the steep declivities of mountainous regions. + +Cultivation.--These plants require distinctly tropical treatment. +During summer, they must have all the sunlight possible, and be supplied +with plenty of water, both at the root and by means of the syringe. Air +should be given on very hot days, but the plants should be encouraged to +make all the growth possible before the approach of winter. In winter, +they may be kept quite dry, and the temperature of the house where they +stand should be maintained at about 60 degs., rising to 65 degs. or +70 degs. in the day. In March, the plants should be repotted into as +small pots as convenient, employing a good, loamy soil and ample +drainage. Should the hairs become soiled or dusty, the stems may be laid +on their sides and then syringed with a mixture of soft soap and warm +water, to be followed by a few syringefuls of pure water; this should +cleanse the hairs and give them the white appearance to which the plants +owe their attractiveness. + +SPECIES. + +P. Houlletianus (Houllet's); Fig. 56.--Stem robust, glaucous-green; +ridges about eight, broad, prominent, obscurely tubercled; spines in +bundles of nine, radiating, straight, less than 1 in. long, and pale +yellow. Upon the growing part of the stem, the spines are intermingled +with long, white, cottony hairs, often matted together like an unkempt +head; these hairs fall off as the stem matures. Flowers funnel-shaped, +resembling Canterbury Bells, borne in a cluster on the summit of the +plant; ovary short and scaly; petals joined at the base, and coloured a +rosy-purple, dashed with yellow; the stamens fill the whole of the +flower-tube and are white; style a little longer than the flower-tube, +and bearing a ray of about a dozen stigmas. Fruit globose, as large as a +plum, and coloured cherry-red. The pulp is bright, crimson, and contains +a few brownish seeds. In the engraving the fruit is shown on the left, +and a flower-bud on the right. This species is often known in +Continental collections as P. Fosterii. + +[Illustration: FIG. 56. PILOCEREUS HOULLETIANUS.] + +P. senilis (Old-Man).--Stem attaining a height of 25 ft., with a diameter +of about 1 ft.; ridges from twenty-five to thirty on plants 4 ft. high; +the furrows mere slits, whilst the tufts of thin, straight spines, 1 in. +long, which crown each of the many tubercles into which the ridges are +divided, give young stems a brushy appearance. About the upper portion +of the stem, and especially upon the extreme top, are numerous white, +wiry hairs, 6 in. or more long, and gathered sometimes into locks. To +this character, the plant owes it name Old-Man Cactus; but, by a curious +inversion of what obtains in the human kind, old plants are less +conspicuous by their white hairs than the younger ones. Some years ago, +there were three fine stems of this Cactus among the cultivated plants +at Kew, the highest of which measured 18½ ft. There was also, however, a +fine specimen in the Oxford Botanic Gardens, with a stem 16 ft. high; and +it is stated that this plant has been in cultivation in England a +hundred years at least. A plant twenty-five years old is very small, +and, from its slowness of growth, as well as from the reports of the +inhabitants of Mexico, where this species is found wild, there is reason +to believe that a stem 20 ft. high would be several hundred years old. +The flowers of P. senilis are not known in English collections, the +plant being grown only for its shaggy hairiness. + +Other species are: P. chrysomallus, which has a branching habit, P. +Brünnonii (Fig. 57), P. Celsianus, P. columna, P. tilophorus, known only +in a young state, and several others, all very remarkable plants, but +not known in English collections, unless, perhaps at Kew. + +[Illustration: FIG. 57. PILOCEREUS BRÜNNONII.] + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE GENUS MAMILLARIA. + +(From mamilla, a little teat; in allusion to the tubercles.) + + +Something over 300 different kinds of Mamillaria are known, but only a +small proportion of these may be considered as garden plants. They are +characterised generally by short, symmetrically-formed stems, sometimes +aggregated together and forming a dense tuft, but, as a rule, each plant +has only one stem. The generic name is descriptive of the chief feature +in these stems, namely, the closely-set, spirally-arranged tubercles or +mamillae, which vary considerably in the different kinds, but are always +present in some form or other. Some kinds have stems only 1 in. high by +2/3 in. in diameter, and the tubercles hidden from view by the +star-shaped cushions of reddish or white spines. In some, the spines are +erect and hair-like, giving the plant the appearance of tiny +sea-urchins; another group has the principal spines hooked at the tip, +and the points in these so sharp that if the hand comes in contact with +them they hook into it and stick like fish-hooks. The purpose of these +hooked spines seems doubtful; certainly, they cannot serve as any +protection to the plant itself, as they are so strong that the plant +must be torn up by the roots before the hooks will give way. + +The spines in M. macromeris are straight, and measure 2 in. in length; in +M. multiceps they are in two series, the one fine, white, and short, the +other yellow and stout. The most marked section of this genus, however, +is that represented by M. fissurata (Fig. 61), in which the tubercles +are large, spreading horizontally, and angular, resembling most closely +the foliage and habit of some of the Haworthias. No one who had not read +up the botany of Mamillarias would suspect that this plant belonged to +them, or even to the Cactus order at all. There is a good specimen of it +in the Kew collection. When in flower the family resemblance is easily +seen; but as this species does not flower freely, it will be known by +its remarkable foliage-like tubercles, rather than as a flowering +Cactus. And the same remark applies to many of the Mamillarias; their +stems thickly beset with tubercles and spines, always regular in +arrangement, and neat and attractive in appearance. + +The following remarks made by Dr. Lindley when describing M. tenuis, +give a good idea of the singular, yet pretty, stems of some of these +plants: "Gentle reader, hast thou never seen in a display of fireworks a +crowd of wheels all in motion at once, crossing and intersecting each +other in every direction; and canst thou fancy those wheels arrested in +their motion by some magic power--their rays retained, but their fires +extinguished and their brightness gone? Then mayst thou conceive the +curious beauty of this little herb--a plant so unlike all others that +we would fain believe it the reanimated spirit of a race that flourished +in former ages, with those hideous monsters whose bones alone remain to +tell the history of their existence." It is quite true that in the +cultivated Mamillarias there is nothing unsightly, or rough, or +unfinished. Without foliage, their stems globose, or short cylinders, or +arranged in little cushion-like tufts, and enveloped in silky spines, +like tiny red stars, always looking the same, except when in flower, and +never looking in the least like ordinary plants. Characters such as +these ought to find many admirers. In the Succulent House at Kew, there +is a long shelf upon which a great many plants of this genus may be +seen. But the flowers in some of the species of Mamillaria are quite as +attractive as the stems. Those of M. macromeris are 3 in. long and wide, +their colour a deep rose; M. Scheerii has equally large flowers, and +coloured bright yellow, as also are the flowers of M. pectinata. This +last is remarkable on account of the clock-like regularity with which +its flowers expand. While fresh, they open every day between eleven and +twelve o'clock, and close again about one, however strong the sunlight +shining upon them may be. Some of the kinds (more especially the +small-flowered ones) are often prettily studded over with bright red, +coral-like berries, which are the little fruits, and contain, as a rule, +matured seeds capable of reproducing the parent plant. + +The headquarters of the genus Mamillaria is Mexico, and the countries +immediately to the north, a few being scattered over the West Indies, +Bolivia, Brazil, and Chili. Many of them grow on mountains where the +temperature is moderate, but where the sunlight is always intense. +Others are found on limestone or gravelly hills, among short herbage, or +on grassy prairies. A small silvery-spined kind has recently been found +near the snow line in Chili. M. vivipara is quite hardy in New York, as +also are several other kinds, whilst we learn that by planting them out +in summer, and protecting them by means of a frame from heavy rain, +dews, fogs, and sudden changes of weather, a good many species of both +Mamillaria and Echinocactus are successfully managed in the +neighbourhood of that town. + +Cultivation.--Particulars with respect to cultivation are given along +with the descriptions of most of the species, but a few general +principles may here be noted. With only a few exceptions, all the +cultivated Mamillarias may be grown in a warm, sunny greenhouse, or they +may be placed in a frame with a south aspect, during our summer, +removing them into artificially heated quarters for the winter. They do +not like a large body of soil about their roots, but always thrive best +when in comparatively small pots. If a sweet, new, fibry loam, mixed +with broken bricks or cinders, be used to pot these plants in, they may +then be left undisturbed at the root for several years. Much harm is +often done to the more delicate kinds of Cactuses by repotting them +annually; the best-managed collection I have seen had not been repotted +for four years. This would not be safe if a poor and exhausted soil were +used in the first instance. The pots should be well drained with crocks, +and these covered with a layer of fibre sifted from loam. In summer, the +soil should be kept moist, but never saturated; and after a bright warm +day, the stems may be moistened over by syringing them with tepid water. +A point of much importance in connection with these, and indeed all +tropical and extra-tropical plants, is, that the water used for watering +or syringing them should be rain-water if possible, and never more than +a degree or so colder than the plants themselves would be. Thus, a plant +which had been standing in the full glare of a midsummer sun all day, +would be much endangered by watering it with cold tap-water. Where +proper arrangements for water are not made in a greenhouse or stove, it +is a good plan to place the water wanted for the day's use in the sun +along with the plants. A little bag filled with soot and tightly tied at +the neck, and water, is a good method for rendering hard tap-water +suitable for watering the roots of plants. In winter, Mamillarias may be +kept quite dry at the roots, except in mild sunny weather, when a little +water may be given. + +A collection of the most distinct kinds may be successfully managed in a +glass case in a room window, providing the sun shines through it for a +few hours in the day. + +Propagation.--This is usually effected by means of seeds, which may be +procured from Continental seedsmen as well as from our own. The +treatment required by the seeds is similar to what has been already +advised for those of other Cactuses. The tufted kinds are easily +multiplied by separating the stems, or even by cutting off the tops and +planting them in small pots of sandy soil. + +SPECIES. The following kinds are selected from those known to be in +cultivation; of course, it is out of the question here to enumerate all +the species known. + +M. angularis (angular-tubercled).--A robust kind, with stems 4 in. to +8 in. high, and branching somewhat freely; tubercles prism-shaped, rather +thick at the base, and slightly angular, ¼ in. long, their tops tufted +with short white spines; at the base of the tubercles are little tufts +of white wool. Flowers are only rarely produced by cultivated plants; +they are small, tubular, rosy-purple, the stamens yellow. Introduced +from Mexico in 1835; flowers in summer. When happily situated, it forms +a specimen 1 ft. in diameter, owing to its freely produced arm-like +branches, which spread out and curve upwards. It requires a warm +greenhouse temperature during winter, and exposure to bright sunshine at +all times. + +M. applanata (flattened).--In this, the stem is broader than high, and +has a squat appearance; tubercles ¾ in. long, cone-shaped, with stellate +tufts of straight, hair-like spines, white when young, yellowish when +aged. Flowers springing from the outside of the stem-top, white, tinged +with red. It is a native of Mexico, and blossoms in summer. A specimen, +6 in. through at the base, may be seen at Kew, where it has been for many +years, without altering perceptibly in size. All the larger-stemmed +Mamillarias are exceedingly slow growers after they have reached a +certain size, although, in the seedling stage, they grow freely. The +treatment for this kind should resemble that advised for the last. + +M. atrata (blackened).--Stem oval in shape, broad at the base, 4 in. +high, unbranched; tubercles swollen, ½ in. long, deep green, cone-shaped, +becoming flattened through pressure of growth. Spines set in a tuft of +white hairs, falling off from the lowest mammae, as happens in many of +the thick-stemmed kinds. Flowers numerous, and developed all round the +outside of the stem, stalkless, nestling closely between the tubercles, +and when expanded looking like starry buttons of a rosy-pink colour. +Native of Chili, flowering in autumn. This species is rare in England, +but is worth attention because of the prettiness of its flowers, the +attractive form of its stem, and its reputed hardiness. It will thrive +in a cold frame, and requires protection from excessive wet only, rather +than from cold. Grown in a warm house, it becomes sickly, and is +short-lived. + +M. bicolor (two-coloured).--One of the commonest of the Cactuses grown +in English gardens, and one of the most distinct, owing to its short, +silvery hair-like spines, thickly crowded on the ends of the small +tubercles, completely hiding the stem from view. The latter is from 6 in. +to 1 ft. high, 3 in. in diameter, cylindrical, often branching into +several thick arms, when it has a quaint appearance. If kept free from +dust, which may be done by covering the plant with a bell glass, there +is much beauty in the stem; indeed, it is owing to this, rather than as +a flowering Cactus, that this species finds favour as a garden plant. +The flowers are less than 1 in. in length and width, stellate, their +colour deep purple; they are developed in June. Although a native of +elevated regions in Mexico (4000-5000 ft.), this plant thrives best when +grown in a warm house. There are several handsome and very old specimens +of it in the tropical collection of succulents at Kew. It is one of the +easiest to manage, and will thrive in a warm room-window if exposed to +bright sunlight and kept dry in winter. M. nivea and M. nobilis are both +varieties of this species. + +M. chlorantha (greenish-yellow).--A newly-introduced species with +erect, cylinder-shaped stems, 6 in. high, clothed with numerous +tubercles, which are tipped with clusters of long, silvery, interlacing, +hair-like spines, and a few stouter blackish ones. The flowers are +described as greenish-yellow, so that they are not likely to add much to +the beauty of the plant, which is recommended because of the +attractiveness of its stem and spines. It is a native of Mexico and +Texas, whence it was introduced some two years ago. It requires +cool-house treatment, and should be kept free from dust, which +disfigures the white spines. + +M. cirrhifera (twisted).--Like M. bicolor, this species owes its +frequent occurrence in gardens to the symmetry and neatly-chiselled form +of its stems, and not to any attraction possessed by its flowers. It +will thrive anywhere where the sun can shine upon it, if sheltered from +severe cold and wet. In a cottage window it may be grown, and kept for +many years, without losing health or, on the other hand, increasing much +in size. Its usual height is about 5 in., by 4 in. in diameter. The +tubercles are angular at the base, and bear tufts of yellowish spines on +their pointed apices. The flowers are small, and bright rose-coloured, +but only rarely produced on cultivated plants. Introduced from Mexico in +1835. + +M. clava (club-shaped); Bot. Mag. 4358.--In the size of its stem, and +the large, brightly-coloured flowers it bears, this species may be +compared with some of the Echinocactuses. The stem is from 1 ft. to 1½ ft. +high, 4 in. wide at the base, narrowing slightly upwards; the tubercles +are 1 in. long, and nearly as much through at the base, their shape that +of little pyramids, and their tips bear each from eight to eleven stout, +straight spines, pale brown, with a little wool at the base. The flowers +are borne on the top of the stem, two or three of them together; the +sepals are green and red, and the spreading petals are straw-coloured +and glossy, their edges near the top being toothed. In the centre of the +shallow cup formed by the petals, and which measures nearly 4 in. across, +the orange-coloured stamens are clustered, in a kind of disk, through +the middle of which the yellow stigma projects. It is a native of +Mexico, at an altitude of 5000 ft. Introduced in 1848, when it flowered +at Kew, in June, at which time it flowers almost every year now. A warm +greenhouse affords the most suitable conditions for it; but, unless it +is kept in full sunshine both summer and winter, and perfectly dry +during the latter season, it will not produce any flowers. As a +flowering plant, it ranks amongst the very best of the Mamillarias. It +is easily propagated from seeds ripened on cultivated plants. + +M. dasyacantha (thick-spined).--Stem 2 in. to 3 in. high, almost +globular, and covered with spiral whorls of tiny tubercles, in the +grooves of which is a little whitish wool, which falls away as the +tubercles ripen. The spines upon the tubercles are arranged in little +stars, with an erect central one. The flowers are small, and spring from +the centre of the stem. This is one of the Thimble Cactuses, and is too +small to have any great attractions, either in stem or flowers. It is, +however, a pretty plant, especially when studded with its ruby-like +flowers, which look like coloured Daisies growing upon a dense tuft of +hairs. It is a native of Mexico, where it grows on high mountains among +short grass and other herbage. + +M. discolor (spines two-coloured).--Stem globose, about 4 in. in +diameter; tubercles smooth, egg-shaped, their bases embedded in white +wool, their tips crowned with stellate tufts of short, reddish spines. +Flowers numerous, and borne from almost all parts of the stem, less than +1 in. wide, and composed of a single whorl of narrow, reflexed, +rose-purple petals, surrounding a large, disk-like cluster of yellow +stamens. The flowers are so short that they are half hidden by the +tubercles. It is a native of Mexico, where it grows on rocks, in warm, +sheltered places. Under cultivation it thrives when grown on a dry shelf +in a warm house, and kept moist in summer, but perfectly dry in winter. + +M. dolichocentra (long-spurred); Fig. 58.--Apparently this is a +variable species; at all events, plants of widely different habit are +found under this name, one of them represented in the Figure here, +another in the Garden, Vol. XVII., whilst others are figured or +described in other books. What is known at Kew as the true plant is that +here figured. This has a stout stem, about 8 in. high and 3 in. wide, and +covered with smooth cone-shaped mammae, with woolly bases and stellate +tufts of spines on their tips. The flowers are produced about 1 in. from +the top of the stem, and are less than 1 in. wide; they are, however, +often very numerous, sometimes a closely-set ring of them surrounding +the stem, like a daisy chain, their colour being pale purple. Below the +flowers there is often a whorl of club-shaped fruits, ¾ in. long, and +rose-coloured. These contain numerous little black seeds, which, when +ripe, may be sown in pots of very sandy loam. The plant is a native of +Mexico, and flowers in summer. It thrives in a tropical temperature, and +enjoys a daily syringing overhead on bright days in summer, but in +winter requires little or no water. + +[Illustration: FIG. 58. MAMILLARIA DOLICHOCENTRA.] + +M. echinata (hedgehog-like).--A charming little plant, with very small +stems, clustered together in a cushion-like tuft, each stem less than +1 in. wide; but a well-grown specimen is composed of dozens of these, +packed almost one on top of the other. The tubercles are hidden by the +star-like spine clusters which cap them, and look like a swarm of +insects. Flowers very small, rose-coloured, and lasting only about a +day. These are succeeded by numerous currant-like red berries, so +numerous, in fact, that the plants look as if thickly studded all over +with coral beads. The central stem is sometimes about 6 in. high, those +surrounding it being shorter and shorter, till the outside ones rise +only just above the soil. A well-grown plant of this is strikingly +pretty, even when not in fruit. It is a native of Mexico, and requires +the treatment of a warm house. A few pieces of broken brick should be +placed upon the surface of the soil about the base of the plant, as the +stems like to press against, or grow upon, anything in the nature of +rocky ground. + +M. echinus (hedgehog-like); Fig. 59.--A distinct and pretty little +plant, the largest specimen having a stem about the size and shape of a +small hen's-egg, completely hidden under the densely interwoven radial +spines, which crown the thirteen spiral rows of tubercles, and are +almost white when mature. The tubercles are ½ in. long, and, in addition +to these white radiating spines, they also bear each a stout spike-like +spine, growing from the centre of the others. This spine gives the plant +an appearance quite distinct from all other cultivated Mamillarias. The +flowers are produced two or three together, on the top of the stem, and +they are nearly 2 in. long, cup-shaped, and coloured yellow; they usually +appear about June. As yet this species is rare in cultivated +collections. It comes from Mexico, where it is found growing on +limestone hills, in hot and arid localities. Under cultivation it +requires a warm greenhouse temperature, exposure to bright sunshine all +the year round, with a moderate supply of water in summer, and none at +all during winter. A few large pieces of broken brick or sandstone +placed in the soil, just under the base of the stem, afford the roots +conditions suitable to their healthy growth. + +[Illustration: FIG. 59. MAMILLARIA ECHINUS.] + +M. elegans (elegant).--A small species, grown only for the prettiness +of its stem, flowers rarely, if ever, being borne by it under +cultivation. The stem is 2 in. high and wide, globose, with small conical +tubercles, which, when young, are woolly at the tips. Spines short and +slender, about twenty, arranged in a star on each tubercle, with four +central ones a little longer than those which surround them; the colour +of the spines is whitish, with brown tips. Native country Mexico, on +high exposed hills; in this country it requires greenhouse treatment. +Introduced about 1850. + +M. elephantidens (elephant's-tooth); Fig. 60.--One of the largest and +most remarkable of all garden Mamillarias. Stem globose, depressed, 6 in. +to 8 in. in diameter, and bright shining green. Tubercles smooth, round, +1½ in. long, furrowed across the top, which is at first filled with wool, +but when old is naked. At the base of the tubercles there is a dense +tuft of white wool, and springing from the furrows are eight radiating +recurved spines, and three short central ones, all strong, stiff, and +ivory-white, tipped with brown. The flowers are 3 in. wide, and are +composed of a circle of violet-coloured sepals, with white margins, and +a second circle of petals which are bright rose, pale purple at the +base, a line of the same colour extending all down the middle. The +stamens are numerous, with long purple filaments and yellow anthers, and +the pistil is stout, erect, projecting above the stamens, with a +radiating stigma. Flowers in autumn; native country, Paraguay. Under +cultivation, it grows quicker than is usual with plants of this genus, +and it is also exceptional in the regular and abundant production of its +flowers. It has been a rarity in European collections for many years, +and, although easily grown, it is often killed through wrong treatment. +A cool greenhouse or sunny frame in summer, plenty of water whilst +growth is active, and a light, well-drained soil, suit it best; whilst +during winter it must be kept perfectly dry, and protected only from +frost. In a tropical house, it is invariably sickly, and altogether +unsatisfactory. + +[Illustration: FIG. 60. MAMILLARIA ELIPHANTIDENS.] + +M. elongata (elongated).--A small, cushion-like kind, with the stems in +tufts, owing to their producing offsets freely from the base, the +tallest of them being about as high and as thick as a man's thumb. The +tubercles are short, crowded, and hidden under the star-clusters of +reddish-yellow spines. There are no central spines in this kind. The +flowers are produced in the axils of the tubercles from all parts of the +stem, a large tuft of stems being thickly studded with circles of tawny +yellow petals, which are only about ½ in. long. The berries are bright +coral-red, and about the size of a date stone. There are several +varieties of this species, under the names of intertexta, rufescens, +rutila, subcrocea, and supertexta. These differ only slightly either in +the length or thickness of the stems or in the colour of the spines. All +of them may be grown in a cold frame, or in a window where the sun can +shine upon them; or they may be grown along with tropical kinds. For +small cases in windows, these little Thimble Cactuses are amongst the +most suitable. They are natives of high mountains in Mexico, and have +been cultivated in Europe over forty years. + +M. fissurata (fissured); Fig. 61.--In appearance, this rare species +mimics some of the Gasterias, and is so different from all the kinds +hitherto described, that very few people unacquainted with it would +suspect that it belonged to the same genus as M. elongata or M. +dolichocentra. Indeed, some botanists have made a separate genus of this +and several other plants of the same peculiar appearance, calling them +Anhalonium. M. fissurata is like a whip-top in shape, the root being +thick and woody, and the tubercles arranged in a thick layer, spreading +from the centre, rosette-like. A living plant in the Kew collection is +2 in. high by 4 in. wide, the tubercles being triangular in shape, ½ in. +thick, wrinkled, with an irregular furrow on the upper surface. The +flowers grow from the middle of the stem, and are 1½ in. wide, and +rose-coloured. Native of Mexico, on hard gravel or limestone soils. We +know of no plant in English collections, except that at Kew, which was +introduced from Mexico in 1886. It flowers in September and October. + +[Illustration: FIG. 61. MAMILLARIA FISSURATA.] + +M. floribunda (free-flowering).--A French writer on Cactuses, M. +Labouret, calls this a species of Echinocactus, but it resembles so +closely another species included by him in Mamillaria, viz., M. atrata, +that we see no good reason for separating the two into different genera. +M. floribunda has an irregular conical stem, about 5 in. high by 4 in. +wide at the base, round nut-like tubercles the size of filberts, crowned +with star-tufts of spines ¾ in. long, stiff, and brown, about ten spines +being set with their bases in a small disc-like pad of dirty-white wool. +The flowers are very numerous, covering the whole of the stem-top, from +which they stand erect, so as to form a dense bouquet of rose-coloured +petals. Each flower is 2 in. long. Native of Chili; introduced about +1835. Flowers in summer. This handsome kind will thrive in a window, +and, if well supplied with fresh air, sunshine, and sufficient water to +keep the soil moist, it will flower almost every year. It must have no +water in winter. + +M. gracilis (slender).--A small Thimble Cactus, remarkable for its +proliferous stems, a single stem 2 in. high producing all round its upper +half numerous, offshoots, which fall to the ground and grow. In this way +a tuft of stems is soon developed round the first one. If these +offshoots are removed as they appear, the stem will grow longer and +stouter than it does when they are left. Tubercles small, green, +crowded; spines in a stellate tuft, short, curved, pale yellow or white. +Flowers as in M. elongata, to which this species is closely allied. In +window cases, or on a shelf in a cool greenhouse, it will grow and +multiply rapidly. Like the bulk of the caespitose, or Thimble Cactuses, +it does not make much show when in flower; and it is only its stems, +with their white stars of spines and clusters of little offsets hanging +about them, that are attractive. Native of Mexico; introduced about +1850. There is a variety known as pulchella, in which the spines are of +a yellow hue. + +M. Grahami (Graham's).--A pretty little species, with globose stems, +scarcely 3 in. high, and nearly the same in diameter, branching sometimes +when old; tubercles ¼ in. long, egg-shaped, corky when old, and +persistent. Spines in tufts of about twenty, all radiating except one in +the centre, which is hooked; they are about ½ in. long. Flowers 1 in. +long, usually produced in a circle round the stem. Fruit a small, oval +berry, ½ in. long. This is a native of Colorado, in mountainous regions. +It is very rare in cultivation. The flowers are developed in June and +July. + +M. Haageana (Haage's); Fig. 62.--The habit of this is shown in the +Figure, which is reduced to about one-fourth the natural size. As the +stem gets older, it becomes more elongated. Tubercles small, four-sided +at the base, pointed at the top, where the spines are arranged in a +star, about twenty of them on each tubercle, with two central ones, +which are longer, stiffer, and much darker in colour than those on the +outside; flowers small, almost hidden beneath the spines, bright +carmine-rose; they are produced on the sides of the upper portion of the +stem in June. There is a close resemblance between this and M. +cirrhifera, and the treatment for both should be the same. Mexico, 1835. + +[Illustration: FIG. 62. MAMILLARIA HAAGEANA.] + +M. longimamma (long-tubercled); Fig. 63.--A well-marked species in the +size of its mammae, or tubercles, which are at least 1 in. long by 1/3 in. +in diameter, terete, slightly curved, and narrowed to a pointed apex, +the texture being very soft and watery. Each tubercle bears a radiating +tuft of about twelve spines, one central and projecting outwards; they +are pale brown when old, and white when young; their length is about +½ in. A tuft of short, white wool is developed at the base of the spines +on the young mammae. The stem is seldom more than 4 in. in height, and it +branches at the base when old. Flowers large and handsome, +citron-yellow; the tube short, and hidden in the mammae; the petals +1½ in. long, narrow, pointed, and all directed upwards; stamens numerous, +short. Flowering season, early summer. Native country, Mexico. It +requires greenhouse treatment, or it may be placed in a sunny frame out +of doors during summer. It is not easily multiplied from seeds, but is +free in the production of offsets from the base of the stem. + +[Illustration: FIG. 63. MAMILLARIA LONGIMAMMA.] + +M. macromeris (large-flowered); Fig. 64.--Stem about 4 in. high, naked +at the base, woody and wrinkled when old. Tubercles as in M. longimamma, +but with curving radial spines, like needles, often 2 in. in length, +white or rose-tinted when young, almost black when old. Flowers from the +centre of the stem, 3 in. long, and about the same in width; the petals +regular and spreading, as in the Ox-eye daisy; stamens numerous, short, +forming a disk; colour carmine, almost purple just before fading. +Flowering season, August. Native of Mexico, where it is found in loose, +sand on hillocks, generally about the roots of Acacias. It is one of the +most beautiful of all Mamillarias; but it is, as yet, rare in +collections. It requires the same treatment as M. longimamma, except +that, owing to the woody nature of its rootstock, and its long, tap-like +roots, it should be planted in pans instead of pots, using a compost of +rough loam, mixed with lumps of broken brick or limestone. + +[Illustration: FIG. 64. MAMILLARIA MACROMERIS.] + +M. macrothele (large-nippled); Bot. Mag. 3634, as M. Lehmanni.--This +belongs to the same group as M. cirrhifera, but is distinguished by its +large mammae, which are four-angled at the base, ¾ in. long, narrowed to +a point, upon which is a tuft of wool and a cluster of about eight +spines, ½ in. long, spreading, reddish-brown in colour, the central one +being almost black, 1 in. long, and pointing downwards. In the axils of +the mammae are tufts of white wool. Flowers on the top of the stern, +erect, spreading, about 1½ in. across when expanded; the petals +overlapping, and pale yellow; the stamens red at the base, arranged in a +dense cluster, 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 1½ 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 ¼ 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 of the group with angular +tubercles and comparatively small flowers. It has a stem about 6 in. +high, cylindrical, the tubercles arranged spirally, their bases +compressed, four or five-angled, and with a tuft of white wool in their +axils. The areoles or tufts on the tops of the mammae are large, and the +spines are about seven in number, ½ in. long, and of a tawny-yellow +colour. The flowers are produced near the top of the stem; they are +about ½ in. long, and rose-red in colour. Native country, Mexico. It +requires the same treatment as M. cirrhifera. + +M. Ottonis (Ottoni's); Fig. 66.--A very distinct and pretty plant is +cultivated under the name at Kew; but there are, apparently, two +different species under the same name--the one being spiny and large in +the stem; the other, which is here shown, having a small, compressed +stem, 3 in. across, numerous compressed tubercles, and short, hair-like +spines. The flowers, which are large for the size of the plant, are +white, and are developed in May and June. Native country, Mexico; +introduced in 1834. It requires similar treatment to M. micromeris. + +[Illustration: FIG. 66. MAMILLARIA OTTONIS.] + +M. pectinata (comb-like); Fig. 67.--Stems globose, from 2 in. to 3 in. in +diameter; the rootstock woody; the tubercles arranged in about thirteen +spiral rows, swollen at the base, and bearing each a star-like tuft of +about twenty-four stiff, brown, radial spines, without a central one; +the length varies from ½ in. to 1 in., and they are comb-like in their +regular arrangement. When not in flower, this species bears a close +resemblance to small plants of Cereus pectinatus. Flowers terminal, +solitary, large, their width quite 3 in. when fully expanded; sepals +reddish-green; petals rich sulphur-yellow; filaments reddish, very +numerous; the flowers open at noon, and close after about two hours, +even although the sun be shining full upon them. Flowering season, June +to August. Native country, Mexico, on slopes of limestone hills. +Although long since known to botanists, this pretty species has only +lately found its way into English gardens. It is attractive even when +not in flower. It requires warm greenhouse treatment, with exposure to +full sunshine; during late autumn it should have plenty of air to ripen +the new growth made whilst flowering. In winter it should have a dry +position near the glass. + +[Illustration: FIG. 67. MAMILLARIA PECTINATA.] + +M. phellosperma (corky-seeded).--A pretty plant, resembling M. Grahami +in all points except the seed, which, as is denoted by the name, is half +enveloped in a corky covering, suggesting acorns. Stems simple, +sometimes proliferous at the base, globose when young, afterwards almost +cylinder or pear-shaped, 5 in. high, 2 in. in diameter; tubercles ½ in. +long, arranged in twelve spiral rows, slightly woolly in axils. Spines +radiating, in two rows, about fifty on each tubercle, the three or four +central ones being hooked at the tips or sometimes straight; length, +½ in. to 1½ in. Flowers (only seen in the dried state) 1 in. long and wide. +Native of the dry gravelly hills and sand ridges in California and +Colorado, and, therefore, requiring greenhouse treatment. This plant is +cultivated in the Kew collection, but it has not been known to flower +there. It is one of the most ornamental of the very spinous species, the +radial spines being almost white, whilst the central ones are black, and +look like tiny fish-hooks. A large proportion of these Mamillarias are +far more interesting in the form and arrangement of their tubercles and +spines than in any floral character, and it is on this account that so +many which are insignificant as flowering plants are included here. + +M. pulchra (handsome).--Stem globose when young and cylindrical when +old, flattened at the top; height from 4 in. to 6 in.; tubercles large, +egg-shaped, arranged in from eleven to thirteen spiral rows; spines in +compact tufts, their bases set in whitish wool, irregular in length, and +almost covering the whole of the stem. Flowers medium in size, developed +near the top of the stem from the woolly axils of the tubercles; colour +bright rose. Native of Mexico. Flowering season, June. Introduced in +1826. A rare kind nowadays, though one of the prettiest. It should +always be grown in a warm house. It has been also called M. pulcherrima. + +M. pusilla (small).--A tiny tufted plant, belonging to the group known +as Thimble Cactuses. It has stems 2 in. high; short, dark green +tubercles, with tufts of whitish wool in the axils; spines thin and +bristle-like, twisted, nearly 1 in. long, almost hiding the stem; they +are whitish, with black tips. The flowers are yellowish-white, with +streaks of red. Common in Mexico. Flowering season, May. It should be +grown in a frame in summer, and wintered on a shelf in a warm +greenhouse. It would, no doubt, thrive in a window if kept in a sunny +position and placed under a glass 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 ½ 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 ½ 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 a shallow cup, 2 in. across; +anthers forming a compact sheaf in the centre. Flowers in summer. This +distinct and very pretty species was introduced many years ago from +Mexico, where it was discovered in 1845 by a Mr. Potts, to whose love +for these plants we are indebted for a great many choice kinds collected +and sent to England by him. It grows naturally in a red, sandy loam, and +under cultivation requires warm-house treatment, except during the +autumn, when it may be placed in a frame and exposed to full sunshine +and plenty of air. + +M. Schelhasii (Schelhas').--A pretty little tufted kind, its habit and +size being shown in Fig. 69. The stem produces offsets freely at the +base, which grow into full-sized stems, and develop young ones, till a +compact cushion is formed. Tubercles closely arranged, cylindrical, +shining green, with fifteen to twenty radial, white, hair-like spines, +½ in. long, and three inner ones, which are thicker, purplish in colour, +usually only one being hooked. Flowers white, with a line of rose down +the middle of each petal, ¾ in. across. Flowering season, beginning of +summer. Native of Mexico. It may be grown out of doors in a sunny +position in summer, and wintered on a shelf in a greenhouse. + +[Illustration: FIG. 69. MAMILLARIA SCHELHASII.] + +M. Schiedeana (Schiede's).--Stem globose, 3 in. to 5 in. high, thickly +clothed with long, narrow, pointed tubercles, the bases of which are set +in white wool, whilst the apices are crowned with tiny stars of white +silky spines; more like the pappus of a Composite than the spines +usually found on Cactuses. A healthy plant has a very pretty and silky +appearance which cannot well be described. The flowers are small and +unattractive; they are succeeded by the red fruits, which remain on the +plant a long time, and add to its beauty. Native country, Mexico. +Introduced 1838. Should be grown in a greenhouse where frost is +excluded, and where there is plenty of sunlight at all times. It is +easily increased, either from seeds or by means of the offsets developed +at the base of old stems. + +M. semperviva (ever-living); Fig. 70.--Stem pear-shaped, 3 in. wide, the +top slightly depressed. Tubercles conical, ¼ in. long, their bases set in +a cushion of white wool, their tips bearing tiny tufts of wool, and four +small spines, which fall away on the tubercles becoming ripe, leaving +two short, diverging, central spines. Flowers small, not ornamental, and +scantily developed near the outside of the top. Native of Mexico; in +meadows and thickets near Zimapan, at 5000 ft. elevation. It thrives with +us when grown in a frame in summer, and wintered in a cool greenhouse or +frame. + +[Illustration: FIG. 70. MAMILLARIA SEMPERVIVA.] + +M. senilis (hoary).--Stem about 3 in. high, spherical, unbranched, +except when very old, when it becomes proliferous at the base; tubercles +crowded, small, arranged spirally, and crowned with clusters of long, +radiating spines, which are almost white, hair-like, and become thickly +interwoven, as in the Old Man Cactus (Pilocereus senilis). The central +spine is black, and hooked at the tip. Flowers on the top of the stem, +near the centre; the petals toothed, spreading, and forming a deep cup, +with a cluster of tall stamens standing erect in the middle; colour +bright scarlet. The flowers, which appear in summer, remain open about +eight hours. Native country unknown; cultivated in France in 1845. This +plant is difficult to preserve in health, the best method being that of +grafting it on to a short Cereus, or a robust kind of Mamillaria, such +as M. cirrhifera. It is a pretty plant at all times, even when dead, for +we have seen plants of it preserve the appearance of live specimens long +after they have rotted and dried up in the centre, nothing remaining but +the shell formed by the skin and silvery spines. There is a close +resemblance between this species and M. Grahami. + +M. stella-aurata (golden star).--This little plant obtains its name +from the rich golden-yellow of its stellate clusters of spines, which +are arranged thickly on the tips of the small, pointed tubercles. It +belongs to the group called Thimble Cactuses, of which it is one of the +prettiest. The stems are tufted, branching freely at the base, and +rising to a height of about 2 in. Flowers small, whitish, and much less +ornamental than the berry-like fruits which succeed them, and which are +egg-shaped, ½ in. long, and a deep rose-colour. M. tenuis is a variety of +this, with almost white spines. Native of Mexico. Introduced 1835. May +be cultivated under a bell-glass in a room window, the only danger being +damp during winter, which must be carefully avoided. + +M. sub-polyhedra (usually many-sided); Fig. 71.--Stem simple till it +becomes old, when it develops offsets at the base, broadly cylindrical, +8 in. high, 5 in. in diameter. Tubercles four-sided at base, prism-shaped, +bearing pads of white wool in the corners at the base, and crowned with +tufts of from four to seven spines, usually all radial, sometimes one +central. The flowers, which usually appear in May, are arranged in a +zone on the top of the old stems; sepals greenish-yellow, petals bright +red. Fruit 1 in. long, pear-shaped, scarlet. Native of South Mexico, at +high elevations. It may be grown outside in summer, and wintered in a +heated greenhouse or frame. This is a singular-looking plant, the +tubercles having an appearance suggestive of carving. It is a slow +grower, and requires careful attention in winter, when sometimes the +roots all perish and the base of the stem rots. + +[Illustration: FIG. 71. MAMILLARIA SUB-POLYHEDRA.] + +M. sulcolanata (woolly-grooved); Fig. 72.--Stem simple when young, +proliferous at the sides when old, the young plants developing from the +apices of the tubercles, and not in the axils, as is usual. The +tubercles are nut-shaped, large, the bases surrounded by white wool, the +points bearing eight to ten rigid, brown spines, all radiating from a +little pad of wool. Flowers large, nearly 2 in. across, bright yellow, +poppy-scented, the spread of the petals suggesting Paris Daisies; they +are freely developed on the apex of the stem in June, and on till +August. Fruit egg-shaped, glaucous-green. Native country, South Mexico; +introduced 1836. This charming little plant should be grown in a frame +exposed to full sunshine all summer, and removed to a shelf in a warm +greenhouse in winter. With such treatment it grows and flowers freely. +Grafted on to a Cereus or Opuntia it is healthier than when on its own +roots. + +[Illustration: FIG. 72. MAMILLARIA SULCOLANATA.] + +M. tetracantha (four-spined); Bot. Mag. 4060.--Stem the size and shape +of an ostrich's egg, thickly studded with small, conical tubercles, +woolly at the base, the apices bearing each four spreading spines, ¾ in. +long, rather stout, straight, brown when young, becoming almost white +with age. Flowers numerous, small, arranged as in M. sanguinea, to which +and M. cirrhifera this species is closely related. They are bright rose +in colour, with orange-yellow anthers, and are developed in July. Native +of Mexico. Requires the same treatment as M. cirrhifera. + +M. tuberculosa (tubercled).--This is a very pretty and distinct plant, +of recent introduction, and easily cultivated. It has a central stem, +6 in. high by 2 in. in diameter, conical in shape, and surrounded at the +base by globose branches or offsets. The tubercles are closely set in +numerous spiral rows, and are ½ in. long, rather narrow, pointed, with a +crown of radial spines, very slender, hair-like, white, and ½ in. long; +central spines three or four, ½ in. long. At the base of each tubercle is +a pea-like tuft of white wool. In this kind the spines fall from the old +tubercles, which are persistent, gradually hardening to a cork-like +substance. The flowers are produced in the apex of the stem, and are +1 in. long and wide, daisy-like, pale purple in colour; they are +succeeded by red, oval berries, which are as pretty as the flowers. +About five flowers are developed on each stem annually--May and June. +Native of Mexico, in the mountains. It thrives when grown in an ordinary +greenhouse, on a shelf, in full sunshine. + +M. turbinata (top-shaped); Bot. Mag. 3984.--Stem globose, depressed at +top, about 3 in. in diameter, pale glaucous-green; tubercles +quadrangular, flattened at the apex, and bearing, when young, from three +to five erect, slender, hair-like spines, which fall off soon after the +tubercles ripen, exposing little depressions or umbilica, and giving the +stem a bald, pudding-like appearance, quite distinct from any other +kind. Flowers from the centre of the stem, short, about 1 in. across, +pale yellow, with a reddish tint outside; anthers yellow. Two or three +flowers are usually expanded together in the month of June. Native +country, Mexico. + +M. uncinata (hooked).--Stem globose, simple, about 4 in. in diameter; +tubercles closely pressed against each other at the base, where they are +four-angled; in length they are ¼ in., and they are blue-green in colour. +Apex bearing four short spines, arranged crosswise, and ¼ in. long; +central spine slightly longer, yellow, and hooked. The flowers are 1 in. +long and wide, erect, the tube hidden by the young mammae, amongst +which they appear in May and June; they are purple in colour, a line of +deeper tint running down the middle of each petal. Like all the kinds +with short, angular tubercles, this species is easily managed, flowers +freely and profusely, and always ripens seeds. Native of Mexico. It may +be grown in a frame, or even out of doors, all through the summer, +removing it to a greenhouse for the winter. + +M. vetula (old).--One of the small Thimble Cactuses, its stems seldom +exceeding 3 in. in height by 1½ in. in diameter. Tubercles ¼ in. long, +conical, with a radial crown of fine, hair-like yellow spines, ¼ in. +long, and a solitary central spine, ½ in. in length, and coloured red. +Flowers terminal, just peeping above the tubercles; sepals and petals +acute, yellow, ¾ in. long; anthers yellow; stigma white. An old garden +plant, introduced from Mexico. It flowers in May and June. For its +cultivation it may be treated as recommended for M. pusilla. + +M. villifera (hair-bearing).--Stem similar to the last, but usually +proliferous at the base; tubercles angular, short, woolly in the axils, +and bearing four rigid, short, reddish-brown spines on the apex. Flowers +pale rose, with a line of purple down the middle of each petal; they are +developed near the top of the stem, in May. Native country, Mexico. This +plant thrives if treated as recommended for M. pusilla. There are +several varieties known, distinguished by their paler or darker flowers, +or by a difference in the length and arrangement of the spines. + +M. viridis (green).--Stem 4 in. high by 3 in. in diameter, proliferous at +the base; tubercles short, four-angled, crowded in spiral rows, woolly +at the base, bearing each five or six radiating hair-like spines on the +apex, and one central erect one, none more than ¼ in. long. Flowers +erect, on top of stem, with recurved, pale yellow petals, 1 in., long; +they are produced in May and June. Introduced from Mexico in 1850. It +may be grown in a sunny frame out of doors during summer, and on a dry, +warm greenhouse shelf in winter. + +M. vivipara (stem--sprouting).--A tufted, free-growing Thimble Cactus, +producing its small stems in such profusion as to form a cluster as much +as 3 ft. in diameter. The small tubercles are hidden by the numerous +radial spines, which are in clusters of about twenty; they are white, +hair-like, stiff and ½ in. long; the central spines, numbering from four +to six, are a little longer. Flowers from apex of stem, 1½ in. long and +wide, and composed of about thirty fimbriated sepals and twenty-five to +forty narrow petals; colour bright purple. Fruit ½ in. long, pale green +when ripe. The flowers, which appear in May and June, usually expand +after mid-day. Native of Louisiana. In the North-West plains and Rocky +Mountains of North America this plant is abundant, often forming wide +cushion-like tufts, which, when covered with numerous purple, star-like +flowers, have a pretty effect. In Utah and New York it is commonly +cultivated as a hardy garden plant, bearing exposure to keen frosts and +snow without suffering; but it would not thrive out of doors in winter +with us, unless covered by a handlight during severe weather, and +protected from heavy rains in winter. It likes a strong, clayey soil. + +M. v. radiosa (Fig. 73).--This variety is distinguished by its larger +flowers and shorter spines. + +[Illustration: FIG. 73. MAMILLARIA VIVIPARA RADIOSA.] + +M. Wildiana (Wild's).--An old garden Cactus, and one of the prettiest +of the tufted, small-stemmed kinds. Its largest stems are 3 in. high by +about 1½ in. in diameter, and bear spiral rows of clavate, dark green, +crystallised tubercles, ½ in. long, with about ten radial white spines, +½ in. long, the three upper spines, together with the solitary central +hooked one, being yellow. Flowers small, numerous on the apices of the +stems, rose-coloured, lined with purple; they are developed in summer. +This also forms dense tufts of stems. A specimen at Kew, only a few +years old, has already over thirty heads. It is a native of Mexico, at +an altitude of 5000 ft., growing on lava and basalt, and even on the +trunks of trees. For its cultivation, a shelf in a sunny greenhouse is a +most suitable position, both in winter and summer. Introduced 1835. + +M. Wrightii (Wright's).--This is a charming little plant, of something +the same character as M. dolichocentra. It has not long been cultivated +in gardens, but being easy to manage, and exceptionally pretty, it is +sure to become a favourite as it gets known. Stem rounded above, +narrowed and peg-top-like at the base, the top flattened, about 3 in. +across, height about the same. Tubercles conical, ½ in. long, shining +green, and bearing a tuft of six or eight spines, which are straight, +hair-like, white, and ½ in. long; there are two central spines, of same +length, and hooked. Flowers in the top of the stem, 1 in. long and wide, +bright purple; they are succeeded by egg-shaped, purple berries, 1 in. +long, and prettily arranged among the tubercles. In England a warm house +seems most suitable for this species. It likes plenty of moisture and +sunlight during the summer, whilst making new growth; but in winter, +when at rest, it ought to be kept on a shelf, and just moistened +overhead in bright weather. There are healthy examples of it at Kew. +Flowering season, May and June. Native country, Mexico. Introduced about +1878. + +M. Zucchariniana (Zuccharini's).--Stem simple, globose, often attaining +a height of 10 in. by about 7 in. in diameter. Tubercles dark green, +conical, 1/3 in. long, ½ in. broad at base, naked at the point, but with +four to six spines springing from the areole a little below the point; +spines ash-coloured, stiff, black-tipped. Flowers in a ring about the +top of the stem, length 1 in., the tube enveloped in long, black, twisted +hairs; sepals brown-purple; petals narrow, sharp-pointed, purple-rose +coloured; stamens white and yellow; stigma rose-coloured. Flowers in +June and July. Native of Mexico. A large, handsome-stemmed kind, easily +kept in health, and flowering freely if grown on a shelf in a cool +greenhouse in winter, and placed in a warm, sunny position out of doors +in summer. It produces seeds freely, and pretty plants, 3 in. or more in +diameter, may be obtained in two years from seeds. By grafting it, when +young, on the stem of a Cereus or cylindrical Opuntia, a healthy, +drumstick-like plant is easily obtained. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE GENUS LEUCHTENBERGIA. + +(Named in honour of Prince Leuchtenberg.) + + +Among the many instances of plant mimicry that occur in the Cactus +order, the most remarkable is the plant here figured. Remove the flower +from Leuchtenbergia, and very few people indeed would think of calling +it a Cactus, but would probably consider it a short-leaved Yucca. In +habit, in form, in leaf, and in texture, it more resembles a Yucca or an +Agave than anything else, and when first introduced it was considered +such by the Kew authorities until it flowered. The leaves, or rather +tubercles, are sometimes longer and slenderer than in Fig. 74. The +nearest approach to this plant is Mamillaria longimamma, in which the +tubercles are 1 in. or more long, finger-shaped, and crowned with a few +hair-like spines. But the Leuchtenbergia bears its flowers on the ends +of the tubercles, and not from the axils, as in all others. This +peculiarity leads one to infer that tubercles are modified branches, the +spines representing the leaves. Some species of Mamillaria and +Echinocactus develop young plants from the tops of their tubercles; and +this also points to the probability that the latter are branches. In +Leuchtenbergia, the tubercles fall away as the plant increases in +height, leaving a bare, woody stem similar to that of a Yucca. + +Cultivation.--The Leuchtenbergia has always been difficult to keep in +health. It thrives best when kept in a warm, sunny house during winter, +and in an exposed, airy, warm position under a frame during summer. It +may be watered regularly whilst growing--that is, from April to +September--and kept quite dry all winter. The soil should be +well-drained loam, and the roots should have plenty of room. A specimen +may be seen in the Kew collection. + +Propagation.--This may be effected from seeds, or by removing the head +from an old plant, putting the former in sand, and placing it under a +bell-glass to root, watering it only about once a week till roots are +formed. The old stem should be kept dry for about two months, and then +watered and placed in a sunny, moist position, where it can be syringed +once a day. A shelf in a stove is the best position for it. Here it will +form young buds in the axils of the withered tubercles, and on the edges +of the persistent parts of the tubercles themselves. They first appear +in the form of tiny tufts of yellowish down, and gradually develop till +the first leaf-like tubercle appears. When large enough, the buds may be +removed and planted in small pots to root. If an old plant is dealt with +in this way in April, a batch of young ones should be developed and +rooted by October. Grafting does not appear to have ever been tried for +this plant. When sick, the plant should be carefully washed, and all +decayed parts cut away; it may then be planted in very sandy loam, and +kept under a bell-glass till rooted. + +[Illustration: FIG. 74. LEUCHTENBERGIA PRINCIPIS.] + +SPECIES. + +L. principis (noble); Fig. 74.--This, the only species known, was +introduced from Mexico to Kew in 1847, and flowered the following year. +The plant attains a height of 1 ft. or more, the stem being erect, stout, +clothed with the persistent, scale-like bases of the old, fallen-away +tubercles, the bases having dried up and tightened round the stem. The +upper part is clothed with the curved, leaf-like tubercles, from 3 in. to +6 in. long, grey-green in colour, succulent, with a tough skin, +triangular, and gradually narrowed to a blunt point, upon which are half +a dozen or more thin, flexuous, horny filaments, neither spines nor +hairs in appearance, but almost hay-like; the central one is about 5 in. +long, and the others about half that length. The flowers are borne on +the ends of the young, partly-developed tubercles, near the centre of +the head; they are erect, tubular, 3 in. to 4 in. long, scaly, gradually +widening upwards; the sepals and petals are numerous, and form a +beautiful flower of the ordinary Cactus type, quite 4 in. across, and of +a rich, clear yellow colour. The anthers, which also are yellow, form a +column in the centre, through which the nine-rayed stigma protrudes. +Strong plants sometimes produce two flowers together. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE GENUS PELECYPHORA. + +(From pelekyphoros, hatchet-bearing; referring to the shape of the +tubercles.) + + +IKE Leuchtenbergia, this genus is monotypic, and it is also rare, +difficult to cultivate, and exceptionally interesting in structure. It +is closely related to the Mamillarias, as may be seen, by comparing the +Figure here given with some of them; indeed, it was once known as M. +asellifera, having been described under that name when first introduced, +in 1843. From Mamillaria, however, it differs in the form of its +tubercles, which are hatchet-shaped, and cleft at the apex, where each +division is clothed with small, horny, overlapping scales, not unlike +the back of a woodlouse--hence the specific name. + +Cultivation.--The Hatchet Cactus grows very slowly, specimens such as +that represented in our Illustration being many years old. We have seen +healthy plants, freshly imported, grow for a few months, and then +suddenly die, the inside of the stem rotting whilst outside it looked +perfectly healthy. It is always grown on its own roots, but probably it +would thrive better if grafted on the stem of some dwarf Cereus or +Echinocactus. + +[Illustration: FIG. 75. PELECYPHORA ASELLIFORMIS.] + +Propagation.--The propagation of Pelecyphora is easiest effected by +means of seeds, which, however, are not always procurable. It is stated +by Labouret, a French writer on Cactuses, that the first plants +introduced arrived dead, but a few seeds were found in a withered fruit +on one of the dead stems, and from these the first plants grown in +Europe were raised. M. de Smet of Ghent, had a large stock of this +Cactus a few years ago, and a German nurseryman, H. Hildmann, of +Oranienberg, near Berlin, usually has many young plants of it for sale. + +SPECIES. + +P. aselliformis (woodlouse-like); Fig. 75.--The size, habit, and +structure of this plant are so well represented in the Figure that +little description is necessary. The stems are simple till they get +about 3 in. high, when they develop offsets about the base, which may +either be removed to form new plants, or allowed to remain and grow into +a specimen like that in the Illustration. The flowers are large for the +size of the plant, and they are developed freely in the apex of the +stems in the early part of the summer. The tube is very short, naked, +and completely hidden by the young mammae; sepals and petals in four +series, the outer one pale purple, the inner of a deep purple colour; +stamens very numerous, and the stigma has only four erect lobes. The +plant was first described from examples cultivated in Berlin in 1843, +but the flowers were not known till 1858. There are several varieties +known, viz., P. a. concolor, which is distinguished by the whole of the +flower being deep purple in colour; P. a. pectinata has larger scales +(spine-tufts); and P. a. cristata is, as its name denotes a kind of +cockscomb or crested form. They are all natives of Mexico. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE GENUS OPUNTIA. + +(The old Latin name used by Pliny, and said to have been derived from +the city of Opus.) + + +There are about 150 species of Opuntia known, all of them natives of the +American continent and the West Indies, though a considerable number +have become naturalised in many other parts of the world. They are, with +very few exceptions, easily distinguished from all other Cactuses by the +peculiar character of their stems and spines; they are also well marked +in the structure of their flowers. They vary in size from small, +trailing, many-branched plants, never exceeding 6 in. in height, to large +shrubs 8 ft. to 30 ft. high. (Humboldt states that he saw "Opuntias and +other Cactuses 30 ft. to 40 ft. high.") Generally the branches are nearly +flat when young, and shaped like a racquet or battledore; but in some +species the branches are round (i.e., in O. cylindrica, O. subulata, O. +arborescens, &c.). All the kinds have fleshy stems, which ultimately +become cylindrical and woody. At first they consist of fleshy joints, +superposed upon one another, the joints varying considerably in size and +shape. When young they bear small fleshy leaves along with the +spine-tufts; but the former fall off at an early stage, whilst the +spines are altered in length or number as the joints get old. In one or +two kinds the spines fall away when the joints begin to harden, and in +O. subulata the leaves are large and persistent. + +The nature of the spines of Opuntias is of a kind that is not likely to +be forgotten by anyone coming into contact with them. Every spine, from +the tiny bristles, hardly perceptible to the naked eye, to the stout, +needle-like spears which are found on the branches of some kinds, is +barbed, and they are so very sharp and penetrating that even a gentle +touch is sufficient to make them pierce the skin. Once in they are very +difficult to get out; the very fine ones can only be shaved level with +the skin, and left to grow out, whilst the larger must be cut out if +they have penetrated to any depth. This horrid character in Opuntias, +whilst rendering them disagreeable to the gardener, has been turned to +good account in many of our colonies, where they are commonly used as +fences. A good hedge of such kinds as O. Tuna or O. horrida is +absolutely impassable to both man and beast, and as the stems are too +watery to be easily destroyed by fire, their usefulness in this way +could not be surpassed. As all the Opuntias will grow in the very +poorest of soils, and even on bare rocks, and as they grow very rapidly, +they have been largely employed in Africa, Australia, and India for +fences. It is reported that when an island in the West Indies was +divided between the French and English, the boundary was marked by three +rows of O. Tuna. + +The flowers of Opuntias are not, as a rule, particularly attractive. In +many of the kinds they are large and well-formed, but the colours are +tawny-yellow, greenish-white, or dull red. These plants cannot, +therefore, be recommended for any floral beauty, although it is probable +that the same flowers, on plants of less repulsive appearance than +Opuntias are, as a rule, would be admired. There are a few exceptions to +this in such species as O. Rafinesquii, O. missouriensis, and O. +basilaris, which are compact and dwarf, and bear numerous large, +brightly-coloured flowers. The fruits of Opuntias, or, at least, some of +them, are edible, and to some palates they are very agreeable. We have +tasted them, and consider they are mawkish and insipid--not much better +than very poor gooseberries. Sir Joseph Hooker has compared them to +Pumpkins. They are pear-shaped, with a thick, spine-covered rind, +containing green, yellow, or red pulp, with small, hard seeds scattered +through it. + +The fruit of Opuntia differs in character and structure from the +ordinary kind of fruit, such as apples, pears, &c. It consists of a +branch, or joint, modified in form, and bearing on its flattened apex a +flower, with the ovary buried in a slight depression in the fleshy +joint. After becoming fertilised, the ovary grows down into the joint, +and, ultimately the whole joint is changed into a succulent, juicy, +often coloured "fruit." That this is the case has been proved by +planting the unripe "fruit" of Opuntias in pots of sandy soil, and +treating them as cuttings, when they have developed buds at the apex and +roots at the base, ultimately forming plants. + +The vitality in the branches of most of the species is very great, the +smallest piece, as a rule, emitting roots and developing into a plant in +a comparatively short time. The branches are soft, and easily broken, so +that, in gathering the fruits, many pieces are broken off and cast +aside; these soon grow into plants, and in a short time an extensive +"colony" of Opuntias springs up where previously only one had been. The +seeds, too, are a ready means of increase, being distributed by birds +and other animals, which eat the fruits. In consequence of this free +vegetative character, the Opuntias introduced into some of our colonies +have become a pest almost as difficult to deal with as the rabbit +scourge in Australia. In English gardens, however, there is no danger of +Opuntias getting the upper hand. The adaptability of the majority of the +kinds for cultivation under what may be termed adverse conditions for +other plants, and the ease with which they may be propagated, render the +management of a collection of these plants an easy matter. Amongst other +Cactuses, Opuntias have a striking effect, and a selection of them +should be grown in even the smallest collections. A few of them may be +recommended specially as attractive plants for a sheltered, sunny +rockery. + +Cultivation.--The cultural requirements of the Opuntias may more +conveniently be referred to under the description of each kind. + +Propagation.--This entails no exceptional treatment; the numerous seeds +contained in each fruit germinate freely if sown in sandy soil, and +placed on a shelf in a warm house; and the smallest branches root +quickly if planted in pots of open soil and kept in the Cactus-house. +Large branches root just as freely as small ones. At Kew an enormous +specimen, which had grown tall, and developed a thicket of branches too +great for the house where it grew, was reduced most summarily by simply +cutting off the head of branches and planting it in the ground where the +original specimen had been. In a short time this "cutting" was well +rooted, and made better growth than it had before the operation was +performed. + +As stocks for grafting, many of the more robust kinds of Opuntia are +well adapted, and very singular-looking specimens may be obtained by +making the most of this fact. One of the crested or monstrous forms, +when grafted on a flat-stemmed kind, presents the queerest of +appearances, looking like a large green cockscomb growing out of the top +of a bladdery kind of stem. Equally odd combinations may be made by +grafting a flat-stemmed kind on one whose stem is cylindrical. As all +the kinds unite with the greatest ease, a taste for oddities among +plants may easily be gratified by making use of Opuntias in this way. +The time most favourable for the operation is spring-say, the month of +April. For full information on how to graft Cactuses, see Chapter IV., +on Propagation. + +SPECIES. + +O. arborescens (tree-like).--This species is known as the Walking-Stick +or Elk-Horn Cactus, from its cylindrical, woody stems being made into +very curious-looking walking-sticks (examples of which may be seen in +the Museum at Kew), whilst the arrangement of the branches is suggestive +of elk horns. Habit erect; joints cylindrical, branching freely, and +forming trees from 8 ft. to 30 ft. high. Stems covered with oblong +tubercles and tufts of long, needle-like spines, which give the plant a +very ferocious aspect. Flowers on the ends of the young branches, 2 in. +to 3 in. in diameter, bright purple in colour, developing in June. It is +a native of Mexico, &c., and requires greenhouse or stove treatment. The +skeletons of this species, as seen scattered over the desert places +where it is wild, have a very singular and startling appearance. They +stand in the form of trees, quite devoid of leaves, spines, or flesh, +and, owing to the peculiar arrangement of the ligneous layers, nothing +remains except a hollow cylinder, perforated with mesh-like holes, +indicating the points where the tubercles and small branches had been. +These skeletons are said to stand many years. + +O. arbuscula (small tree).--Another of the cylindrical kinds, with a +solid, woody trunk, about 4 in. through, and clothed with smooth, green +bark; it grows to a height of 7 ft. or 8 ft. Branches very numerous, +slender, copiously jointed, the ultimate joints about 3 in. long and ½ in. +thick; they are slightly tuberculated, and bear tufts of spines nearly +1 in. long. Flowers 1½ in. in diameter, produced in June; petals few, +greenish-yellow, tinged with red. It is a native of Mexico, and requires +stove treatment. A pretty plant, or, rather, a very remarkable one, even +when not in flower, the thin branches, with their hundreds of long, +whitish spines, being singular. Unfortunately, it is not easily grown. + +O. arenaria (sand-loving).--Stems spreading, forming a tuft 3 ft. +through and about 1 ft. high. Joints 1½ in. to 3 in. long, and a little +less in width, terete, with very prominent tubercles and numerous tawny +bristles; upper spines 1 in. to 1½ in. long, white, with a yellow point, +shorter ones hair-like and curled. Flowers 2 in. in diameter, produced in +May. Fruit 1 in. long, bearing a few short spines. Mexico. A +strong-rooted plant, which should be grown in very loose, sandy soil. It +would probably thrive best when planted out on a stage near the glass in +a stove. + +O. Auberi (Auber's).--An erect-growing plant, 8 ft. or more high, not +unlike O. Ficus-indica in the form of its joints, but with long spines +springing from the cushions, whereas the latter has none. The joints are +oblong-ovate, glaucous-green, the cushions few and scattered; spines +white, flattened, of various lengths. Flowers tawny yellow, small for +the size of the plant. A native of Cuba, and requiring stove treatment. +Being very brittle, this plant should be supported with stakes. + +O. aurantiaca (orange).--A dwarf, cylindrical-stemmed kind, branching +freely. Joints short, ¾ in. in diameter; cushions of reddish spines, one +about 1 in. long, the others shorter; bases of spines enveloped in white +wool. Flowers bright orange, 2 in. to 3 in. across. This species is a +native of Chili, whence it was introduced in 1824. It should be grown in +a warm greenhouse all winter, and placed in a sunny position outside +during summer. + +O. basilaris (branching at the base); Fig. 76.--A dwarf, compact plant, +of peculiar habit. Stem short, branching into a number of stout, +obovate, often fan-shaped joints, which usually spring from a common +base, and curve inwards, suggesting an open cabbage. Joints 5 in. to 8 in. +long, about 1 in. thick, covered all over with dot-like cushions of very +short, reddish spines, set in slight depressions or wrinkles. Flowers of +a beautiful and rich purple colour, about 2½ in. in diameter, and +produced in May. This distinct plant is a native of Mexico, and is of +recent introduction. Plants of it may be seen in the Kew collection. It +is apparently easily kept in health in an ordinary stove temperature +along with other Cactuses. It varies in the form of its joints and in +its manner of branching, but it seems never to develop the joints one on +the top of the other, as do most Opuntias. This species is certain to +become a favourite when it becomes better known. + +[Illustration: FIG. 76. OPUNTIA BASILARIS.] + +O. Bigelovii (Bigelow's).--A cylinder-stemmed, tall-growing plant, with +a stout, woody stem, bearing a dense head of branches. Joints 2 in. to +6 in. long, 1 in. to 2 in. in diameter, light green, covered with small +tubercles and little spine-cushions, with larger spines 1 in. long. When +wild, the young joints are often shaken off by the wind, and cover the +soil around, where they take root or stick to the clothes of the +passers-by like burrs. Flowers not known. A native of Mexico, where it +forms a tree 12 ft. high; it requires stove treatment. The skeleton of +the trunk is a hollow cylinder, perforated with numerous holes, which +occur in a regular spiral. The appearance of a full-grown specimen is +very striking, the oval joints, thickly covered with long, needle-like +spines, hanging in clusters, more suggestive of spiny fruit than +branches. + +O. boliviana (Bolivian); Fig. 77.--Stems 1 ft. high, erect, branching, +and composed of roundish, pale green joints, with small, round +tubercles, and long, white, flexible spines, sometimes as much as 4 in. +in length; cushions about 1 in. apart. Flowers 1½ in. across, yellowish. +This is a fat, gouty-looking plant, from Bolivia, requiring stove +treatment. It often assumes a yellow hue on the older joints, even when +in good health. + +[Illustration: FIG. 77. OPUNTIA BOLIVIANA.] + +O. brachyarthra (short-jointed); Fig. 78.--A dwarf-growing, +singular-looking plant, with short, tumid joints from 1 in. to 2 in. long +and wide, and nearly the same in thickness. The shortness of the joints, +together with their growing on the top of each other, has been not +inaptly compared to a jointed finger. Cushions very close together, +composed of short, white and yellowish bristles, and stout, terete +spines, 1 in. or more long, set on little tubercles. Flowers 1 in. in +diameter, with about five sepals, eight or nine petals, and a five-rayed +stigma; they are borne on the apices of the topmost joints. This species +is worth growing on account of its peculiar stems and the length of its +white spines. It is a native of New Mexico, and has been recently +introduced to Kew, where it is cultivated among the hardy kinds, and +also in the greenhouse. + +[Illustration: FIG. 78. OPUNTIA BRACHYARTHRA.] + +O. braziliensis (Brazilian).--The peculiar habit and mode of growth at +once distinguish this species. It rises with a perfectly straight, +erect, slender, but firm and stiff, round stem, to a height of from +10 ft. to 30 ft., tapering from the base upwards, and furnished all the +way up with short, horizontal branches, spreading about 3 ft. all round, +like an immense candelabrum. Spines long, subulate, very sharp, +ash-coloured, in clusters. Joints broadly oblong, margins wavy; they +resemble leaves, or the thin, leaf-like joints of a Phyllocactus, with +the addition of long, whitish spines on both sides. Flowers 1½ in. in +diameter, lemon-yellow, very freely produced on the younger joints +during May and June. Fruit as large as a walnut, spiny, yellow when +ripe. This species is a native of Brazil, whence it was introduced in +1816. It may be recommended for large, airy houses, as it grows freely, +and forms a striking object when arranged with foliage and flowering +plants of the ordinary kind. Its fruits are edible. + +O. candelabriformis (candelabrum-shaped).--Stems erect, 5 ft. to 8 ft. +high; joints flat, almost circular, about 6 in. in diameter, +glaucous-green, densely clothed with numerous cushions of white, +bristle-like spines, a few in each cushion being long and thread-like. +Flowers not known on cultivated plants. This sturdy species is a native +of Mexico, and succeeds well if planted on a little rockery or raised +mound in a warm house, where, properly treated, it branches freely, and +forms a dense mass of circular joints. It is one of the most useful of +the larger Opuntias for cultivation in large houses. + +O. clavata (club-shaped).--Stem short; joints club-shaped, 2 in. long +and 1 in. wide, narrowed almost to a point at both ends. Cushions ¼ in. +apart, composed of numerous spines, varying from short and bristle-like +to 1 in. in length, stout, flattened, and spear-like. Leaves ¼ in. long. +Flowers yellow, 1½ in. across. Fruit 1½ in. long, lemon-yellow when ripe, +and covered with stellate clusters of white, bristle-like spines. New +Mexico, 1854. A stove species, remarkable for the strength and form of +its central spines, which are spear or dagger-shaped. + +O. cochinellifera (cochineal-bearing); Bot. Mag. 2742.--An +erect-growing plant, attaining a height of 9 ft. or more, and branching +freely, the older parts of the stem and branches being woody and +cylindrical; young joints flat, oblong-ovate, varying in length from +4 in. to 1 ft., deep green, rather soft and watery, spineless, the +cushions distant, and sometimes bearing a few very short bristles. +Flowers at the extremities of the branches, 1½ in. long, composed of +numerous imbricating, scale-like petals, curving inwards, and coloured +crimson. Fruit flat-topped, 2 in. long, red; pulp reddish; seeds black. +It is a native of tropical South America, whence it was introduced in +1688. It requires stove treatment, and blossoms in August. This is one +of the most useful of the genus, on account of its being the kind +chiefly employed in the cultivation of cochineal. It is one of the +easiest to manage, requiring only a rather dry atmosphere, plenty of +light, and a temperature not lower than 50 degs. in winter. Syn. Nopalea +cochinellifera. + +O. corrugata (wrinkled).--Stem not more than 2 ft. high; joints +cylindrical, wrinkled all over, about 2 in. long, covered with cushions +of white hair or bristle-like spines. Flowers 1½ in. across, +reddish-yellow, produced in August. A native of Chili, whence it was +introduced in 1824. It may be grown in an ordinary greenhouse, on a +shelf near the glass, and exposed to full sunshine. + +O. curassavica (Curassoa); Pin-pillow.--Branches spreading; joints +cylindrical or club-shaped, dark green, bearing numerous cushions of +woolly bristles, and long, white, very sharp-pointed spines. Flowers +3 in. across, greenish-yellow, borne on the young joints in June. +Introduced from Curassoa in 1690. A free-growing plant under favourable +conditions, and one requiring stove treatment. It has been cultivated in +gardens almost as long as any species of Cactus. There are several +varieties of it known, differing from the type in habit, length of +spine, or shade of colour in the flower. + +O. cylindrica (cylindrical).--Stem and joints cylindrical, the latter +covered with spindle-shaped tubercles, each one crowned with a tuft of +fine, hair-like, whitish spines, one or two in each tuft being stiff, +and sharp as needles. The leaves are fleshy, cylindrical, 1 in. or more +long, and they remain on the joints longer than is usual in Opuntias. +Flowers crowded on the ends of the branches, each 1 in. in diameter, +scarlet; they are developed in June. This plant is said to grow to a +height of 6 ft. or more in its native habitat, but under cultivation it +is rarely seen more than 3 ft. high; it was introduced in 1799. It is +handsome and distinct enough to be worth growing. It requires stove or +greenhouse treatment, but rarely flowers under cultivation. + +O. c. cristata (crested).--A dwarf, cockscomb-like variety, with the +leaves and white hairs growing all along the wrinkled top of the comb. +It is a very singular example of a "monster" Cactus. It requires stove +treatment. + +O. Davisii (Davis'); Bot. Mag. 6652.--Stems somewhat horizontal, not +exceeding 1½ ft. in height; joints 4 in. to 6 in. in length, and about ½ +in. in thickness; wood dense, and hard when old; tubercles not prominent, +bearing cushions of very slender bristles, forming a kind of brush, from +amongst which the spines spring. The longest spines are 1½ in., and they +are covered with a loose, glistening sheath. Flowers 2 in. in diameter, +greenish-brown. The plant is a native of New Mexico, and was introduced +in 1883. It forms a compact, shrubby little plant if grown in an +intermediate house during winter, and placed in the open in full +sunshine during summer. It was flowered for the first time in England in +1883, and although not what we should call an attractive plant, in +America it is described as being "a well-marked and pretty species." It +is named after Jefferson Davis, the American statesman. + +O. decumana (great-oblong). This is the largest-growing species in +cultivation. At Kew it is represented by a plant 12 ft. high (it would +grow still taller if the house were higher). It has a hard, woody, +brown-barked stem, bearing an enormous head of very large, elliptical, +flat joints, 12 in. to 20 in. long, and about 1 ft. broad, smooth, +grey-green, with a few scattered cushions of very tiny bristles, and +sometimes, though rarely, a spine or two. Flowers large, +orange-coloured, produced in summer. Fruit oval, 4 in. long, spiny, +brownish-red, very watery when ripe; flesh red, sweet. A native of +Brazil, and requiring stove treatment. This is said to be what is known +in Malta as the Indian Fig. The plant is chiefly interesting here on +account of the extraordinary size of the joints. + +O. diademata (diademed).--A small, remarkable, and extremely rare +little species, with a short, erect stem, composed of globose, +superposed joints, grey-green in colour, and very succulent. The topmost +joint is pear-shaped, with a tuft of whitish hair and spines on the +apex, out of which the new growth pushes. Cushions large, about 1 in. +apart, furnished with a tuft of short, grey hairs and short spines, with +a large one at the base. The character of this large spine is +exceptional, being broad, flat, cartilaginous, whitish, and curving +downwards. On healthy large examples these spines are 2 in. long, and +nearly ¼ in. wide at the base. Flowers and fruit not known. Native of +Mendoza (La Plata). This little plant requires to be cultivated in a +warm greenhouse or stove, but it grows very slowly. It is certainly a +most interesting Cactus; examples of it may be seen at Kew, where there +is a plant which, although over ten years old, is only 4 in. high. Syns. +O. platyacantha and Cereus syringacanthus. + +O. Dillenii (Dillenius'); Fig. 79.--An erect-growing, robust species, +attaining a height of 15 ft., with flattened, ovate joints, about 5 in. +long by 3 in. broad. Cushions composed of short, white, hair-like +bristles, and numerous long, stout, yellow spines. Flowers yellow, +tinged with red, 4 in. in diameter, freely produced on the ends of the +youngest joints all summer. Fruits similar to those of O. Ficus-indica. +A native of the West Indies, now naturalised in all warmer parts of the +world. In India it is so plentiful and widespread that Roxburgh, an +Indian botanist, said it was a native. In India, its fruits are eaten by +the poor natives, and it is often planted as a hedge. It is also a great +pest in the open lands of that country, and large sums are annually +expended in cutting it down and burying it. This species, which requires +warm greenhouse treatment, is also employed in the cultivation of +cochineal. + +[Illustration: FIG. 79. OPUNTIA DILLENII.] + +O. echinocarpa (spiny-fruited).--A low, straggling shrub, not exceeding +1½ ft. in height. Joints cylindrical, from 1 in. to 3 in. long, less than +1 in. thick. Cushions of rather coarse bristles and numerous spines, from +½ in. to 1 in. in length. Flowers 2 in. in diameter, yellow, produced in +summer. Fruit short, depressed, almost saucer-shaped, and bearing spines +nearly 1 in. long. A native of Colorado, &c. It requires stove treatment. +The variety major has stems 4 ft. high, joints 8 in. to 10 in. long, and +long, sheathed spines. This species is closely related to O. Bigelovii +and O. Davisii. + +O. Emoryi (Emory's).--A prostrate, spreading plant, less than 1½ ft. +high. Joints cylindrical, curved, 4 in. long, 1½ in. thick. Tubercles very +prominent, longitudinally attached to the stem, the apices crowned with +pea-shaped cushions of short bristles, and numerous radiating spines, +some of which are fully 2 in. long, very strong and needle-like. Flowers +2½ in. in diameter, sulphur-yellow, tinged with purple, produced in +August and September. Fruit 2½ in. long and 1 in. thick, covered with +cushions of bristles and spines. A native of Mexico, on dry, sandy +soils, where its prostrate stems, clothed with powerful spines, form a +hiding-place for the small animals, snakes, &c. Stove or warm greenhouse +treatment is best for this species. + +O. Engelmanni (Engelmann's).--A stout, coarse-looking plant, 6 ft. high, +with woody stems and large, flat, green joints, 1 ft. long and 9 in. in +diameter. Cushions 1½ in. apart, composed of coarse bristles, and one or +two spines over 1 in. long, and pointing downwards. Flowers 3 in. in +diameter, yellow, produced in May and June. Fruit nearly round, 2 in. +long, purplish both in rind and pulp, the latter rather nauseous to the +taste. Mexico. This is a greenhouse plant which grows freely and flowers +annually under cultivation. It is very similar to O. monacantha, a much +better known species. According to American botanists, it is probably +the most widely spread of the whole Cactus tribe. + +O. Ficus-indica (Indian Fig); Fig. 80.--Branches erect, 8 ft. to 12 ft. +high; joints flat, oval or obovate, about 1 ft. long by 3 in. in width, +and 1 in. in thickness. Stems hard and woody with age. Cushions 1½ in. +apart, composed of short, yellowish bristles, and very rarely one spine. +Flowers 3 in. to 4 in. across, sulphur-yellow, produced all through the +summer. Fruit 3 in. to 4 in. long, pear-shaped, covered with tufts of +bristles, white, yellow, or red when ripe. It is a native of Central +America, whence it was introduced about 300 years ago. It is now widely +spread, in tropical and temperate regions all over the world. In many +parts it is cultivated for the sake of its fruits, which in some of our +colonies are used for dessert. In England it must be protected from damp +and cold; it is, therefore, best cultivated in a sunny greenhouse during +winter, and placed outside in a position exposed to full sunshine all +summer. Tenore, an Italian botanist, named this species O. vulgaris, and +this mistake has led others to consider the North American O. vulgaris +(true) and O. Ficus-indica as one and the same species. + +[Illustration: FIG. 80. FRUITING BRANCH OF OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA.] + +O. filipendula (hanging filaments); Fig. 81.--Stems prostrate, about +1 ft. high, spreading; joints flat, round or oval, about 3 in. long, often +less, milky-green in colour. Cushions ½ in. apart, composed of a little +tuft of white woolly hair, a cluster of erect, rather long bristles, +like a small shaving-brush, and all pointing upwards; spines usually +only one in each cushion, and this is slender, deflexed, white, and from +1 in. to 2 in. long. Sometimes the joints are wholly spineless. Flowers +2½ in. in diameter, purplish, very handsome, produced in May and June. +Fruit not known. The roots of this species bear tubers often 1 in. in +thickness, and several inches in length, and these tubers will grow into +plants if severed and planted. It requires stove treatment. Native +country, Mexico. + +[Illustration: FIG. 81. OPUNTIA FILIPENDULA.] + +O. frutescens (shrubby).--A thin-stemmed, copiously-branched species. +Joints almost continuous, like ordinary branches, from 2 in. to 6 in. +long, the thickest not exceeding ¼ in. Cushions on raised points or +tubercles, each consisting of a small tuft of hair, inclosed in a row of +bristles, and one long, central spine, often exceeding 2 in. in length. +When young, the spines are inclosed in a thin, bony sheath. Flowers +scattered along the younger branches, 1 in. across, greenish-yellow, +borne in June. Fruit 1 in. long, pear-shaped, smooth, scarlet, with tufts +of bristles all over it, and a depression in the apex. Mexico. This +forms an interesting pot-plant when properly cultivated. It should be +grown in a warm greenhouse. + +O. Grahami (Graham's).--This is one of several species of Opuntia which +are remarkable in having thick, fleshy roots, not unlike those of the +Dahlia. The joints are 2 in. long and 1 in. in diameter, cylindrical, with +adpressed tubercles, ½ in. or more long, each tubercle bearing a tuft of +long, straight, radiating spines. Flowers 2 in. across, yellow, borne on +the ends of the ripened joints in June. Fruits 1½ in. long and ¾ in. wide, +covered with stellate clusters of short, bristle-like spines. This plant +is a native of Mexico, and is a recent introduction. From the nature of +its roots, which are no doubt intended to serve as reservoirs for times +of extreme drought, it should be grown in well-drained, sandy soil, and +kept quite dry all winter. It requires stove treatment. + +O. horrida (horrid).--An erect, stout-stemmed plant, with flattened, +green joints, about 5 in. long by 3 in. wide. Cushions 1 in. apart, +composed of short, reddish bristles, and long, tawny red spines, about +eight in each cushion, and of a peculiarly ferocious appearance--hence +the specific name. The stoutest spines are 3 in. long, and are sharp and +strong as needles. This species (which is probably a native of Mexico) +is deserving of a place in collections of Cactuses because of the +character of its spines. Probably it is only a variety of O. Tuna. It +requires warm-house treatment. + +O. hystricina (porcupine-like).--This beautiful species was discovered +in the San Francisco Mountains mixed with O. missouriensis, to which it +is nearly allied. It is spreading in habit, the joints 3 in. to 4 in. long +and broad; cushions ½ in. apart, rather large, with numerous spines, +varying in length from ½ in. to 4 in., and short, yellowish bristles. +Flowers large, yellow. Fruit 1 in., long, spiny. This plant is not known +in English collections, but it is described by American botanists as +being attractive and a free grower. As it is found along with O. +missouriensis, it ought to prove hardy in England. + +O. leptocaulis (slender-stemmed).--This little Mexican species is +chiefly remarkable for its fragile, numerous, twig-like joints, thickly +dotted with tubercles and numerous spirally-arranged cushions of reddish +bristles, with long, grey spines. It does not flower under cultivation. +Requires stove treatment. + +O. leucotricha (white-haired).--An erect-stemmed kind, with flattened +joints, ovate or oblong in shape, and bearing numerous cushions, ½ in. +apart, of short bristles, with a large, central spine, and a few others +rather shorter. When young these spines are rigid and needle-like; but +as they get older they increase in length, and become soft, and curled +like stiff, white hair. Young plants are noticeable for their small, +subulate leaves of a bright red colour, whilst old examples are almost +as interesting as the Old Man Cactus (Pilocereus senilis), the long, +white, hair-like spines of the Opuntia hanging from the older joints in +much the same manner as they do from the upper part of the stem of the +Pilocereus. Flowers yellow, produced in June. This species is a native +of Mexico, and requires stove treatment. Seeds of this, and, indeed, of +a large proportion of the cultivated Opuntias, may be procured from +seedsmen, and as they germinate quickly, and soon produce handsome +little plants, a collection of Opuntias is thus very easily obtained. + +O. macrocentra (large-spurred).--A flat-jointed species, growing to a +height of 3 ft.; the joints large, almost circular, thinly compressed, +and usually purplish in colour. Cushions about 1 in. apart, with spines +often 3 in. long, of a greyish colour, and generally pointing downwards. +Flowers 3 in. across, bright yellow; they are developed in May and June, +on the upper edges of the youngest joints. This plant is a native of +Mexico; it is at present rare, but the unusual colour of the joints, its +compact, freely-branched habit, the extraordinary length of its spines, +and the size of its flowers, ought to win for it many admirers. It is +easily grown if kept in an intermediate house. Plants of it may be seen +in the Kew collection. + +O. macrorhiza (large-rooted); Figs. 82, 83.--In this Texan species we +have a combination of the principal characters for which the genus +Opuntia is remarkable: The thick, fleshy roots, which are a supposed +source of food, and which look like potatoes; the cylinder-shaped older +stems, and the flattened, battledore-like joints; the tufts of bristles +on the stems, and deciduous, longer spines on the joints; the large, +beautiful, yellow flowers; and the small leaves on the newly-formed +joints. In habit and flowers this kind resembles O. Rafinesquii; and if +not quite hardy in England, it is nevertheless sufficiently so to thrive +in any sunny position where it would be protected from frost and +excessive wet. The accompanying illustrations represent the characters +of this species so well that further description is not needed. The +flowers are developed in early summer. + +[Illustration: FIG. 82. FLOWERING BRANCHES OF OPUNTIA MACRORHIZA.] + +[Illustration: FIG. 83. ROOTS OF OPUNTIA MACRORHIZA.] + +O. microdasys (small, thick).--This is a handsome little Mexican plant. +Its flattened joints, which are nearly circular in outline, are thickly +covered with little cushions of bright orange-yellow bristles, the +cushions being so close together that the short bristles almost hide the +green joints from view. The stems are semi-decumbent, and they branch +somewhat freely. Flowers not seen. It thrives in a warm greenhouse +temperature. The best examples of this pretty Opuntia are grafted on a +robust-growing kind, the stock being about 1 ft. long, and the scion +forming a compact head of pretty, healthy-looking joints. Treated in +this way, this species is most interesting and attractive. It may also +be grown on its own roots. There is a variety of it, named rufida, in +which the bristles are reddish-brown. + +O. missouriensis (Missouri).--A stout, prostrate kind, forming large, +spreading masses under favourable conditions. Joints broad, flattened, +obovate, about 4 in. long by 2 in. wide, light green; spine-cushions less +than 1 in. apart, and composed of numerous small, white spines, with from +one to four longer ones; these latter fall away when the joints get old. +Leaves very short, with a little wool about their bases. Flowers 3 in. in +diameter, appearing from May onwards; petals yellow, dashed with rose, +sometimes wholly rose-coloured or brick-red. Stamens deep red; pistil +yellow, with a conical stigma. Fruit nearly round, spiny, about 2 in. +long. A native of Wisconsin, and westward to the San Francisco +Mountains; introduced in 1814. This species is as hardy as O. +Rafinesquii, and thrives under similar treatment. It has stood 22 degs. +of frost without suffering, requiring only protection from rain in +winter. In North America it forms large, spreading masses on gravelly +hillsides, and is much dreaded by travellers, and especially by horses; +there it is usually covered with snow from Christmas to the following +May. + +O. monacantha (one-spined).--A tall, robust plant, not unlike O. +Dillenii in general habit. It has flat, large joints, oblong or ovate in +outline, rather thinly compressed, and bearing grey cushions over 1 in. +apart, with a solitary spine, 1½ in. long, springing from the centre of +each cushion, and pointing downwards. Flowers sulphur-yellow, 2½ in. +across, borne on the last-ripened joints in May, and abundant on +well-grown plants. Fruits ovate, 2 in. long, green, with tufts of short, +brown bristles; pulp edible. The species is a native of Brazil, but is +now common in many tropical and sub-tropical countries. It is a +free-growing kind, soon forming a large specimen if planted in a bed of +old brick-rubble, or other light, well-drained soil, and kept in warm +greenhouse temperature. + +O. nigricans (blackish); Bot. Mag. 1557.--Stem stout, erect, becoming +hard and woody when old. Joints flat, oval in outline, 5 in. to 8 in. long. +Cushions 1½ in. apart, composed of short reddish-brown bristles and two +or three long stout spines, which are yellow when young, but almost +black when ripe. Flowers produced on the young, ripened joints, +orange-red, about 3 in. across and developed in August and September. +Fruit pear-shaped, rich crimson when ripe. Introduced from Brazil in +1795. This well-marked species thrives in a warm greenhouse. It branches +freely, and has a healthy aspect at all times. It is represented at Kew +by very large specimens; one of them, which was recently cut down, had a +stem 12 ft. high and an enormous head of dark, green joints. Its head was +planted as a cutting. + +O. occidentalis (Western).--Stem stout, woody, with innumerable +branches, wide-spreading, often bent to the ground. Joints 9 in. to 12 in. +long by about 6 in. broad, flattened, as many as 100 on one plant. +Cushions nearly 2 in. apart, with small, closely-set bristles and +straight spines from ½ in. to l½ in. long. Flowers produced in June on the +ripened joints, nearly 4 in. in diameter, orange-yellow. Fruit 2 in. long, +"very juicy, but of a sour and disagreeable taste." This is an +exceptionally fine plant when allowed sufficient space to develop its +enormous branches and joints; it is a native of the Western slopes of +the Californian mountains. It should be planted in a bed of rough, stony +soil, in a dry greenhouse. Possibly it is hardy, but it does not appear +to have been grown out of doors in England. + +O. Parmentieri (Parmentier's).--Stem erect. Joints cylindrical, "like +little cucumbers." Cushions about 1 in. apart, arranged in spiral rows, +and composed of short, reddish bristles, with two or three +straw-coloured spines, 1 in. long. Flowers reddish, small. The plant is a +native of Paraguay, and is rarely heard of in cultivation. It requires +stove treatment. + +O. Parryi (Parry's).--Stem short. Joints club-shaped, 4 in. to 6 in. +long, very spiny, the cushions elevated on ridge-like tubercles. +Bristles few, coarse, and long. Spines very numerous, varying in length +from ¼ in. to 1½ in.; central one in each cushion much the broadest, and +flattened like a knife-blade, the others being more or less triangular. +Flowers yellowish-green, on the terminal joints, which are clothed with +star-shaped clusters of bristle-like spines, the flowers springing from +the apex of the joint, and measuring 1½ in. across. A native of Mexico, +where it grows on gravelly plains. This distinct plant is in cultivation +at Kew, in a warm greenhouse, but it has not yet flowered. + +O. Rafinesquii (Rafinesque's); Fig. 84.--A low, prostrate, spreading +plant, seldom exceeding 1 ft. in height, the main branches keeping along +the ground, the younger ones being erect. The latter are composed of +flat, obovate joints, 4 in. to 5 in. long by 3 in. in width, fresh green in +colour; spines very few, mostly only on the upper edge of the last-made +joints, single, or sometimes two or three from each spine-cushion, 1 in. +long, straight, whitish, soon falling off; cushion composed of very fine +reddish bristles and whitish wool; leaves very small, falling early. The +branches become cylindrical and woody with age. Flowers 2 in. to 4 in. in +diameter, bright sulphur-yellow, with a reddish tint in the centre; in +form they are like a shallow cup, the numerous stamens occupying the +middle. They are produced in great abundance on the margins of the +youngest joints, as many as fifty open flowers having been counted on a +single specimen at one time. Fruit pear-shaped, 1½ in. to 2 in. long, +naked, edible, somewhat acid and sweetish. The flowering season is from +July to September; the native country, Wisconsin to Kentucky, and +westward to Arkansas and Missouri. This species, introduced about twenty +years ago, has only recently been brought prominently before English +gardeners. It is a very ornamental and interesting plant for outdoor +cultivation, and when once established gives no trouble. For the first +year or two after planting it requires watching, as, until the basal +joints harden and become woody, they are liable to rot in wet weather. A +large-flowered form, known as grandiflora, is cultivated in American +gardens. + +[Illustration: FIG. 84. OPUNTIA RAFINESQUII.] + +O. rosea (rose-coloured); Fig. 85.--Stem erect, branching freely. +Joints varying in length from 2 in. to 6 in., not flattened, with +ridge-like tubercles, bearing on their points small cushions of very +fine bristles and tufts of pale yellowish spines about ½ in. long, and +all pointing upwards. Flowers on the ends of the ripened growths of the +year, usually clustered, 2 in. across, bright rose-coloured; they are +developed in June. A rare species from Brazil, and one which, as the +illustration shows, is both distinct and handsome enough to be classed +amongst the most select. It requires a stove temperature. + +[Illustration: FIG. 85. OPUNTIA ROSEA.] + +O. Salmiana (Prince Salm-Dyck's).--Stem erect, branching freely, the +branches at right angles to the stem. Joints from 1 in. to 6 in. long, +cylindrical, smooth, ½ in. in diameter, clothed with small cushions of +soft, short bristles, and one or two longish spines. Flowers produced in +September, 2 in. across, yellow, streaked with red, of short duration. +Fruit egg-shaped, 1 in. long, crimson. This species is a native of +Brazil, whence it was introduced in 1850. It requires to be grown in an +intermediate house. It is a charming little Cactus, and quite +exceptional among Opuntias in the colour and abundance of its flowers, +and in the rich colour of its numerous fruits, which usually remain on +the plant several months. The plant, too, has the merit of keeping dwarf +and compact. The small joints separate very easily from the branches, +and every one of them will root and grow into a plant. There is +something very remarkable in the development of the fruits of this kind. +A small branch, or joint, grows to its full length, and a flower-bud +appears in the apex. If examined at this stage, it will be seen that the +ovary occupies only a very shallow cavity in the top of the branch. +After flowering, this ovary grows into the branch, and ultimately the +whole branch is transformed into a pulpy fruit, with the seeds scattered +all through the pulp. This peculiarity is well shown in O. salmiana, and +the development of the fruit can be very easily watched. Many of the +small branches do not flower, although they change to a red colour like +the fruits. + +O. spinosissima (very spiny).--Stem erect, woody. Joints very flat and +thin, deep green, ovate or rotund, from 6 in. to 1 ft. long. Cushions 1 in. +apart. Bristles very short. Spines in clusters of about five, the +longest 2 in. in length, brownish-yellow. Flowers reddish-orange, small, +usually only 2 in. across, produced in June. A native of South America; +naturalised in many parts of the Old World. The stem becomes cylindrical +with age, and sometimes is devoid of branches for about 5 ft. from the +ground. The plant requires stove treatment. Probably this kind is only a +form of O. Tuna. + +O. subulata (awl-shaped).--Stem erect, cylindrical, even below, +channelled and tubercled above, about 2 in. in diameter. Joints long and +branch-like, with tufts of short, white hair on the apices of the +tubercles, and one or two white, needle-like spines from ½ in. to 1 in. +long. At the base of each tuft, from the apex to 1 ft. or more down the +younger branches, there is a fleshy, green, awl-shaped leaf, from 2 in. +to 5 in. long. Ultimately the leaves and spines fall away, the tubercles +are levelled down, and the mature stem is regular and cylindrical, with +tufts of white setae scattered over it. Flowers small, produced in +spring; sepals 2 in. long, green, deciduous; petals small, dull purple, +usually about eight in each flower. Fruit pear-shaped, 4 in. long; seeds +very large, nearly ½ in. long and wide. This handsome South American +species was the subject of an interesting communication to the +Gardeners' Chronicle, in 1884, from Dr. Engelmann. It had previously +been known as a Pereskia from the fact of its leaves being persistent +and very large. In its leaves, flowers, and seeds, O. subulata is one of +the most interesting of the genus. It is easily grown in a warm +greenhouse, and deserves a place in all collections of Cactuses. + +O. Tuna (native name); Fig. 86.--An erect-stemmed, flat-jointed, +robust-growing species. Joints ovate, 4 in. to 9 in. long, with cushions +1 in. apart, composed of short, fulvous bristles, and several long, +needle-shaped, unequal, yellowish spines. Flowers borne on the upper +edges of the last-ripened joints, 3 in. across, reddish-orange, produced +in July. Fruit rich carmine, about 3 in. long, pear-shaped. The plant is +a native of the West Indies, &c., and was introduced in 1731. It has +already been stated, under O. spinosissima, that there is a close +similarity between that species and O. Tuna. We suspect, also, that O. +nigricans is another near relation of these two. They are much alike in +all characters, and they require the same treatment. O. Tuna has been +seen as much as 20 ft. in height. + +[Illustration: FIG. 86. OPUNTIA TUNA.] + +O. tunicata (coated-spined).--Stem sub-erect, cylindrical. Joints +club-shaped, variable in length, about 2 in. in diameter. When young the +surface is broken up into numerous oblong tubercles, each bearing a +small cushion of whitish, short hairs, and about half a dozen white +spines, unequal in length, the longest stout, and inclosed in a hard +sheath, which becomes broken and ragged when old. Flowers not known. A +native of Mexico, and introduced in 1840. It requires stove treatment. + +O. vulgaris (common); Bot. Mag. 2393.--A low, prostrate, spreading +plant. Joints short, oval, flattened, thicker than in O. missouriensis, +3 in. long by about 2 in. broad. Spine-cushions ¾ in. apart; tufts very +small, with, occasionally, a long spine. Leaves fleshy, very small. +Flowers 2 in. across, pale sulphur-yellow. Fruits nearly smooth, 1½ in. +long, brown when ripe, with a strong disagreeable odour. The flowers are +produced freely in June. The plant grows wild in Mexico, and extends up +to New York, usually near the coast. It is now common in many parts of +Europe, where it has become naturalised. In Madeira it has taken +possession of all waste land, and is perfectly at home there. In England +it was cultivated by Gerard nearly 300 years ago. It grows rapidly if +planted in stony soil, in a position exposed to full sunshine, where it +will creep along the ground, and root all along its stems, which rarely +get elevated more than 6 in. from the ground. This species and O. +Ficus-indica are confused by some authors, owing, no doubt, to the name +O. vulgaris having been given by a botanist to the latter, which is a +much larger and very different-looking plant. O. vulgaris is capable of +withstanding our winters out of doors. + +O. Whipplei (Captain Whipple's).--Stem usually prostrate, with slender, +elongated branches, which are cylindrical when old, broken up into short +joints when young. Joints varying in length from 2 in. to 1 ft., less than +1 in. in diameter. Cushions small, round. Spines white, variable in +number, and arranged in tufts on the ends of the tubercles, one being +1 in. long, the others shorter. Flowers nearly 2 in. in diameter, red, +borne in a cluster on the ends of the last-ripened joints in June. Fruit +1 in. long, with a cavity in the top. A compact, Mexican species, with +crowded branches, and very free-flowering. It requires stove treatment. +O. Whipplei is related to O. arborescens, from which, however, it is +easily distinguished by the latter having a stout central spine and +numerous radiating ones. + +Of the 150 species of Opuntia known, about one-third have been selected +for description here, and amongst these will be found all the +best-marked kinds in the genus, and most of those of which we have any +knowledge. Botanists find good specific characters in the size and +structure of the seeds, in the character of the fruits, &c.; but for +horticultural purposes these are of little or no value. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE GENUS PERESKIA. + +(Named in honour of Nicholas F. Peresk, a botanist of Provence.) + + +The thirteen species included in the genus Pereskia differ so markedly +from all other kinds of Cactus, that at first sight one can scarcely +believe they are true Cactuses, closely related to Cereus and +Epiphyllum. They have erect or trailing stems and branches, and usually +form dense, large bushes; the branches are woody and thin, and bear +large, laurel-like leaves, which remain on the plants several years--so +that they may be termed evergreen. They have, however, the +spine-cushions, the tufts of woolly hair and stout spines, and the +floral characters which distinguish Cactuses from other plants; they are +also succulent, the leaves and young branches being soft and fleshy. +They appear to have the same peculiar provision for enabling them to +bear long periods of drought without suffering that characterises the +more familiar forms of Cactuses. The development of the spines in this +genus is different from what takes place in all other spiny plants of +this order. In the latter the spines are stoutest and most numerous on +the younger parts of the plant, the older or woody parts being either +spineless, through having cast them, or much less spiny than when they +were younger. Thus, in Opuntia we find few or no spines on the old parts +of the stems of even such species as O. horrida, O. nigricans, &c. In +Echinocactus, too, the spines about the base of old plants are much +fewer, if not entirely cast off, than on the upper part. In Pereskia the +contrary is the case. Taking P. aculeata as an example, this is best +known in gardens as having branches about as thick as a goose-quill, +with ovate leaves, at the base of which there is a pair of curved +spines, ¼ in. long, and shaped like cats' claws. But this plant when it +gets old has a stem 3 in. in diameter, and clothed down to the ground +with cushions of spines fixed firmly in the bark, each cushion composed +of from twenty to fifty spines, and each spine 1 in. or more in length. +From two to six new spines are developed in the centre of each healthy +cushion annually. It would be absolutely impossible for any animal to +climb an old stem of a Pereskia. In P. Bleo the spines are 2 in. long, +and the cushions are much larger. + +The flowers of Pereskias are borne singly or in panicles, at the ends of +the young, ripened branches. In shape, each flower may be compared to a +single Rose, the petals being flat and spreading, and the numerous +stamens forming a compact cluster in the centre. The stigma is erect, +and divided at the top into four or more rays. The fruit is a berry +shaped like a Gooseberry, and covered with minute clusters of short +bristles. + +All the species are found in tropical America and the West Indies. + +Cultivation.--Although several of the kinds of Pereskia are +sufficiently ornamental to be deserving of a place in gardens as +flowering plants, yet they are rarely cultivated--in England, at least +--for any other purpose than that of forming stocks upon which +Epiphyllums and other Cacti are grafted. Only two species are used, +viz., P. aculeata and P. Bleo, the former being much the more popular of +the two; whilst P. Bleo, on account of the stoutness of its stems, is +employed for only the most robust kinds of grafts. + +Propagation.--Both the above-named species may be propagated to any +extent, as every bit of branch with a leaf and eye attached is capable +of rooting and soon forming a stock. The practice among those who use +Pereskias as stocks for Epiphyllums is as follows: Cuttings of P. +aculeata are planted in sandy soil, in boxes, and placed on a shelf in a +stove till rooted. In about a month they are ready to be planted singly +in 3 in. pots, any light soil being used; and each plant is fastened to a +stake 1 ft. long. They are kept in a warm, moist house, all lateral +shoots being cut away, and the leader encouraged to grow as tall as +possible in the year. From December the plants are kept dry to induce +the wood to ripen, preparatory to their being used for grafting in +February. Stocks 9 in. or 1 ft. high are thus formed. If taller stocks are +required, the plants must be grown on till of the required length and +firmness. Large plants may be trained against a wall or along the +rafters in a warm house; and when of the required size, the branches may +be spurred back, and Epiphyllums, slender Cereuses, and similar plants, +grafted upon them. In this way very fine masses of the latter may be +obtained in much less time than if they were grown from small plants. + +SPECIES. + +P. aculeata (prickly); West Indian or Barbados Gooseberry.--Stem woody, +more or less erect, branching freely, and forming a dense bush about +6 ft. high. Young branches leafy; old ones brown, leafless, clothed with +large cushions of long, stout, brown spines, sometimes 2 in. in length. +Leaves alternate, with very short petioles, at the base of which is a +pair of short spines, and a small tuft of wool in the axil; blade 3 in. +long by 2 in. broad, soft, fleshy, shining green. Flowers +semi-transparent, white, in terminal panicles; sepals and petals ¾ in. +long by ¼ in. wide; stamens in a large, spreading cluster, white, with +yellow anthers. Ovary covered with small cushions of short bristles, +with sometimes a solitary spine in the centre of each cushion. Fruit +1 in. long, egg-shaped, red, edible. There is a large plant of this in +the Succulent House at Kew which flowers almost annually, but it has +never ripened fruits. In the West Indies it is a very common shrub, +whilst at the Cape of Good Hope it is used for fences--and a capital +one it makes. + +P. a. rubescens (reddish).--This variety has narrower, longer leaves, +which are glaucous-green above and tinged with red below; the spines on +the old stems are shorter and more numerous in each cushion. This +requires the same treatment as the type. + +P. Bleo (native name); Fig. 87.--A stout, branching shrub, having an +erect stem, 3 in. or more in diameter, with green bark and very large +cushions of spines; cushion a round, hard mass of short, woolly hair, +from which the spines--about fifty in each cushion--radiate in all +directions; longest spines 2 in. or more in length; one or two new ones +are developed annually, and these are bright red when young, almost +black when ripe; young branches ¼ in. to ½ in. in diameter. Leaves ½ in. +apart, 3 in. to 6 in. long by 1 in. to 2 in. wide, oblong, pointed, with +short petioles, and a small tuft of short, brown hair, with three or +more reddish spines, in the axil of each. Flowers on the ends of the +young, ripened branches, clustered in the upper leaf-axils, each flower +2 in. across, and composed of a regular circle of rosy-red petals, with a +cluster of whitish stamens in the centre. They remain on the plant +several weeks. Native of New Grenada. Probably P. grandiflora is the +same as this, or a slightly different form of it. A large specimen may +be obtained in a year or two by planting it in a well-drained bed of +loam, in a warm, sunny house. It blossoms almost all summer if allowed +to make strong growth. Pretty little flowering plants may be had by +taking ripened growths from an old plant, and treating them as cuttings +till rooted. In the following spring they are almost certain to produce +flowers. Plants 1 ft. high, bearing a cluster of flowers, are thus +annually obtained at Kew. Fig. 87 represents a short, stunted branch, +probably from a specimen grown in a pot. When planted out, the leaves +and spine-cushions are farther apart. + +[Illustration: FIG. 87. PERESKIA BLEO.] + +P. zinniaeflora (Zinnia-flowered); Fig. 88.--Stem erect, woody, +branching freely, the branches bearing oval, acuminate, fleshy, +wavy-edged, green leaves, with short petioles, and a pair of spines in +the axil of each. Spine-cushions on old stems crowded with stout, brown +spines. Flowers rosy-red, terminal on the ripened young shoots, and +composed of a whorl of broad, overlapping petals, with a cluster of +stamens in the centre, the whole measuring nearly 2 in. across. This +species is a native of Mexico; it grows and flowers freely if kept in a +warm house. + +[Illustration: FIG. 88. PERESKIA ZINNIAEFLORA.] + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE GENUS RHIPSALIS. + +(From rhips, a willow-branch; referring to the flexible, wand-like +branches of some of the kinds.) + + +About thirty species of Rhipsalis are known, most of them more peculiar +than ornamental, although everyone is in some way interesting. They are +remarkable for the great variety in form and habit presented by the +different kinds, some of them much less resembling Cactuses than other +plants. Thus, in R. Cassytha, the long, fleshy, whip-like branches and +white berries are very similar to Mistletoe; R. salicornoides, with its +leafless, knotty branches, resembles a Salicornia, or Marsh Samphire; +another is like a Mesembryanthemum; and so on. The flowers are usually +small, and composed of numerous linear sepals and petals, arranged more +or less like a star, with a cluster of thin stamens in the centre, and +an erect, rayed stigma. In the flat-jointed kinds, the flowers are +developed singly, in notches along the margins of the young, ripened +joints; in the knotted, Samphire-like kinds, they are borne on the ends +of the branches; and in those with short, fleshy, leaf-like joints, they +are usually placed on what appear to be flower-joints. Although the +branches of these plants are usually altogether unlike the rest of the +Order, yet occasionally they develop joints which are furrowed, and bear +clusters of spines exactly as in the commoner forms of Cactuses. + +The geographical distribution of Rhipsalis is exceptional. It is the +only genus of Cactuses that has representatives in the Old World, +excluding, of course, those which have been introduced by man. The bulk +of the kinds of Rhipsalis occur in Central and South America, and the +West Indies; but one--viz., R. Cassytha--is also found in Africa, +Mauritius, Madagascar, and Ceylon, as well as in tropical America. +Several other species are found in Madagascar, some of them only recent +discoveries. The occurrence of similar or even identical plants in +tropical America and Madagascar has its analogy in the Animal Kingdom as +represented in the two countries. + +Cultivation.--All the species appear to grow well and flower freely +under cultivation, the slowest grower being, perhaps, R. sarmentacea. In +their natural homes they are invariably found either on trees or rocks, +seldom or never on the ground; but in greenhouses they may be grown in +pots, a few being happiest when suspended near the glass. They do not +like bright sunshine, nor should they be kept in a very shaded, moist +position. There is a good collection of kinds in the Succulent-house at +Kew. + +Propagation.--Seeds of Rhipsalis ripen freely, and these, if sown on +sandy soil, and placed on a shelf in a warm house, germinate in a few +days. The development of the seedlings is exceptionally interesting, as +the vegetative organs of all the kinds are very similar, and +Cactus-like; the gradual transition from this character to the diverse +forms which many of the species assume when mature is quite phenomenal. +Cuttings will strike at almost any time, if planted in sandy soil and +kept in a close, warm house till rooted. Some of the kinds thrive best +when grafted on to a thin-stemmed Cereus. Treated in this way, R. +sarmentacea makes 6 in. of growth in a season; whereas, on its own roots +it would take about five years to grow as much. + +The following is a selection of the species cultivated in gardens. The +genus Lepismium is now included in Rhipsalis. + +SPECIES. + +R. Cassytha (derivation not known).--A pendent shrub, 4 ft. or more +high, growing on rocks and the mossy trunks of trees. Branches numerous, +flexuous, with small branchlets or joints springing from the ends in +clusters, smooth, round, the thickness of whipcord, leafless, with +numerous brown, dot-like marks scattered over the surface; under a lens +these dots are seen to be tufts of very fine hairs. Flowers on the sides +of the young branches, small, greenish-white, short-lived; they are +developed in September, and are succeeded by white berries, exactly like +those of the Mistletoe, whence the name Mistletoe Cactus, by which this +species is known. An interesting and easily-grown warm greenhouse plant, +native of tropical America, Africa, &c. It was introduced in 1758. + +R. commune (common); Bot. Mag. 3763.--Stem straggling, branching +freely, growing to a length of several feet. Branches jointed; joints +varying in length, triangular, the angles compressed, and notched along +the margins; notches regular, and bearing tufts of whitish hair. Strong +plants produce joints over 1 in. in width. Flowers white, tinged with +purple, springing singly from the notches, and composed of eight to +twelve sepals and petals. Stamens and stigma erect, white, the latter +four-rayed. This species is a native of Brazil, and was introduced in +1830; Flowering-season, October to December. It may be grown in a warm +greenhouse, and treated as a basket-plant or as a small pot-shrub. Syn. +Lepismium commune. + +R. crispata (curled).--Stem branching freely. Branches jointed and +flat, like Epiphyllum. Margins of joints notched, and slightly curled. +Flowers small, white, produced singly, in November and December, in the +notches on the younger joints. Fruits white, pea-like, rather rarely +ripened. A free-growing, compact stove shrub, with a bright green, +healthy appearance. The similarity of its branches to Epiphyllum led to +its being included in that genus by Haworth. + +R. c. purpurea (purple).--This variety has larger, broader joints, +which are bronzy-purple in colour. + +R. fasciculata (cluster-branched); Bot. Mag. 3079.--Stems terete, as +thick as a goose-quill. Branches usually in clusters, and sometimes +jointed, green, with small red dots and little tufts of fine, hair-like +bristles. Flowers white, produced in March, springing irregularly from +the older branches, small, star-like. Fruit a white berry. From its +habit of growing on trees, and the character of its stems and fruit, +this plant has been called parasitical. It is, however, only indebted to +the tree on which is grows for moisture, for it thrives if planted in a +pot or basket in ordinary soil, and kept in a stove temperature. It is a +native of Brazil, and was introduced in 1831. + +R. floccosa (woolly).--Stems as in R. Cassytha, but thicker, longer, +and with the branchlets in compact clusters on the ends of the long, +arching branches. The dots marking the position of the microscopic +hair-tufts are in small depressions. Flowers and fruit as in R. +Cassytha, of which this might reasonably be called a variety. This +species requires warm-house temperature. + +R. funalis (cord-like); Fig. 89.--Stem straggling, branched. Branches +numerous, composed of long, terete joints, rather thicker than a +goose-quill, glaucous-green, slightly roughened on the surface, with +depressions for the dot-like cushions. Branchlets usually fascicled and +spreading. Flowers white, produced in spring, on the sides of the young +joints, 1 in. across, large for the genus. Introduced from Central +America about 1830. An easily-grown plant, sturdy, rather straggling, +but very free-flowering. In old specimens the branches become +semi-pendulous. It grows best when kept in a warm house. Syn. R. +grandiflora. + +[Illustration: FIG. 89. RHIPSALIS FUNALIS.] + +R. Houlletii (Houllet's); Bot. Mag. 6089.--Stems long, graceful, +branching freely, round and twig-like, or with broad wings, as in +Phyllocactus. Winged or flattened portions notched, and bearing a flower +in each notch. Flowers stalkless, with pointed, straw-coloured petals, +forming a shallow cup about ¾ in. across the top. Stamens and pistil +white, with a tinge of red at the base. Flowering-season, November. +Under cultivation, this Brazilian species forms a small, straggling +shrub, about 3 ft. high, but in its native woods its stems are many feet +long, and pendulous from the branches of trees. It may be grown in a +warm house, in a pot, and its branches supported by a stake; or its +lower stems may be fastened against a piece of soft fern-stem, into +which its numerous stem-roots penetrate freely. In the winter it should +be kept almost dry. The flowers remain fresh for several days, and are +fragrant. A well-grown plant, when in flower, is an interesting and +pretty object. It is the most ornamental kind. + +R. Knightii (Knight's).--Stems and joints as in R. commune. Wings of +joints usually broad, with red margins, and the hair in the notches in a +dense tuft, nearly 1 in. long, pure white, and silk-like. Flowers small, +white. This species, which thrives best under warm-house treatment, is a +native of Brazil, and is usually grown only for its curious, Cereus-like +stems. It forms a straggling plant about 1 ft. high. Syn. Lepismium +Knightii, Cereus Knightii. + +R. mesembryanthemoides (Mesembryanthemum-like); Bot. Mag. 3O78.--A +small, compact plant, with woody stems, densely covered with little +fleshy, conical joints, resembling very closely the leaves of some of +the Mesembryanthemums. They are green, with a few red dots, each bearing +a very small tuft of the finest hair-like spines. The flowers are +developed in March, from the sides of the small joints; they are ½ in. +across, and yellowish-white. Fruit a small, white, round berry. Native +of South America, whence it was introduced in 1831. When grown in a warm +house, in a small, round, wire basket, filled with peat and sphagnum, +this little Cactus forms a pretty tuft, which in the spring produces +large numbers of white, star-like flowers. + +R. myosurus (mouse-tailed); Bot. Mag. 3755.--Stems dependent, several +feet long, branching freely, jointed, with three or four angles or +wings; the angles flattened, reddish, notched in the margin, and bearing +a tuft of white, silky hairs in each notch. Flowers small, yellow, +tinged with red, springing from the notches; produced in July. Fruit not +seen. A native of Brazil; introduced in 1839. This species resembles +some of the angular-stemmed kinds of Cereus. It grows freely and flowers +annually, if planted in a basket of fibrous soil, and suspended near the +glass in a warm greenhouse or stove. It is attractive even when not in +flower, owing to the form of its stems and the tufts of long, silky, +white hair which spring from the notches. Syn. Lepismium myosurus. + +R. pachyptera (thick-winged); Bot. Mag. 2820.--Stem woody; branches +jointed, flattened as in Phyllocactus, with deep notches; width of +joints, 2 in. or more. Flowers small, yellowish-white, borne singly in +the notches in November. Fruit a small, white berry, rarely ripened. A +sturdy, comparatively uninteresting stove plant, introduced from Brazil +in 1830. Syn. Cactus alatus. + +R. paradoxa (paradoxical).--Stems trailing, with numerous long branches +of most extraordinary form. Imagine a three-angled, fleshy branch, often +several feet in length, the angles winged, about ½ in. deep, green, with +smooth, reddish margins. At intervals of about 2 in. the branch has the +appearance of having been twisted half round. There is no other plant +with branches anything like these. Flowers produced in November, in the +apex of the interrupted angles, small, white. Fruit seldom ripened. A +native of Brazil, whence it was introduced in 1837. There is a fine +example of this trained along a rafter in the Succulent-house at Kew. +The numerous branches hang down several feet from the rafter, and have a +most extraordinary appearance. This species requires stove treatment. + +R. penduliflora (pendulous-flowered).--A small, thin-stemmed plant, +with smooth, green branches, no thicker than whipcord, and numerous +fascicled or clustered, small joints, ½ in. long, green, with red dots, +angular when young. Flowers on the tips of the terminal joints, pale +yellow, ½ in. across, developing in August. Fruit white, Mistletoe-like. +This species was introduced from tropical America in 1877, and requires +stove treatment. + +R. p. laxa (loose).--This variety has the branches curving, and more +pendulous; in other respects it resembles the type, and requires the +same treatment. + +R. pentaptera (five-winged).--Stems erect; branches stiff, +long-jointed, with five wing-like angles, slightly spiral, the angles +notched at intervals of 1 in. Flowers in the notches, ½ in. across, white, +produced in August. Fruit a white, Mistletoe-like berry. A curious plant +from Brazil, and introduced in 1836. In stove temperature it forms a +compact pot-shrub, 2 ft. high, and is worth growing on account of its +singular stems. + +R. rhombea (diamond-branched).--Stems and branches as in R. crispata, +but without the wavy margins, and with more elongated joints. Flowers +small, white, produced in the notches of the joints in November. Fruit a +shining, milk-white berry. A compact plant from Brazil, worth growing +for its bright green, leaf-like stems. It should be grown in pots, in +stove temperature, and encouraged to form a globose bush. + +R. Saglionis (Saglio's); Bot. Mag. 4039.--A tiny plant, similar in +habit to R. penduliflora, but with brown branches, the small joints +angled, and bearing silky hairs. The branches and joints are set at +zigzag angles. Flowers pale yellow, produced in autumn on the younger +joints. Fruits white, Mistletoe-like. A small, delicate plant from +Buenos Ayres, not more than 6 in. high. This species requires stove +treatment. + +R. salicornoides (Glasswort-like); Bot. Mag. 2461.--Stem woody when +old, brown, jointed like hens' toes, not quite as thick as a +goose-quill. Branches in clusters; joints ½ in. to 1 in. long, the lower +half much thinner than the upper, so that the joints look like a number +of superposed, miniature clubs. Flowers pretty, on the ends of the +terminal joints, yellow, becoming red with age. An erect plant, 3 ft. or +more high, introduced from Brazil in 1830. The joints are clustered on +the upper part of the stem. When in flower in spring this is an +attractive and very remarkable-looking plant. It thrives best in stove +temperature. + +R. s. stricta (straight).--This variety has the joints all pointing +upwards, and is much more compact than the type. + +R. sarmentacea (runner-stemmed); Fig. 90.--A creeping, prostrate plant, +with round stems as thick as a goose-quill, and attaching themselves to +tree-trunks or other bodies by means of numerous adventitious roots, +which spring from the under side of the stems. Surface of stem furrowed, +and covered with numerous small clusters of short, hair-like, whitish +spines. Flowers 1 in. across, springing from the sides of the stems, with +pointed, creamy-white petals; stamens spreading; stigma erect, +four-lobed. Fruit small, currant-like. This is a pretty little species, +introduced from Brazil in 1858; it is, however, a very slow grower, +plants ten years old being only a few inches in diameter. It should be +grown in stove temperature, in a basket of peat fibre, or, better still, +on a piece of soft fern-stem. It is always found on the branches or +trunks of trees when growing wild. + +[Illustration: FIG. 90. RHIPSALIS SARMENTACEA.] + +R. Swartziana (Swartz's).--Older stems three-angled, young ones +flattened, jointed; joints 2 in. broad, stiff with deep notches. Flowers +in the notches, small, white, produced in June. This species is a native +of Jamaica, and was introduced in 1810. A stiff, ungraceful plant, about +2 ft. high, very similar in its branches to a Phyllocactus. This species +requires the temperature of a stove. + +R. trigona (triangular).--Habit straggling; branches usually in forks, +¼ in. in diameter, three-angled; angles wavy or slightly notched, +grey-green. Flowers small, produced in spring in the notches of the +angles, white. Fruit a white berry. A thin, Brazilian plant, not unlike +a Lepismium, but without the silky hairs in the notches of the angles. +This species also requires to be grown in stove temperature. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +TEMPERATURES. + + +To enable growers to make a selection of species according to the +accommodation that can be afforded for Cactuses, all that are described +in this book are here classified in three groups: (1) Species which +thrive in a cool-house or frame; (2) Species which can only be +successfully grown in a warm house or stove; and (3) Species which are +hardy in the more favoured portions of the United Kingdom. + +COOL-HOUSE OR FRAME. + +Temperature: Summer, that of the open air. +Temperature: Winter--day, 50 deg. to 60 deg.; night, 40 deg. to 45 deg. + +Cereus Berlandieri. + " Blankii. + " caespitosus. + " cirrhiferus. + " ctenoides. + " enneacanthus. + " flagelliformis. + " Leeanus. + " leptacanthus. + " multiplex. + " paucispinus. + " pentalophus. + " polyacanthus. + " procumbens. + " reductus. +Cereus speciosissimus +Echinocactus brevihamatus + " centeterius. + " cinnabarinus. + " Cummingii. + " echidne. + " Emoryi. + " gibbosus. + " hexaedrophorus. + " Leeanus. + " Mackieanus. + " mamillarioides. + " rhodophthalmus. + " texensis. + " uncinatus. +Echinocactus viridescens. +Echinopsis, all the kinds. +Mamillaria atrata. + " chlorantha. + " dasyacantha. + " elegans. + " elephantidens. + " elongata. + " fissurata. + " floribunda. + " gracilis. + " longimamma. + " macromeris. + " macrothele. + " multiceps. + " phellosperma. + " Schelhasii. + " Schiedeana. +Mamillaria semperviva. + " stella-aurata. + " tuberculosa. + " uncinata. + " viridis. + " Wildiana. + " Zucchariniana. +Opuntia arborescens. + " aurantiaca. + " corrugata. + " cylindrica. + " Davisii. + " Engelmanni. + " Ficus-indica. + " hystricina. + " macrorhiza + " occidentalis. + + +WARM-HOUSE OR STOVE. + +It is possible that some of those included in this division will +eventually prove hardier than is at present supposed. Many of the +species now classed as cool-house plants, and even some of those which +are hardy, were formerly grown in the stove. + +Temperature: Summer-day, 70 deg. to 90 deg.; night, 65 deg. to 75 deg. +Temperature: Winter-day, 60 deg. to 70 deg.; night, 55 deg. to 60 deg. + +Cereus caerulescens. + " extensus. + " fulgidus. + " giganteus. + " grandiflorus. + " Lemairii. + " Macdonaldiae. + " Mallisoni. + " Napoleonis. + " nycticalus. + " peruvianus. + " pleiogonus. + " repandus. + " serpentinus. + " Royeni. + " triangularis. + " variabilis. +Echinocactus concinnus. + " coptonogonus. +Echinocactus cornigerus. + " corynodes. + " cylindraceus. + " Haynii. + " horizonthalonis. + " Le Contei. + " longihamatus. + " mamillosus. + " multiflorus. + " myriostigma. + " obvallatus. + " Ottonis. + " pectiniferus. + " polycephalus. + " Pottsii. + " scopa. + " sinuatus. + " tenuispinus. + " turbiniformis. +Echinocactus Visnaga. + " Williamsii. + " Wislizeni. +Epiphyllum, all the kinds. +Leuchtenbergia. +Mamillaria, all not mentioned under "Cool-house Or Frame." +Melocactus, all the kinds. +Opuntia, all not included under "Cool-house or Frame." +Pelecyphora. +Pereskia, all the kinds. +Phyllocactus, " +Pilocereus, " +Rhipsalis, " + +OUTDOOR. + +The following may be grown out of doors in the more favoured parts of +England. For directions as to culture, see the chapter on Cultivation :-- + +Cereus Fendleri. +Echinocactus Simpsoni. +Mamillaria vivipara. +Opuntia brachyarthra. +Opuntia missouriensis. + " Rafinesquii. + " R. arkansana. + " vulgaris. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +DEALERS IN CACTUSES. + + +The difficulty experienced by amateurs in procuring plants of many kinds +of Cactus has suggested to us that a list of some of the principal +dealers in these plants would prove of service to English growers. So +far as we know, there is no nurseryman in England who makes a specialty +of Cactuses. Plants of such well-known genera as Epiphyllum, +Phyllocactus, and Cereus in part, may be obtained in England, but for a +collection of representative kinds we must perforce apply to Continental +nurserymen. The most reliable of these for Cactuses are: + +GERMANY. + +Messrs. HAAGE & SCHMIDT, Erfurt. + +Herr F. A. HAAGE, Junior, Erfurt. + +Messrs. MÜLLER & SAUBER, Kassel, Hanover. + +Herr H. HILDMANN, Oranienburg, Brandenburg. + +Herr ERNST BERGE, Leipsic. + +FRANCE. + +M. EBERLE, Avenue de St. Ouen, 146, Paris. + +M. JAMIN, Rue Lafontaine, 42, à St. Ouen, Paris. + +BELGIUM. + +M. LOUIS DE SMET, Ledeberg, Ghent. + +M. BETTES, Borgerhont, Antwerp. + +M. F. VERMUELEN, Rue Van Peet, Antwerp. + +AMERICA. + +Mr. C. RUNGE, San Antonio, Texas. + +Messrs. REASONER BROTHERS, Florida. + + + + +SPECIES INDEX + + +Species are listed alphabetically according to Watson's nomenclature. +The name(s) that is more likely to be recognised by modern readers is +listed in brackets. I have used Anderson's book--The Cactus Family +(Timber Press, 2001)--as my main guide. Monographs by Craig and by +Pilbeam were invaluable in identifying 'Mamillarias'. + +* Plants illustrated in the text. + + Cereus Berlandieri (Echinocereus berlandieri) * + Cereus Blankii (Echinocereus berlandieri) * + Cereus caerulescens (Cereus aethiops) + Cereus caespitosus (Echinocereus reichenbachii ssp. caespitosus) * + Cereus cirrhiferus (Echinocereus cinerascens) + Cereus ctenoides (Echinocereus dasyacanthus) * + Cereus enneacanthus (Echinocereus enneacanthus)* + Cereus extensus (Selenicereus sp.?) + Cereus Fendleri (Echinocereus fendleri) + Cereus flagelliformis (Aporocactus (Disocactus) flagelliformis) + Cereus fulgidus (Gymnocalycium gibbosum) + Cereus giganteus (Carnegiea gigantea) * + Cereus grandiflorus (Selenicereus grandiflorus) + Cereus Leeanus (Echinocereus polyacanthus) + Cereus Lemairii (Hylocereus lemairei) + Cereus leptacanthus (Echinocereus pentalophus)* + Cereus Macdonaldiae (Selenicereus macdonaldiae) + Cereus Mallisoni (X Helioporus smithii) + Cereus multiplex (Echinopsis oxygona) * + Cereus multiplex cristatus (Echinopsis oxygona fa. cristata) * + Cereus Napoleonis (Hylocereus trigonus) + Cereus nycticalus (Selenicereus pteranthus) * + Cereus paucispinus (Echinocereus coccineus ssp. paucispinus) + Cereus pentalophus (Echinocereus pentalophus) + Cereus peruvianus (Cereus repandus) + Cereus pleiogonus (Echinocereus sp.--no longer identifiable)* + Cereus polyacanthus (Echinocereus polyacanthus) + Cereus procumbens (Echinocereus pentalophus ssp. procumbens) * + Cereus reductus (Hybrid with Selenicereus sp. as one probable parent) + Cereus repandus (Cereus repandus) * + Cereus Royeni (Pilosocereus royenii) + Cereus serpentinus (Peniocereus (Nyctocereus) serpentinus) * + Cereus speciosissimus (Disocactus speciosus) + Cereus triangularis (Hylocereus triangularis) + Cereus variabilis (Acanthocereus tetragonus) + + Echinocactus brevihamatus (Parodia (Notocactus) alacriportana ssp. + brevihamata) + Echinocactus centeterius (Eriosyce (Neoporteria) + curvispina--possibly?) + Echinocactus cinnabarinus (Echinopsis (Lobivia) cinnabarina) + Echinocactus concinnus (Parodia (Notocactus) concinna) * + Echinocactus coptonogonus (Stenocactus (Echinofossulocactus) + coptonogonus) * + Echinocactus cornigerus (Ferocactus latispinus) * + Echinocactus corynodes (Parodia (Notocactus) sellowii) * + Echinocactus crispatus (Stenocactus (Echinofossulocactus) + crispatus) * + Echinocactus Cummingii (Rebutia (Weingartia) neocummingii) + Echinocactus cylindraceus (Ferocactus cyclindraceus (acanthodes)) + Echinocactus echidne (Ferocactus echidne) + Echinocactus Emoryi (Ferocactus emoryi) * + Echinocactus gibbosus (Gymnocalycium gibbosus) + Echinocactus Haynii (Matucana haynei) * + Echinocactus hexaedrophorus (Thelocactus hexaedrophorus) * + Echinocactus horizonthalonis (Echinocactus horizonthalonius) * + Echinocactus Le Contei (Ferocactus cyclindraceus (acanthodes) + ssp. lecontei) * + Echinocactus Leeanus (Gymnocalycium leeanum) + Echinocactus longihamatus (Ferocactus hamatacanthus) * + Echinocactus Mackieanus (Gymnocalycium mackieanum) + Echinocactus mamillarioides (Eriosyce (Neoporteria) + curvispina--possibly?) + Echinocactus mamillosus (Echinopsis mamillosa) + Echinocactus multiflorus (Gymnocalycium monvillei) + Echinocactus myriostigma (Astrophytum myriostigma) * + Echinocactus obvallatus (Stenocactus (Echinofossulocactus) + obvallatus) * + Echinocactus Ottonis (Parodia (Notocactus) ottonis) + Echinocactus pectiniferus (probably Echinocereus pectinatus) + Echinocactus polycephalus (Echinocactus polycephalus)* + Echinocactus Pottsii (Ferocactus pottsii) + Echinocactus rhodophthalmus (Thelocactus bicolor) + Echinocactus scopa (Parodia (Notocactus) scopa) * + Echinocactus scopa cristata (Parodia (Notocactus) + scopa fa. cristata) * + Echinocactus Simpsonii (Pediocactus simpsonii) + Echinocactus sinuatus (Ferocactus hamatacanthus ssp. sinuatus) + Echinocactus tenuispinus (Parodia (Notocactus) ottonis) + Echinocactus texensis (Echinocactus texensis) * + Echinocactus turbiniformis (Strombocactus disciformis) + Echinocactus uncinatus (Sclerocactus uncinatus) * + Echinocactus viridescens (Ferocactus viridescens) + Echinocactus visnaga (Echinocactus platyacanthus) * + Echinocactus Williamsii (Lophophora williamsii) + Echinocactus Wislizenii (Ferocactus wislizenii) * + + Echinopsis campylacantha (Echinopsis leucantha) + Echinopsis cristata (Echinopsis obrepanda) + Echinopsis cristata purpurea (Echinopsis obrepanda v. purprea) + Echinopsis Decaisneanus (identification now uncertain) * + Echinopsis Eyriesii (Echinopsis eyriesii) + Echinopsis Eyriesii flore-pleno (Echinopsis eyriesii) * + Echinopsis Eyriesii glauca (Echinopsis eyriesii) + Echinopsis oxygonus (Echinopsis oxygona) + Echinopsis Pentlandi (Echinopsis (Lobivia) pentlandii) * + Echinopsis Pentlandi longispinus (Echinopsis (Lobivia) pentlandii) * + Echinopsis tubiflorus (Echinopsis tubiflora) + + Epiphyllum Russellianum (Schlumbergera russelliana) * + Epiphyllum truncatum (Schlumbergera truncata) + + Leuchtenbergia principis (Leuchtenbergia principis) * + + Mamillaria angularis (Mammillaria compressa) + Mamillaria applanata (Mammillaria heyderi ssp. hemisphaerica) + Mamillaria atrata (Eriosyce (Neoporteria) subgibbosa) + Mamillaria bicolor (Mammillaria geminispina) + Mamillaria chlorantha (Escobaria deserti) + Mamillaria cirrhifera (Mammillaria compressa) + Mamillaria clava (Coryphantha clava) + Mamillaria dasyacantha (Escobaria dasyacantha) + Mamillaria discolor (Mammillaria discolor) + Mamillaria dolichocentra (Mammillaria polythele) * + Mamillaria echinata (Mammillaria elongata ssp. echinaria) + Mamillaria echinus (Coryphantha echinus) * + Mamillaria elegans (Mammillaria haageana (elegans)) + Mamillaria elephantidens (Coryphantha elephantidens) * + Mamillaria elongata (Mammillaria elongata) + Mamillaria fissurata (Ariocarpus fissuratus) * + Mamillaria floribunda (Eriosyce (Neoporteria) subgibbosa) + Mamillaria gracilis (Mammillaria vetula ssp. gracilis) + Mamillaria Grahami (Mammillaria grahamii) + Mamillaria Haageana (Mammillaria haageana) * + Mamillaria longimamma (Mammillaria longimamma) * + Mamillaria macromeris (Coryphantha macromeris) * + Mamillaria macrothele (Coryphantha octacantha) + Mamillaria micromeris (Epithelantha micromeris) * + Mamillaria multiceps (Mammillaria prolifera ssp. texana) + Mamillaria Neumanniana (Mammillaria magnimamma) + Mamillaria Ottonis (Coryphantha ottonis) + Mamillaria pectinata (Mammillaria pectinifera) * + Mamillaria phellosperma (Mammillaria tetrancistra) + Mamillaria pulchra (Mammillaria rhodantha) + Mamillaria pusilla (Mammillaria prolifera) + Mamillaria pycnacantha (Coryphantha pycnacantha) + Mamillaria sanguinea (Mammillaria spinosissima) * + Mamillaria Scheerii (Coryphantha poselgeriana) + Mamillaria Schelhasii (Mammillaria crinita) * + Mamillaria Schiedeana (Mammillaria schiedeana) + Mamillaria semperviva (Mammillaria sempervivi) * + Mamillaria senilis (Mammillaria senilis) + Mamillaria stella-aurata (Mammillaria elongata) + Mamillaria sub-polyhedra (Mammillaria polyedra) * + Mamillaria sulcolanata (Coryphantha sulcolanata) + Mamillaria tetracantha (Mammillaria polythele) + Mamillaria tuberculosa (Escobaria tuberculosa) + Mamillaria turbinata (Strombocactus disciformis ?) + Mamillaria uncinata (Mammillaria uncinata) + Mamillaria vetula (Mammillaria vetula) + Mamillaria villifera (Mammillaria polyedra) + Mamillaria viridis (Mammillaria karwinskiana) + Mamillaria vivipara (Escobaria vivipara) + Mamillaria vivipara v. radiosa (Escobaria vivipara) * + Mamillaria Wildiana (Mammillaria crinita ssp. wildii) + Mamillaria Wrightii (Mammillaria wrightii) + Mamillaria Zucchariniana (Mammillaria magnimamma) + + Melocactus communis (Melocactus intortus) * + Melocactus depressus (Melocactus violaceus) + Melocactus Miquelii (Melocactus intortus) * + + Opuntia arborescens (Cylindropuntia imbricata) + Opuntia arbuscula (Cylindropuntia arbuscula) + Opuntia arenaria (Opuntia polyacantha v. arenaria) + Opuntia Auberi (Opuntia auberi) + Opuntia aurantiaca (Opuntia aurantiaca) + Opuntia basilaris (Opuntia basilaris) * + Opuntia Bigelovii (Cylindropuntia bigelovii) + Opuntia boliviana (Cumulopuntia boliviana) * + Opuntia brachyarthra (Opuntia fragilis) * + Opuntia braziliensis (Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis) + Opuntia candelabriformis (Opuntia spinulifera) + Opuntia clavata (Grusonia clavata) + Opuntia cochinellifera (Opuntia cochenillifera) + Opuntia corrugata (Tunilla corrugata) + Opuntia curassavica (Opuntia curassavica) + Opuntia cylindrica (Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica) + Opuntia cylindrica cristata (Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica + fa. cristata) + Opuntia Davisii (Cylindropuntia davisii) + Opuntia decumana (Opuntia ficus-indica) + Opuntia diademata (Tephrocactus articulatus) + Opuntia Dillenii (Opuntia dillenii) * + Opuntia echinocarpa (Cylindropuntia echinocarpa) + Opuntia Emoryi (Grusonia emoryi) + Opuntia Engelmanni (Opuntia engelmannii) + Opuntia Ficus-indica (Opuntia ficus-indica) * + Opuntia filipendula (Opuntia macrorhiza v. pottsii) * + Opuntia frutescens (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis) + Opuntia Grahami (Grusonia grahamii) + Opuntia horrida (Opuntia tuna) + Opuntia hystricina (Opuntia polyacantha v. hystricina) + Opuntia leptocaulis (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis) + Opuntia leucotricha (Opuntia leucotricha) + Opuntia macrocentra (Opuntia macrocentra) + Opuntia macrorhiza (Opuntia macrorhiza) * + Opuntia microdasys (Opuntia microdasys) + Opuntia missouriensis (Opuntia polyacantha) + Opuntia monacantha (Opuntia monacantha) + Opuntia nigricans (Opuntia elatior) + Opuntia occidentalis (Opuntia X occidentalis) + Opuntia Parmentieri (Opuntia longispina var. brevispina?) + Opuntia Parryi (Cylindropuntia californica) + Opuntia Rafinesquii (Opuntia humifusa) * + Opuntia rosea (Cylindropuntia rosea) * + Opuntia Salmiana (Opuntia salmiana) + Opuntia spinosissima (Consolea spinosissima) + Opuntia subulata (Austrocylindropuntia subulata) + Opuntia Tuna (Opuntia tuna) * + Opuntia tunicata (Cylindropuntia tunicata) + Opuntia vulgaris (Opuntia ficus-indica) + Opuntia Whipplei (Cylindropuntia whipplei) + + Pelecyphora aselliformis (Pelecyphora aselliformis) * + + Pereskia aculeata (Pereskia aculeata) + Pereskia aculeata rubescens (Pereskia aculeata) + Pereskia Bleo (Pereskia bleo) * + Pereskia zinniaeflora (Pereskia zinniiflora) * + + Phyllocactus Ackermannii (Disocactus ackermannii or hybrid) * + Phyllocactus anguliger (Epiphyllum anguliger) * + Phyllocactus biformis (Disocactus biformis) * + Phyllocactus crenatus (Epiphyllum crenatum) + Phyllocactus grandis (Epiphyllum oxypetalum) + Phyllocactus Hookeri (Epiphyllum hookeri) + Phyllocactus latifrons (Epiphyllum oxypetalum) + Phyllocactus phyllanthus (Epiphyllum phyllanthus) + Phyllocactus phyllanthoides (Disocactus phyllanthoides) + + Pilocereus Brünnonii (Oreocereus celsianus) * + Pilocereus Houlletianus (Pilosocereus leucocephalus) * + Pilocereus senilis (Cephalocereus senilis) + + Rhipsalis Cassytha (Rhipsalis baccifera) + Rhipsalis commune (Lepismium cruciforme) + Rhipsalis crispata (Rhipsalis crispata) + Rhipsalis crispata purpurea (Rhipsalis crispata) + Rhipsalis fasciculata (Rhipsalis baccifera) + Rhipsalis floccosa (Rhipsalis floccosa) + Rhipsalis funalis (Rhipsalis grandiflora) * + Rhipsalis Houlletii (Lepismium houlletianum) + Rhipsalis Knightii (Lepismium cruciforme) + Rhipsalis mesembryanthemoides (Rhipsalis mesembryanthemoides) + Rhipsalis myosurus (Lepismium cruciforme) + Rhipsalis pachyptera (Rhipsalis pachyptera) + Rhipsalis paradoxa (Rhipsalis paradoxa) + Rhipsalis penduliflora (Rhipsalis cereuscula) + Rhipsalis penduliflora laxa (Rhipsalis cereuscula) + Rhipsalis pentaptera (Rhipsalis pentaptera) + Rhipsalis rhombea (identification now uncertain) + Rhipsalis Saglionis (Rhipsalis cereuscula) + Rhipsalis salicornoides (Hatiora salicornioides) + Rhipsalis salicornoides stricta (Hatiora salicornioides) + Rhipsalis sarmentacea (Lepismium lumbricoides) * + Rhipsalis Swartziana (Pseudorhipsalis alata) + Rhipsalis trigona (Rhipsalis trigona) + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Cactus Culture For Amateurs, by W. Watson + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13357 *** |