1807 



^'^ CEKIillS liiangulai-is. 



Triangular Torch-thistle. 



ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Nat. ord. Cactace^. {Introduction to the Natural System of Botamj, 

 p.5i.) 



CEREUS, D. C. Sepala numerosissima, iinbricata, basi ovario adnata, 

 in tubuni elongatum concreta, cxteriora breviora calycinalia, media ion<Tiora colo- 

 rata, intima petaliformia. Stamina numerosissima cum tubo concreta. Stylus 

 filiformis apice multilidus. Bacca sepalorum reliquiis areolata, tuberculata aut 



squamata. CotyledonesmAhi?.! (depauperatae). Frutices cwrnosz, elonr/ati, 



axi ligneo interne meduWfero donatio angulis verticalibiis spinarum fascicu- 

 los gerentibus regulariter sulcati. Anguli seu alae nunc plurimce, nunc pan- 

 cissimcE, rarius duce tantum et tunc rami compresso-alati. Flores ampll e 

 spinarum fasciculis aut crenis angidorum orti. De Cand. Prodr. 3. 463. 



§. 2. Serpentini. Caulis articulatus prostratus radicans vel volubilis. D. C. 



* * * '3-4-angulares. 

 C. triangularis ; repens trigonus, aculeis brevibus quaternis decussatis, sepalis 



exterioribus spatulatis apice foliaceis, petalis lanceolatis cuspidatis. 

 Cactus triangularis. Linn. sp. pL 666. Jacq. amer. 152. 

 Cereus triangularis. Haworth. syn. 180. De Cand. prodr. I. c. 



A native of Mexico and the West India Islands, whence it 

 was introduced long since, but it flowers so rarely that it has 

 never yet been represented from an European specimen. 

 Bradley, who has given it in his work on succulent plants, 

 has only figured its stem. 



For the specimen from which our drawing was made 

 we are indebted to Sir George Staunton, Bart., in wliose 

 garden at Leigh Park, near Ilavant, it flowered in Sep- 



* Literally, a torch or taper ; a name translated by the English Torch- 

 thistle ; and given to tliese plants in consequence of the upright kinds having 

 something the appearance of the tapers used in the ceremonies of the Roman 

 Catholic reliirion. 



VOL. XXI. L 



