31 



CERE US crenatus. 

 Crenaied Torch Thistle. 



ICOSANDRIA POLYG.YNIA. 

 Nat. ord. Cactace^. 

 CEREUS. Botanical Register, vol. 4. fol. 304. 



§ 7. Alati, Pfeiffer. 



G. crenatus; ramis strictis compressis biconvexis margine exacte crenatis 

 omnino viridibus, floribus maximis candidis, stigmate 9-radiato. 



A most remarkable plant, belonging to tbe winged section 

 of Torch thistles, according to Pfeiifer, which Link regards as 

 a peculiar genus and calls Phyllocactus. It is the finest thing 

 yet known of its class with white flowers, and will doubtless 

 prove invaluable as a breeder ; for its habit is beautiful, to say 

 nothing of its magnificent flowers, which rival the night- 

 flowering Cactus, but open in the day time. When pro- 

 duced last month at the exhibition in the Horticultural So- 

 ciety's Garden, it received the highest medal offered for new 

 plants. Let us only imagine a cross between it and C. 

 speciosissimus or Ackermanni ! 



For the following information concerning it we are in- 

 debted to Mr. Booth. 



This fine species, with several others, was forwarded from 

 Honduras in 1839 by George Ure Skinner, Esq. and pre- 

 sented to Sir Charles Lemon, Bart. M. P. with whom it 

 flowered at Carclew in May 1843. Although similar in some 

 respects to Ep. latifrons of Botanical Magazine, fol. 2692, it 

 proves to be perfectly distinct and far more desirable, on ac- 

 count of its flowers opening in the day time and continuing 

 expanded for nearly a week, whilst those of the one referred 

 to open in the evening, are in perfection at midnight, and 

 finally close a little before sunrise. It is also proper to state 

 that in addition to their other recommendations the flowers 

 of this species arc deliciously fragrant, which will no doubt 

 render it a most valuable acquisition to the admirers of this 

 singular tribe of succulents. 



The plant grows about two feet high with large spreading 

 branches, some of which in their young state are round and 

 angular, with bristly hairs at the joints, resembling the young 

 shoots of Ccreus speciosissimus. Their most usual form, 



