NAT. ORDER 

 Cactece. 



CACTUS CEREUS. NIGHT-FLOWERING CACTUS. 



Class XII. IcosANDRiA. Older I. Monogtnia. 



Gen. Char. Calyx superior, hairy, pointed, many cleft Segments 

 somewhat imbricate, coliering. Petals very numerous, inserted 

 in four different setts of series — the interior ones of a lightish 

 color, and more broad at the base and short — external ones 

 more slender. 



Spe. Char. Leaves fleshy, hairy, lanceolate, Stem round and 

 ribbed, tuffed in spots. 



This curious species of the cactus tribe is found in the tropical 

 regions of this country, inhabiting the borders of marshes and low 

 lands. It grows from two to three feet in height, and some- 

 what creeping ; the i-oots are long, fibrous, white, somewhat tuber- 

 ous, and woody ; also a considerable stringy; the petals are very 

 numerous, and inserted in several different rows ; the inner ones 

 short and more broad at the base — the outer ones longer, lanceolate, 

 pointed, more fleshy^ and deeper tinged with a yellowish tint near 

 their extremities ; the stamens are indefinite, cohering somewhat 

 with the sepals ; the filaments are numerous, long, slender, and fila- 

 form ; the anthers ovate, slender, and a little curved ; the stigmas 

 are quite numerous, and collected rather closely together, and some- 

 what clustered ; the Jloicers are large, showy, spreading, placed at 

 tiie end of the fleshy flowering stem, and when in full blossom pro- 

 duces an enchanting appearance. For external appearance exam- 

 ine plate. 



Vol. iv.— 101. 



