364 FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



at the funnel-like mouth, it must be conceded that 

 it is no exaggeration to say that it may be placed 

 like a cap on the head of a very broad-headed 

 adult. 



The flowers of the night-blooming cereus {Cereus 

 grandifloriis) are very different in character, and 

 inferior in size ; they have, however, the merit of 

 possessing a very grateful fragrance. It is alluded 

 to here as one of the largest of blossoms, attaining, 

 it is said, when fully expanded, a diameter of a foot, 

 but as this measurement is taken from tip to tip of 

 the petals, it does not seem so large as a cup-shaped 

 flower would be. 



Amongst lilies there are two or three magnificent 

 species which deserve remembrance. Such, for ex- 

 ample, is Lilium giganteiint, of which a dried stem 

 is preserved in one of the museums at Kew. Let the 

 imagination strive to picture a gorgeous white lily, 

 with a flower stem eleven and a half inches in cir- 

 cumference at the base, and rising to a height of 

 thirteen feet, bearing blossoms as large as tumbler 

 glasses. It might be said literally that " Solo- 

 mon in all his glory was not arrayed like one cf 

 these." 



No allusion to extraordinary flowers would be 

 considered as complete without reference to the 

 royal water-lily {Victoria regia), dedicated to the 

 Queen, and made the subject of two entire volumes, 



