230 



The Dictionary of Gardening, 



Cabomba — continued. 



multifld ; floating leaves alternate, on long petioles, peltate, 

 orbicular, entire. Guiana, 1823. Syn. Nectris aquatica. 

 C, caroliniana (Carolina) is somewhat similar to C. aquatica. 

 It is a native of the Southern United States. 



CACAIiIA (from kakalia, a name used by Diosooridei?). 

 Obd. CompositfB. A genus of hardy herbaceous peren- 

 nials, here treated as distinct from Senecio, of which genus, 

 from a botanical point of view, it is but a section. Heads 

 five to many-flowered ; florets all tubular and perfect : 

 scales of the involucre in a single row ; receptacle naked : 

 pappus of numerous capillary bristles. For cidture, see 

 Senecio. 



C. atriplicifolla (Atriplex-leaved). Jl.-heads white. August. 

 I., lower oiiea triangular-kidney shaped, or slightly cordate; the 

 upper rhomboid, toothed. Stem terete, h. 3ft. to 6ft. United 

 States of America. 



C. hastata (hastate). Jl.'hcadfi white, nodding, racemose. Au- 

 tumn. /. stalked, thvee-lobed, hastate, seiTate. h. 1ft. Siberia, 1780. 



C. reniformis (reniform). Jl. -heads white, disposed in large 

 corymbs. August. I. dilated, fan-shaped, 1ft. to 2ft. broad, 

 repandly-toothed and angled, petiolate. Stem grooved and 

 angled, h. 4ft. to 9ft. New Jersey, 1801. 



C. suaveolens (sweet-scented).* Jl.-heads white. Autumn. I. 

 triangular-lanceolate, halbert-shaped, pointed, serrate ; those of 

 the stem on winged petioles. Stem grooved, h. 3ft. to 5ft. 

 North America, 1752. 



C> tuberosa (tuberous).* fi.-heads whitish. June. I. thick ; 

 lower ones lanceolate or oval, nearly entire, tapering into long 

 petioles ; upper ones on short margined petioles, sometimes 

 toothed at the apex. Stem angled and grooved, h. 2ft. to 6ft. 

 North America. 



CACOTJCIA (its name in Guiana). Ord. Combretacece. 

 A small genus of stove twining or climbing shrubs. Flowers 

 large, showy, racemose. Leaves opposite, oblong or ovate- 

 elliptical. For culture, see CoiubretTua. 



C. coccinea (scarlet).* fi. scarlet, alternate, bracteate at the base, 

 disposed in long terminal racemes. May. I. ovate, acuminated, 

 shortly petiolate. Guiana. (A. G. i., 179.). A handsome stove 

 climber. 



CACTE2!. A large order of succulent plants, with 

 remarkable spines clustered on the cylindrical, angular, 

 two-edged, or leafy stems. Flowers very variable, showy 

 or minute, usually solitary, sessUe, rarely in fascicles, ephe- 

 meral ; petals disposed in two or more series, hardly 

 distinguishable from the inner sepals, and sometimes united 

 with them ; sepals numerous, united and adnate a great 

 length to the ovarium. Fruit fleshy, one-celled, many- 

 eeeded. Well-known genera are Cereus, Melocacfus, 

 Mammillariaj Opuntia, Pereshiaj and Bhi-psalis. 



CACTUS (from kahtos, a name used by Theophrastus 

 to describe a spiny plant). This generic term is popularly 

 applied to all members of the extensive family Cactece, 

 which order may be distinguished by the following 

 characteristics : Calyx composed of many sepals, usually 

 indefinite in number, the inner series not readily dis- 

 tinguishable from the petals, united and adnate a great 

 length to the ovary ; with the tube smooth in the genera 

 Mammillariat Melocactus, and Rhipsalis ; or with the lobes 

 of the sepals crowning the fruit, and having the tube scaly, 

 as in the genera Cereus, Opuntia, and Pereskia. Petals 

 disposed in two or more series, hardly distinguishable from 

 the inner sepals, and somewhat united to them ; sometimes 

 irregidar, and disposed in a long tube at the base, but 

 distinct at the apex, as in the genera MammiUaria, Melo- 

 cactus, and Cereus ; sometimes equal and distinct to the 

 very base, forming a rotate coroUa, as in the genera 

 Op^^ntia, Pereskia, and Rhipsalis. Stamens indefinite, 

 disposed in many series, more or less cohering with the 

 petals or inner sepals ; filaments slender, filiform ; anthers 

 ovate, versatile, two-celled. Ovarium obovate, fleshy, one- 

 celled. Fruit fleshy, one-celled, many seeded, either smooth 

 and crowned by the calyx, or covered with scales, scars, or 

 tubercles, and umbilicate at the apex. This order contains 

 fleshy or succulent shrubs, very variable in habit and size. 

 Flowers very variable, showy, or minute, usually solitary, 

 sessile, rarely in fascicles, ephemeral, expanding by night 

 or day. Leaves usually wanting, but, when present, small, 



Cactus — continued. 

 caducous, and terete, rarely flat and expanded, sometimes 

 alternate and disposed in a spiral order, always glabrous 

 and fleshy. Prickles or bristles disposed in fascicles, rising 

 from the axils of the leaves. In the leafless genera, the 

 fascicles of spines are disposed on the angles of the stem, 

 rising from tubercles. Stems usually angular, winged, or 

 regularly beset with tubercles, rarely terete, usually jointed; 

 joints compressed. A group of Cacti is showTi at Fig. 312, 

 for which we are indebted to Herr Fr. Ad. Haage, jun., of 

 Erfurt, Germany. See Cereus, Disocactus, Hcliino- 

 cactus, Hpiphyllum, Iieuchtenberg'ia, Mamniil- 

 laria, Melocacttis, ITopalea, Opuntia, Felecypbora, 

 Pereskia, Fhyllocactus, and Kbipsalis. 



Cultivation. Perhaps no class of plants more easily 

 accommodate themselves to a general system of treatment, 

 than do these ; although certain genera would undoubtedly 

 thrive better than when subjected to the lower tempera- 

 ture, suited to the requirements of those coming from cooler 

 regions. Notwithstanding that nearly all the species are 

 natives of the western hemisphere, they occur in various 

 geographical and altitudinal areas, in which the tempera- 

 ture is proportionately lessened or increased, as the case 

 may be ; yet, presuming a special house is set apart for 

 their culture, the majority of the species may be happily 

 suited therein. The warmest end of the structure should 

 be selected for the tropical kinds ; while those found in 

 cooler regions may be grown in the other portions of 

 the house ; even those which are hardy in our climate 

 are really best wintered in a house or frame. Granted 

 that several species will endure our winter outside, it is 

 yet necessary to give them the shelter of a friendly ledge of 

 the rockery, or frame, or to cover them in their permanent 

 position with a hand light, or sheet of glass, in order to 

 prevent the ill-effects of excessive moisture. Generally, a 

 winter temperature of from 50deg. to 55deg., and a summer 

 one of from 70deg. to 80deg. during shade, or in sunshine 

 up to 90deg., wiU be found advantageous. When thus 

 treated, it will be necessary to keep the tropical species, 

 on the whole, very dry during the winter. As regards 

 soil, potting, and general treatment, all may be treated 

 alike, except Epiphyllum, Disocactus, and Pereskia (which 

 see). Some growers give them the protection of a house 

 in winter, and stand them outside during the srunmer, 

 which is not, however, a very commendable plan, as, in 

 consequence of the very variable character of our climate 

 being especially prejudicial to several of the tender and 

 more delicate species, the often excessive amount of 

 moisture they would receive, will produce a weakly state 

 of health in many, while others will be lost. It is far 

 better if their culture is attempted at all, to give them the 

 proper treatment. The numerous species and varieties 

 found on the Eooky Mountains are a most interesting 

 series, and may be well managed in a cold frame facing 

 south, arranging them on shelves as close to the glass as 

 possible, and keeping them very dry through the winter. 

 If the weather is very severe, the lights should be matted. 

 One of the best collections of these in the country, is in 

 the possession of E. G. Loder, Esq., Floore House, Weedon, 

 Northampton, where a great number are admirably grown 

 in frames, and under a large ledge of the rockery outside. 

 Amateurs may grow quantities of handsome Cacti either 

 in dwelling rooms near the window, or in small frames 

 or greenhouses. As they are slow growing, not much 

 space will be occupied ; at the same time, a great deal 

 of interest wUl be centred in their culture. As regards 

 watering and insect pests, they are but little trouble. 

 Miniature Cacti, of numerous kinds, are now often sold in 

 small pots, and most attractive little subjects they prove. 



Soil, Drainage, and Potting. Good ordinary fibrous loam 

 should form about one-half of the compost, the other half 

 should be made up of sand, broken bricks, and lime rubbish 

 in equal quantities ; the whole to be carefully mixed to- 

 gether, and not used until it is moderately dry. It is 



