f'S ' 'ti 



Fig. 2200 



SOME ATTRACTIVE CACTI— II. 



'N the October issue, a few of the differ- 

 ent famihes of Cacti were mentioned, 

 with a very short description of some 

 ^p of the most attractive members in each, 

 and in this article some other branches of 

 the species will be taken up. First, there 

 is the small family of Anhaloniums, consist- 

 ing" of some five varieties. Foremost among- 

 these is A. fissuratum, the " Living Rock." 

 This great curiosity has more of the appear- 

 ance of a finely carved piece of stone than 

 of a living plant, the shell having a hard 

 surface, and the bright, purplish flowers 

 come as a surprise from such an unlikely 

 looking quarter. This is an extremely curi- 

 ous and wonderfu plant, and lives where 

 sometimes no rain falls for two years. It 

 will stand any amount of drought, but too 

 much water, while the plant is dormant, will 

 soon cause it to rot. It generally blooms 

 soon after being started growing, when im- 

 ported from its native soil, and given favor- 



able conditions. Besides this one there is a 

 smaller species, and much rarer, A. Sulca- 

 tum, which is a quite persistent bloomer, 

 having pretty purple flowers. A. Prismati- 

 cum, grows larger than either of the otherSv 

 and is of a diff"erent formation, the parts 

 which stand for leaves being hard and 

 smooth, tapering to a small point. The 

 flowers are also very much larger and finer, 

 being about two-and-a-half inches across, of 

 a white shade. This is highly prized by all 

 collectors, it being scarce even in its natural 

 home. Two other varieties, A. Lewini, and 

 A. Williamsii, are called "dumpling cactus,"" 

 from their appearance. They are round, 

 and composed of a fleshy substance, having 

 a long turnip like root. They bloom very 

 freely, the flowers being of a light rose 

 color. 



A family of Cacti, among which are some 

 well-known and commonly grown sorts, as. 

 well as a very large number of beautiful 



