126 GLASS-HOUSES 



Mamillaria sanguinea Opuntia spirocentra 

 ,, var. alba vestita 



schelhasii Pelecyphora aselliformis 



sulco-lanata Phyllocactus crenatus 

 wildiana latifrons 



Melocactus communis Rhipsalis clavata 

 Nolina recurvata funalis, var. minor 



Opuntia cylindrica, var. cris- myosurus 



tata ,, penduliflora 



dillenii salicornoides, var. 



leucotricha (?) stricta 



monacantha suareziana 



polyantha ,, sulcata 



Salmiana zanzibarica 



On a shelf near the glass is the collection of Stapelias or 

 Carrion-flowers, so called because certain species are said 

 to announce their flowering by the exhalation of an indoloid 

 stench so putrescent as to attract flies, which are thus tricked 

 into laying their eggs on the plant, mistaking it for putrid 

 meat. The innocent grubs, when hatched, soon discover 

 the difference and die of starvation ! To such depths of 

 subterfuge does Nature descend in her efforts to secure 

 cross-fertilisation ! 



Stapelia gigantea, hamata, mamillaris^ planiflora, and stricta^ 

 were obtained in 1891-3. 



Of the Aloe-like plants there are a great number of species 

 which are conveniently divisible into the genera : 



Aloe, with large flowers. 



Apicras, with small flowers. 



Haworthia, with scarcely any stem ; flowers pendulous. 



Gasteria, erect. 



Socotrine Aloes, from A. perryi^ is the medicine so ex- 

 tensively employed in quack pills ; Barbadoes Aloes is derived 

 from A. verti A. mitraeformis is remarkable for its thick 

 succulent leaves, pointed at the apex and disposed in pairs 



