156 HOT-HOUSE OF REPOTTING, ETC. 



from having an ovate conate crown upon the top, from which 

 proceed the small red flowers. M. macrdnthus has large 

 spines; M. pyramiddlis is a conical growing species. These 

 require the same treatment as the last. (Soil No. 15.) 



Echinocdctus, a great number of species; are those that 

 have many deep angles, and have a remarkable swelling with 

 each parcel of spines ; E. gibbosus, E. crispdtus, E. recurvus, 

 E. roddnthia, and E. scopa, are curious in appearance, with 

 small white and purple flowers. These three genera in most 

 collections are not well known specifically, but it is easy to 

 discriminate with which genus they are connected. (Soil 

 No. 15.) 



Cereus. This is the most magnificent genus with regard 

 to the magnitude and beauty of the flowers, but not so 

 closely allied in character. It takes in all those of a trail- 

 ing or erect growing habit, having spines in clusters, solitary, 

 or spineless. C. senilis is the celebrated monkey cactus. C. 

 peruvidnus and C. Tieptagbnus grow very erect, and to the 

 height of thirty or forty feet in Peru and Mexico, where 

 they plant them close together as fences, and they are in a 

 few years impenetrable. C. flagelliformis is a well-known 

 creeping flowering species, has ten angles ; will keep in a good 

 green-house, and produce in May and June a great number 

 of blooms. The petals are of a fine pink and red colour; the 

 tube of the flower is long, and will stand a few days in per- 

 fection, when others come out successively for the space of 

 two months, and during their continuance make a brilliant 

 appearance. C. grandiflbrus is the celebrated " Night- 

 blooming Cereus." The flowers are very large, beautiful 

 and sweet-scented. They begin to open about sundow^, and 

 are fully expanded about eleven o'clock. The corolla, or 

 rather calyx, is from seven to ten inches in diameter, the 

 outside of which is a brown, and the inside a fine straw yel- 

 low colour; the petals are of the purest white, with the stamens 

 surrounding the stile in the centre of the flower, which add 

 to its lustre, and make it appear like a bright star. Its scent 

 is agreeable, and perfumes the air to a considerable distance ; 

 but these beauties are of momentary duration. By sunrise 

 they fade, and hang down quite decayed, and never open 

 again.* One of these ought to be in every collection, and, 



* They may be preserved if cut off when in perfection, and put ia 



