Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 115 



Cercocarpus ledifolius, Nuttall. 



California. Becomes in favorable spots a tree 40 feet in height, 

 with a stem-diameter of 2 feet. The wood is the hardest known 

 in California. It is of dark colour, very dense, used for bearings in 

 machinery [Dr. Gibbons]. C. parvifolius is of lesser dimensions. 



Cereus Eng-elmanni, Parry. 



Utah. A dwarf species, with large scarlet flowers and fruits of 

 strawberry -flavor and refreshing taste. C. Lecomtei attains there 

 the size of a flour-barrel. 



Cereus glganteus, Engelmann. 



New Mexico and Arizona. It attains the stupendous height of 

 60 feet, with a proportionate columnar thickness. It yields edible 

 fruit. The prickles drop off when the fruit is perfectly ripe ; the 

 half-civilized Indians press a syrup from the fruits which they sell 

 to the settlers at from 2 to 5 dollars a gallon. The plant grows even 

 in the alkali deserts of Arizona [Semler]. Lives unprotected at 

 Port Phillip, withstanding the sea-air close to the shores, and 

 growing at the rate of nearly a foot a year. It was introduced by 

 the writer many years ago. C. Thurberi (Engelmann) from New 

 Mexico and C. Quisco (Gray) from Chili, also bear edible fruits, but 

 they are smaller plants. Columnar species of Cereus, rising to a 

 height of 40 feet, occur also in Argentina. C. repandus and C. trian- 

 gularis (Haworth), of the West-Indies and Mexico, together with 

 several other species, are available as hedge-plants in places free 

 from frost. C. Atakamensis (Philippi) is a rather large species, 

 widely scattered over the high plateau of Chili and Bolivia up to the 

 cold region of 13,000 feet. Nee speaks of a Mexican Cactus 

 (probably an Echinocactus) 5 feet in diameter by 3 feet in height. 



Cereus Pringlei, Sargent. 



Sonora. Next to C. giganteus, the biggest Cactus. The autoch- 

 thones bake the pulp of the fruit into cakes [E. Palmer, N. v. Nagi]. 



Cereus Quixo, Gay. 



Chili. This stately Cactus attains a height of 15 feet, and is one 

 of the hardiest species. The charming snow-white flowers are 

 followed by sweetish mucilaginous fruits, available for the table 

 [Philippi]. 



Cereus Thurberi, Engelmann. 



North- Western Mexico and Arizona in arid regions. Attains a 

 height of 20 feet ; the fruits vary in size from that of a hen's egg to 

 that of an orange ; they are of delicious flavor, pleasant taste and 

 nutritious. 



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