Chapter X. 

 MELOCACTUS. 



THIS genus forms a group of well- marked plants, with sterns 

 similar to those of the globose Echinocactuses but different in its 

 floral characters. The stems are stiff and dumpy, their spines 

 large and rigid, and their flowers small and unattractive. But 

 lack of beauty of form is atoned for in the large, cushionlike flower- 

 head which crowns the stem, and on old plants is a cylindrical 

 mass of spines and hairs, 1 foot or more in length. This character 

 is most pronounced in M. commit nis, the best-known species in 

 gardens. It was the first Cactus to be introduced into Europe, for 

 in the year 1581 living plants of it were grown in London. Fifty 

 years later Gerard wrote : " Who can but marvel at the care and 

 singular workmanship shown in this Thistle, the Melocarduus 

 echinatus, or Hedgehog Thistle ? It groweth upon the cliffes and 

 gravelly grounds neere unto the seaside in the islands of the West 

 Indies, called St. Margaret's and St. John's Isle, neere unto Puerto 

 Rico, and other places in these countries, by the relation of divers 

 that have journied into these parts who have brought me the plant 

 itself with his seed, the which would not grow in my garden, by 

 reason of the coldnesse of the clymate." 



Thirty species are known, their stems ranging from 1 to 3 feet 

 in height, the ridges straight, and, as a rule, large ; whilst all have 

 stiff stout spines. The small flowers are succeeded by bright red, 

 cherry-like berries, containing numerous black, shining seeds. 



Cultivation. 



These plants need a tropical temperature all the year round, 

 with as much sunlight as possible, and a moist atmosphere for about 

 three months during summer, when growth is most active. Very 

 little soil is required, as the largest stems have comparatively few 

 roots ; indeed, imported stems have been known to live and' grow 

 for several years without a single root, living on the nourishmect 

 stored up in the stem in its native home. M. Louis de Smet, a 

 Ghent nurseryman, kept M . communis a long time in robust health 

 and growth by feeding it with a very weak solution of salt, and 

 seeing that the Turk's- Cap Cactus is found in great abundance 

 within the reach of sea spray, in the West Indies, salt is probably 

 good for it. M. de Smet had a specimen of this Cactu/ bearing 



