8$ CACTUS CUI^URE FOR AMATEURS. 



stiffer. Flowers small, almost hidden by the spines, pale yellow with 

 a line of red down the middle of each petal. Mexico. Should be 

 grown on a shelf in a cool greenhouse a stove temperature 

 being fatal to it. 



M Neuinaniiiana. 



Stem about 6 inches high, cylindrical, the tubercles arranged 

 spirally, their bases compressed, four or five-angled, with a tuft 

 of white wool in their axils. Spines about seven in a tuft, .1 inch 

 long, and of a tawny yellow colour. Flowers produced near the 

 top of the stem about i inch long, rose-red. Mexico. Requires 

 the same treatment as M. cirrhifera. 



M. Ottonis. 



Stem 3 inches across, crowded with compressed tubercles, and 

 short, hair-like spines. Flowers, large for the size of the plant, 



Pig. 43. Mamillaria Ottonis. 



white, developed in May and June. Mexico. Introduced in 1834. 

 Requires similar treatment to M. micromeris. (Fig, 43.) 



M. pectinata. 



Stems globose, about 3 inches in diameter ; rootstock woody ; 

 tubercles arranged in about thirteen spiral rows, swollen at the base, 

 and bearing each a star-like tuft of about twenty-four stiff, brown, 

 radial spines, comb-like in their regular arrangement. When not 

 in flower it bears a close resemblance to Cereus pectinatus. Flowers 

 terminal, solitary, 3 inches wide when fully expanded ; sepals 

 reddish-green ; petals rich sulphur yellow ; stamens reddish. They 

 open at noon, and close after about two hours. June to August. 

 Mexico, on limestone hills. Requires warm greenhouse treatment, 

 with exposure to full sunshine, and in late autumn plenty of air 

 to ripen it. (Fig. 44.) 



M. phellosperma. 



Resembles M. Grahami in all points except the seed, which is 

 half enveloped in a corky covering, suggesting acorns. Stem simple, 



