92 CACTUS CULTURE FOR AMATEURS. 



white, hair-like spines, which become interwoven, as in the Old Man 

 Cactus. Central spine black, hooked at the tip. Flowers on the 

 top of the stem, near the centre ; the petals forming a deep cup, with 

 a cluster of tall stamens standing erect in the middle ; colour bright 

 scarlet. They appear in summer, and remain open about eight 

 hours. Native country unknown. This plant grows best when it 

 is grafted on a short Cereus, or a robust Mamillaria, such as M. 

 cirrhifera. It is a pretty plant at all times, even when dead, as it 

 preserves the appearance of a living specimen after nothing remains 

 but the shell formed by the skin and silvery spines. 



M. stella-aurata. 



Sterns small, bearing yellow stellate clusters of spines on 

 the tips of the small, pointed tubercles. Tt belongs to the group 

 called Thimble Cactuses, and is one of the prettiest. Flowers small, 

 whitish, and much less ornamental than the berry-like fruits which 

 succeed them, and Avhich are egg-shaped, ./ inch long, and a deep 

 rose-colour. M. tcmds is a variety, with almost white spines. 

 Mexico. Introduced 1835. Can be cultivated under a bell-glass in 

 a room window, the only danger being from damp during winter. 



M. sub-polyhedra. 



Stem simple until it becomes old, when it develops offsets at the 

 base, 8 inches high, 5 inches in diameter. Tubercles prism-shaped, 

 bearing pads of white wool at the base, and crowned with tufts 

 of from four to seven spines, usually all radial, sometimes one 

 central. The flowers, which usually appear in May, are arranged 

 in a ring on the top of the stem ; sepals greenish-yellow, petals 

 bright red. Fruit 1 inch long, pear-shaped, scarlet. South Mexico, 

 at high elevations. May be grown outside in summer, and wintered 

 in a heated greenhouse" or frame. A slow grower, requiring care 

 in winter, when the roots are apt to perish and the base of the 

 stem to rot. (Fig. 48.) 



M. sulcolanata. 



Stem simple wnen young, proliferous at the sides when old, 

 the young plants developing from the apices of the tubercles, and 

 not in the axils, as is usual. Tubercles nut-shaped, the bases 

 surrounded by white wool, the points bearing eight to ten rigid, 

 brown spines set in a little pad of wool. Flowers 2 inches across, 

 bright yellow, poppy-scented ; the spread of the petals suggests 

 Paris Daisies ; they are freely developed on the apex of the stem 

 in June and on ' till August. Fruit egg-shaped, green. South 

 Mexico ; introduced 1836. Should be grown in a frame exposed 

 to full sunshine all summer, and removed to a shelf in a warm 

 greenhouse in winter. Crafted on to a Cereus or an Opuntia it 

 is healthier than when on its own roots. (Fig. 49.) 



