Chapter XIV. 

 PELECYPHORA. 



LIKE Leuchtenbergia, this genus is rare, difficult to cultivate, 

 and is exceptionally interesting in structure. It is closely related 

 to Mamillaria ; indeed, it was formerly included in that genus. It 

 differs, however, in the form of its tubercles, which are hatchet- 

 shaped, and cleft at the apex, where each division is clothed with 

 small, horny, overlapping scales, not unlike the back of a wood- 

 louse hence the specific name. The plants are collected and sold 

 in the drug market under the name of " peyote." 



Cultivation. 



The plant grows very slowly, specimens such as that repre- 

 sented in our illustration being many years old. Healthy plants, 

 freshly imported, may grow for a few months and then suddenly 

 die, the inside of the stem rotting, whilst outside it looked perfectly 

 healthy. Probably it would thrive better if grafted on the stem 

 of some dwarf Cereus or Echinocactus. 



Propagation. 



This is easiest effected by means of seeds, which, however, are 

 not readily obtained. The first plants sent to this country were 

 dead on arrival, but a few seeds were found in a withered fruit on 

 one of the dead stems, and from these young plants were raised. 



P. aselliformis. 



The size, habit, and structure of this plant are so well repre- 

 sented in the figure that little description is necessary. The stems 

 are simple till they get about 3 inches high, when they produce 

 offsets about the base, which may either be removed to form new 

 plants, or allowed to remain. The flowers, which are large for the 

 size of the plant, are developed freely in the apex of the stems in 

 the early part of the summer. The sepals and petals are in four 

 series, the outer pale purple, the inner deep purple; stamens 

 numerous ; stigma with four erect lobes. First cultivated in 

 Berlin in 1843, but the flowers were not known till 1858. There 

 are several varieties, viz., concolor, distinguished by the whole 

 flower being deep purple ; pectin ata with larger scales (spine-tufts) ; 

 and cristata, a cockscomb or crested form. Mexico. (Fig. 62.) 



