PERESKIA. 121 



The stigma is erect, and divided at the top into four or more rays. 

 The fruit is a berry, shaped like a gooseberry, and covered with 

 minute clusters of short bristles. 



All the species are natives of tropical America and the West 

 Indies. 



Cultivation. 



Although several of the species of Pereskia are sufficiently 

 ornamental to be deserving of a place in gardens as flowering 

 plants, yet they are rarely cultivated in England, at any rate, for 

 any other purpose than that of forming stocks upon which 

 Epiphyllums and other Cacti are grafted. Only two species are 

 used, viz., P. aculeata and P. Bleo, the former being used as a stock 

 for Epiphyllum, P. Bleo, on account of the stoutness of its stems, 

 being employed only for the more robust kinds. 



Propagation. 



Pereskias may be propagated to any extent, as'every bit of branch 

 with a leaf and eye attached is capable of rooting and soon forming 

 a stem. The practice among those who use Pereskias as stocks 

 for Epiphyllums is as follows : Cuttings of P. aculeata are planted 

 in sandy soil, in boxes, and placed on a shelf in a stove till rooted. 

 In about a month they are ready to be planted singly in 3-inch 

 pots, any light soil being used ; and each plant is fastened to a 

 stake 1 foot long. They are kept in a warm, moist house, all lateral 

 shoots being cut away, and the leader encouraged to grow as tall 

 as possible in the year. From December the plants are kept dry 

 to induce the wood to ripen, preparatory to their being used for 

 grafting in February. Stocks 9 inches or 1 foot high are thus 

 secured ; if taller are required, the plants must be grown on till 

 of the required length and firmness. Large plants may be trained 

 against a wall or along the rafters in a warm house ; and when of 

 the required size, the branches may be spurred back, and Epiphyl- 

 lums, Rhipsalis, Rat-tailed Cereus, and similar plants, grafted upon 

 them. In this way very fine masses of the latter may be obtained 

 in much less time than if they were grown on their own roots. 



P. aculeata. 



The Barbados GJooseberry. Stem woody, branching, forming 

 a dense bush about 6 feet high. Young branches leafy; old ones 

 brown, leafless, clothed with large cushions of long, stout, brown 

 spines, sometimes 2 inches long. Leaves alternate, with very 

 short petioles, at the base of which is a pair of short spines, and a 

 small tuft of wool in the axil ; blade 3 inches long by 2 inches broad, 

 soft, fleshy, shining green. Flowers semi-transparent, watery 

 white, in terminal panicles ; sepals and petals J inch long by J inch 

 wide ; stamens in a large, spreading cluster, white, with yellow 

 anthers. Ovary covered with small cushions of short bristles, 



