﻿PLATE DVIII. 

 C A C TO S GRANDIFLORUS. 



Large-Lowered Cereus. 



CLASS XII. ORDER I. 



ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA. About 20 Chives. One Polntal. 



ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER. 



CitYX monophyllus, superus, imbricatus. Co- II Emfalement one-leafed, above, tiled. Bios- 

 rolla multiplex. Bacca monolocularis, po- J som of many folds. Berry of one locula- 



lysperma. ment, many-seeded. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Cactus scandens vel repens, ramosus, articu- it Cebeus with a climbing or creeping stem, 



Jams, cam radiculis lateralibus : ramissex- | branching, jointed, with small side-roots: 



vel octagonis, aculeos stellatos ferentibus. branches six- or eight-angled, bearing starry 



Calyx radiatus, flavus : corollis albis. Flores prickles. Empalement rayed and yellow, 



magni, vespere expansi, odorem fragran- Blossom white. Flowers large, expanding 



tissimum exhalantes. in the evening, and breathing a most fra- 



Millers Icones, tab. QO. " graat odour. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 

 A flower divested of the petals, and spread open. 



This elegant hot-house plant has been figured by several authors, and is well known by the appellation 

 of the Night-blowing Cereus, and yet but few of Flora's lovely train, warmed by the mid-day sun* 

 refulgent beams, in splendour can compare with this nocturnal beauty, whose brilliant flowers expand 

 about sun-set. But, alas ! too soon condemned to fade, they close up early on the following mom. 

 Sometimes they have been found unclosed almost within an hour of noon : a circumstance that very 

 rarely happens, as it generally displays its graceful blossoms to Cynthia's silver beams, perfuming the 

 still cool air of midnight with its aromatic fragrance. 



Our figure was taken from a plant in the collection of the Dowager Lady de Clifford at Dudley Grove, 

 Paddington. 



