54 CACTACEOUS PLANTS. 



they are not difficult to grow, succeeding under the same treatment a» 

 the other tall-growing Cereuses. 



EcHiNOPSis. — The fourth group of species arranged under the wide 

 term Cereus includes a number oJ plants at one time considered to be 

 related to the Echinocactns, but which are readily separated from that 

 genus by the long tubular or funnel-like flowers produced from the side 

 of the stem instead of near the summit, as in the Hedgehog Cactus. 

 From the true Cereuses they are also distinguished by their dwarf 

 globular stems, and from the Echinocereus by the long flowers and smooth 

 seeds. Many of the species are very handsome when in flower, and 

 several are as hardy as the Echinocereuses, being therefore employed on 

 rockeries or in warm situations out of doors with Opuntias and a few 

 Mamillarias. Owing to this hardiness of constitution they are useful as 

 window Cacti, and are generally grown for that purpose in the miniature 

 pots before mentioned. Some do not flower quite so freely as their 

 relations, but they are easily grown, almost the only requisite being to 

 avoid giving them too much water either in the soil or in the stems, as 

 they are very liable to decay, particularly during the winter. 



B. Btriesi. — One of the best known of the species, and when in flower 

 it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and interesting in cultivation. 

 The stem is very regularly globular, with small angular ridges, which bear 

 small dark spines set in little tufts of white hairs. The flowers are 

 6 to 8 inches long, like a curved funnel, and are 4 to 5 inches across at the 

 mouth, formed by numerous tapering white petals spreading symmetrically, 

 A most important character is the delicious fragrance possessed by the flowers, 

 which is very powerful and most pleasing. Eeferriug to this plant. Dr. 

 Lindley has vmtten in the following eulogistic but well-merited terms, 

 " When young the blooms resemble long sooty grey horns covered with thick 

 shaggy hairiness, and would never be suspected to conceal a form of the 

 utmost beauty or a clear and a delicate complexion. When the hour of 

 perfection has arrived, and the coarse veil of hair begins to be withdrawn by 

 the expansion of the unfolding petals, one is amazed at the unexpected love- 

 liness which stands revealed in the form of this vegetable star." The plant 

 is a native of Mexico, whence it is said to have been first introduced by Sir 

 John Lubbock, who forwarded specimens to the London Horticultural Society' 

 A variety named glaucus has also been obtained, but it difiers little from the 

 type except in the slight glaucous tinge of the stem. 



B. OXTGONA. — This has been described as an Bohinocactus, but is now 

 included with the Echinopsis tor the reasons already named. It is somewhat 

 similar to E. Eyriesi in the form of the stems and the ridges, bnt the spines 

 are brown and the tufts of hair or pulvini are not so white. The flowers 

 however, are extremely beautiful, and by many would be considered more 

 handsome than those of the preceding species. The flower tube in good 

 examples is fully 8 inches long and 4 inches in diameter, less contracted than. 



