BHIPSALI8. 71 



large, but with a more graceful mode of growth and lighter-coloured bloaeoms, 

 the stamens, too, being uniformly pink." The plants found were sent to the 

 Duke of Bedford's celebrated collection at Woburu about 1839, and in honour 

 of the Duke the species received the name it now bears. The time of year 

 at which this Epiphyllum flowers has enabled hybridisers to extend the 

 flowering period of these plants fully two months — a moat important advan- 

 tage, and if it were for this alone E. Busselliannm has been a valuable 

 introduction. 



E. Altensteini. — Though not wanting in attractions this is rarely seea 

 n gardens, and is usually regarded as a variety of B. trunoatnm. It differs, 

 however, in its more slender branches being much longer, and the f owers are 

 of a rosy colour. The flowering period is the same as the betier-knowu 

 species, and, like that, it is a native of Brazil. 



TRIBE 2 



opmrTis, THE iroiAN pig teibe. 



This division of the Cactese includes the geneva Ehipsalis, Nopalea, 

 Opuntia, and Pereskia, which are characterised by branched and jointed 

 stems, and by the calyx tube not extending beyond the ovary. 



BHIPSALIS, Gaertmr. 

 (The Mistletoe Cactus). 



About thirty species of plants are assigned to the genus Bhipsalis as 

 now constituted, the majority being natives of Tropical America, though 

 one is found in South Africa and the Mauritius. They are epiphytal in 

 habit, like the two preceding genera, have much-branched, slender, round 

 angular, or flat leaQess stems, small flowers from a quarter of an inch to 

 an inch in diameter, with oblong spreading white or yellow petals and 

 greenish sepals, and a small white globular berry-like fruit resembling th 

 Mistletoe. Under these characters are now included what have been 

 regarded as four distinct genera — namely, the true Ehipsalis (Eurhipsalis) 

 Iiepismium, Hariota, and PfeifiFera, the three last being little known in- 

 gardens. In fact, the whole of the species are interesting chiefly for their 

 structure and distinctness from other Cactese, as they are of little horti- 

 cultural value. 



They all need a light sandy soil, and being of drooping habit several of 

 them appear best when suspended in pots or small baskets, and some of 



