A DESERT FASHION SHOW 9 



given to this Cereus ? We see the answer in the large bloom 

 nearly a foot long and over seven inches wide, of a delicate 

 tan-pink in background, shading Into the soft cream-white of 

 the petals, then the corona of stamens, a symphony of pale 

 yellow and white; touches of green grace the bases of the 

 sepals, and the whole forms a lovely picture against the 

 background of old adobe dwellings, evanescent and brilliant 

 In the white rays of the southern moon. And the fragrance 

 of this lovely Cereus ! The perfume from a single blossom 

 will fill a large room or a whole yard: a pronounced spicy 

 odor somewhat like that of a tuberose. This beautiful 

 flower resembles that of the Cereus Greggii, our own Night 

 Blooming Cereus. Its delicate colorings and poignancy of 

 perfume make It one of the finest blossoms of the flower 

 kingdom, much In demand for cactus gardens and window 

 decoration. The showy beauties are highly prized by Mex- 

 icans and Spaniards as well, both In Mexico and abroad. 

 Strictly night-blooming, and opening but one night In a 

 season, the beautiful blossoms begin to unfold soon after 

 sundown, having Increased rapidly in size the day before, 

 the loosened sepals and petals giving the flower the appear- 

 ance of an inverted flask; the blossoms close soon after sun- 

 rise unless the day is cloudy, when they remain open until late 

 afternoon. This blossoming, however, continues on differ- 

 ent plants during April, May, and even into June. With 

 favorable conditions the weird serpent plants run wild and 

 grow luxuriantly, forming very striking hedges; and they 

 are most attractive as climbers over the Mexican adobe walls. 



Giant Cactus (Cereus giganteus) 

 Southern California, Southern Arizona, and Mexico 



That fellow over yonder is Cereus giganteus, or Carnegiea 

 gigantea; he is "old Sahuaro" (pronounced "sa-wah'-ro"), 



