Marvels of the Universe 



333 



to the long slender stems, which are regularly grooved, whilst the ridges between the grooves 

 are adorned at intervals with clusters of terrible spines. Many of them climb by leaning against 

 trees, others run along the ground. The Large-flowered Ceieus shown on this page has flowers 

 about a foot across. The unopened flower-bud gives no hint of the glorious interior, for the 



Photo by} 



[11. C. ,'i/ie/isloiie. 



THE MGHT-FLOWERING CACTUS. 



A reduced photograph of a West Indian species which measures a foot across, and is highly fragrant. The flower does 

 not open until late in the evening, and by the next morning early it has closed for ever. Like most other fragrant white flowers 

 that bloom at night, it is fertilized by moths. 



outside of the sepals is dull brown ; but when these separate and turn back, their inner faces are 

 seen to be bright yellow, which has the effect of accentuating the purity of the numerous white 

 petals and of the vast number of long, thread-like stamens in the centre. To this chaste beauty 

 is almost superfluously added a powerful and delicious fragrance calculated to lead the night-moths 

 from afar to the exact spot. This plant is a native of the West Indies, and is the one most 

 frequently seen in English greenhouses. 



