ide) 
VENTURA-BY-THE-SEA 
EPIPHYLLUMS 
LOBSiER OR CRABS CLAW CACTUS. 
Epiphyllum Violaceum alba, or Xmas Cactus. 
The genus Epiphyllum (from epi, upon, and phyllm, a leaf,) from its hand- 
some and graceful appearance would hardly appear to belong to the cactus fam- 
ily. Its native home is in the forests on the slopes of the Oregon mountains 
in Brazil, where it grows on the trunks and branches of large trees. oceasion- 
ally on the ground, or upon rocks, at an elevation of 6,000 feet. It has long 
