CERl'NTHE. 



51 



chelido'nium. 



Ce^reus. — Cactacece. — The Torch 

 Thistle. One of the genera into 

 which the Linnsean genus Cactus is 

 now divided. This genus was first 

 formed by Mr. Haworth, who made 

 it consist only of all the cacti that had 

 long angular or round stems ; but 

 modern botanists include in it those 

 of the short round-stemmed porcu- 

 pine cacti, that have long tube-shaped 

 flowers. Of the true kinds of Cereus, 

 which are still generally the only ones 

 known by that name in most private 

 collections and nurseries, the best 

 known are C. speciosissimus, the 

 crimson-flowered Torch Thistle, and 

 its hybrids and varieties, the stems of 

 which are erect and angular, and the 

 flowers dark crimson, C. fiagelli- 

 formis, the Creeping Cereus, the 

 long round stems of which hang down 

 like cords, and the flowers of which 

 are pink, and C. grandijlorus, the 

 Night-blowing Cereus, the flowers of 

 which are white and yellow. The Old 

 Man's Head, or Monkey Cactus, (e- 

 reus senilis, is alsobecoming tolerably 

 well known. All the kinds of Cereus 

 only require greenhouse heat ; they 

 should all be grown in loam mixed 

 with pounded brick and lime rub- 

 bish, in pots well drained with cin- 

 ders; and they all require abundance 

 of air and light. It is best to give 

 them a season of rest when they have 

 done flowering; and this is done by 

 removing them to a colder house, and 

 withholding water. If, however, they 

 are continued in the same house in 

 which they were flowered, the supply 

 of water should be only lessened, and 

 not stopped entirely. In other re- 

 spects their culture resembles that of 

 the other Cacti ( see Cactus). 



Ceri'nt he. — Boraginece.-- Honey- 

 wort. Hardy annuals, more curious 

 than beautiful, that will grow in any 

 soil or situation; and which, if sown 

 in spring or summer, will generally 

 come into flower in about six weeks 



from the time of sowing; and if sown 

 in autumn, will stand through the 

 winter. 



Chalk. Carbonate of lime (see 

 Earths). 



Chaivlemoly. — A species of Allium. 



Chamjebuxus. See Polygala. 



Chardi'nia. The new name for 

 Xerdnthemum orientale. 



Charlwoo'dia. — Asphodelece. — 

 Stately plants, nearly related to Dra- 

 caena, the Dragon tree, growing well 

 in a mixture of light loam and sandy 

 peat, and requiring a cool part of the 

 stove, or a very warm greenhouse. 

 C. congesta has pale blue flowers, 

 and is readily increased by cuttings 

 planted under a hand-glass, without 

 shortening the leaves. 



Chaste Tree. — Vitex Agnus 

 Cactus, a low shrub of no beauty, 

 which will grow in any common soil. 



Cheira'nthus. — Cruc'tferce. — The 

 wall-flower. Well known herbaceous 

 plants, which are much prized for the 

 delightful odour of their flowers, 

 which are produced from April to 

 July. C. Chetri, the common wall- 

 flower, and its varieties, both double 

 and single, are in general cultivation, 

 growing in any common soil ; and the 

 varieties are readily increased by cut- 

 tings. The best varieties are the 

 double blood, the double striped, 

 the double yellow, or Polish, and the 

 double purple, all of which may be 

 obtained from the nurserymen. C. 

 alpinus is a pretty hardy little plant, 

 with yellow flowers, well suited for 

 giowing in pots, or on rock work. 

 C. mutdbilis is a curious species from 

 Madeira, requiring the greenhouse, 

 and flowering from December to May. 



Chelido^nium . — Papavermece. — 

 Thee ommon Celandine, or C, Majlis, 

 Swallow-wort, is a hardy perennial, 

 with yellow flowers, common on the 

 sea- coast, and in churchyards, in 

 many parts of England. It grows in 

 any common soil, and is readily in- 

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