NATIVE FLORIDA CACTUSES. 



533 



is night-blooming, with very large handsome white flow- 

 ers. The triangular stems are one or two inches in 

 diameter and delight in climbing on walls and fences. 



Another species, which, like Opitiitia polyattt/ia, is 

 peculiar to Key West and Lower Metacombe, is Cereus 

 monoclonos . This species has an arborescent stem attain- 

 ing a height of twenty feet- -almost a miniature Ct-reus 

 giganteits — a "baby-giant." A full-grown branched 

 specimen is perhaps the most conspicuous and ' ' unique " 



to penetrate thick leather. It is one of the most for- 

 midable obstacles to clearing new land, and is only 

 conquered by the machele, and a good hot fire. A 

 thicket of this cactus, supplemented by quantities of 

 Opuntia Tuna, the serrulate leaves of Agave rigida, the 

 spines of its variety sisalana, with a "fair sprinkling" 

 of "Spanish Bayonets" (Yucca aloifoHa), and a half- 

 bushel of brindle mosquitoes turned loose in their midst, 

 constitutes a most effective protection to the early water- 



FiG. 5. A Meiilev of C.\ctu^ Mons tro.-jITies. (See page 530) . 



of all the Florida cactuses. The flowers are freely pro- 

 duced, but are small compared to those of many species 

 of cereus. The diameter of the stem ranges from two 

 to eight inches. 



The most plentiful, and at the same time the most 

 "murderous" species of cereus found in Florida is 

 Cereus vayiabilis . This is only found below the Caloosa- 

 hatchie river, but it is there found on all the high land 

 in sufficient quantities to "strike terror into the heart " 

 of the adventurous " Conch " (Bahamian) who essays to 

 start a tomato patch or a pine-apple farm. The stems 

 are about the size of those of C. /riaiigii/aj-is, and are 

 three, four, five, or six-sided, a peculiarity indicated by 

 the name. They are of upright, scrambling, creeping, 

 or any other style of growth ; and are armed with most 

 formidable spines an inch or more long, and so strong as 



melon patches of far South Florida. The vigorous ac 

 tivity of the " skeeters " is well supplemented by the 

 passive " cussedness " of this mass of various spines, 

 thorns and prickles ; and even the most hardened Afri- 

 can lover of the juicy cucurbit ma_\- well pause in fear 

 of the surroundings, if not in admiration of the nerve 

 which could evolve a melon field out of this truly 

 American jungle. 



It is in cactuses, as in other things that grow, Florida 

 demonstrates its wonderful adaptability and wide range. 

 With the treasures of the tropics and the sturdy fruits 

 of the north within our reach, ought we not be proud 

 of our "land of flowers ?" If only the occasional hard 

 freeze was not the serpent in our Eden, how happy we 

 would be ! 



Florida. P. W. Reasoner. 



