49 
EPIPHYLLUM SPLENDIDUM. 
(SPLENDID EPIPHYLLUM.) 
CLASS. ORDER. 
ICOSANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
CACTEiE. 
Generic Character. — Sepals imbricated, numerous, confounded with the corolla. Corolla indefinite’. 
Branches leaf-like, fleshy, usually smooth, but sometimes with a few bristle-like spines ; each leaf-like 
branch with a midrib having parallel side ribs, which terminate at the indentations of the edges. 
Flowers proceeding from the extremity of the midrib either at the side or the top of the branch. 
Stamens numerous. 
Specific Character.— ^Branches ensiform, flat, with spreading teeth, and smooth. Flowers in the indent- 
ations of the leaf-like branches at the sides, chiefly near the extremity, solitary, very large, from six 
to ten inches diameter, rich carmine colour ; petals oblong, each terminating in a fine point. Stamens 
light rose colour, slender, two-thirds as long as the petals, anthers white ; style equal in length to the 
stamens, terminating in six stigmas. 
We obtained tbe present very splendid species from tbe celebrated collection of 
succulents at that time in the possession of Mr. Hitchen of Norwich, but since 
purchased by Mr. Mackay, nurseryman of that place. All admirers of this novel 
tribe of plants are much indebted to Mr. Hitchen for the valuable additions he has 
latterly made to those previously cultivated in this country. The present species is a 
native of Mexico, from whence it has been lately introduced : its flowers were stated 
to be ten inches broad, which we feel not the shadow of a doubt about, as ours, 
though a very small plant, measured when in full blow eight inches in diameter. 
We placed it in the stove, potting it in a mixture of sandy loam, and a small 
portion of brick rubbish, and treated it in the same manner as C. speciosus, speciosis- 
simus, fyc. It came into flower in October last, when our drawing was taken. It 
certainly, without exception, far surpasses in size and splendour of the flower any 
species or variety at present known : both the speciosissimus and even the grandijlora 
will not bear a comparison with it for size. It is entirely destitute of that beautiful 
purple so characteristic of the flowers of the C. speciosissimus , and has something 
of an orange colour, all the petals being nearly transparent. In point of the shape 
of the flower, and in some other respects, it bears a good deal of resemblance to the 
C. speciosissimus. 
All the stove species of Cactee may be treated as follows : — 
1, Pot them in loam and peat, or sandy loam, mixed with a small portion of lime 
rubbish, say about a fourth part. 
2. Always let the pots in which they are planted be as small as the plants will 
VOL i. — no. m. 
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