CACTUS AND OTHER SUCCULENTS. 
These plants are struct iirally adapted by their heavy spongy 
stems and thick epidermal walls to store up moisture and con- 
serve it from loss by transpiration, points of vital importance in 
the desert regions where they are found. The Cactus House is 
planned to reproduce in some measure the weird appearance of 
such desert scenes where the clumsy leafless vegetation springs 
from the barren soil. Of the plants displayed here the larger 
number are true Cacteae. These are chiefly indigenous to Mex- 
ico and the Southwestern United States where they produce 
extensive "cardon forests". The group Euphorbiaceae plays a 
similar role iji the African deserts. Though resembling the Cac- 
teae in general appearance the stems of Euphorbias are usually 
triangular or round while those of the Cactus are many angled. 
The Amaryllis family also contributes in the Agaves or 
"Century Plants" of our American deserts many succulents,, 
some of them ver}' beautiful in their soft blue-grey coloring; and 
again in the Aloes of Europe and Africa we find a group of plants 
closely resembling them in appearance though belonging to the 
Lily family. 
The flowering habit of the "Centurj' Plant," which labors 
for years storing up food in its fleshy leaves preparing for the 
great final effort of its life, the raising of the giant flower stalk, 
is one of the perplexing secrets of nature. 
AMARYLLIDEAE. 
Agave albicans. Mexico. 
" americana. Common Century Plant. 
" americana var. picta. 
striata. 
variegata. 
aspernma. 
