312 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 2, 1884. 
August or even longer than that with a good stock of plants brought forward 
a few at a time. 
The woodcut (fig. 54) represents a flower and portion of the plant 
reduced. 
P. ANGULIGER, Lemaire .—An extremely distinct plant, easily recognised 
by the deeply angled stems 2 to 3 inches in diameter, which are indented on 
the margin somewhat like a large saw with the teeth turned upwards, forming 
blunt triangular lobes. The flowers, which are 3 to 5 inches in diameter, the 
petals white, the sepals narrow, orange or yellowish, and spreading, open 
during the day, and continue expanded for a considerable time, giving out a 
powerful fragrance. It was found by Hartweg during his travels in the 
west of Mexico growing upon tree^ in a forest where Oaks predominated, and 
specimens were by him sent to the Royal Horticultural Society. 
P. BIFORIIIS {Disocactus biformis, Lindley). — Though not equal in 
attractions to other Phyllocactuses, this is an interesting plant, forming 
Fig. 54.—Phyllocactus Ackermanni. 
in appearance a link between those species and the Epiphyllums, but it is 
not likely to become of much garden value, and will only be grown to make 
a collection complete. The plant was introduced to England from Honduras 
at the same time (1839) and by the same persons as P. crenatus, and was 
described as a Cereus, but was subsequently constituted a genus by Lindley 
under the iiame Disocactus, and by Salm Dyck under the slightly different 
Title of Disiaocactus. The selection of these names was doubly unfortunate, 
first because there is a genus termed Discocactus quite distinct from this, 
and secondly because the plant does not possess sufficient characters to 
separate it from Phyllocactus, to which it is now referred by botanists. 
Plants in cultivation are usually rather small, but they will attain the 
height of 3 feet, branching freely and forming a rather graceful fleshy 
shrub. The branches are narrow, flattened and leaf-like, reddish on the 
margin, and bear the flowers at the points. The petals are narrow, 2 to 3 inches 
long, and partially combined into a kind of tube of a pale rosy pink colour. 
The flowers, however, do not last long, and are followed by bright red fruits 
about half an inch long, which, being produced abundantly, have a rather 
pretty effect. 
P . CRENATUS.— A magnificent species, undoubtedly one of the best in the 
genus, and one that has proved extremely valuable in the hands of hybrid- 
isers, as with the crimson-flowered species it has yielded a number of inter¬ 
mediate tints, such as soft rose, blush, and pale crimson. The stems are flat 
as in the others, but they are only slightly crenated ; the flowers are fragrant, 
of great size, 6 to 8 inches in diameter, with numerous lance-shaped petals, 
pure white and spreading. It is a native of Honduras, whence it was sent 
with several other plants by Sir Chas. Lemon, Bart., to Mr. G. Ure Skinner, 
in 1839, and it first flowered four years after its receipt. Seven years later— 
namely, in 1850, Mr. Gordon succeeded in raising at the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s Gardens a series of remarkably beautiful hybrids between this 
species and Cereus speciosissimus, which attracted much admiration at the 
time, and are still found in a few collections. The pollen was taken from 
the Cereus, making the Phyllocactus the seed-bearing parent, and the result 
was that the seedlings resembled the latter in form of the stems and flowers, 
but the colours more nearly resembled the Cereus slightly softened and 
varied. All these hybrids proved extremely floriferous and useful garden 
plants. This cross was repeated in 1870 by Col. Charleton of Braddon, Isle 
of Man, but a greater variation in colours resulted, the tints ranging from 
the pure white of the Phyllocactus to brilliant scarlet. Mr. C. M. Hovey, 
Boston, United States, also produced a race of hybrids between Phyllocactus 
crenatus and what he terms Epiphyllum splendidus, but which is presumably 
some scarlet form of Phyllocactus. These were raised about the same time 
as Col. Charleton’s, the flowers of all being remarkably large, from 8 to 12 
inches in diameter, and very freely produced. The best of them are the 
following — Alice Wilson, orange scarlet; Mauve Queen, purplish pink; 
Orange Gem, shining orange Pink Queen, mauve pink ; Sunset, rich crimson, 
and Refulgence, dark scarlet. A flne variety of P. crenatus is grown at Kew 
under the name of Vogeli, which has very large flowers of a rich rosy tint, 
and probably originated from some similar cross to those already named. 
P. Gordoniana, which has bright rose-coloured handsome flowers, appears to 
have had a similar origin. 
P. Hookeri, Salm. —In the “Botanical Magazine,” plate 2692, a figure of 
a fine white-flowered Phyllocactus was given under the name of Cactus 
Phyllanthus, an extremely old inhabitant of English gardens. In the 
opinion of several other writers it is quite distinct from and superior to that 
species, the name given above being consequently bestowed upon it. The 
branches and stem are flat and deeply crenated, 2 to 3 feet high, producing 
the flowers on the margin. These have a long narrow tube, and tapering 
white petals 2 to 3 inches long and about a quarter of an inch broad. It 
possesses a most agreeable fragrance, and usually flowers in the summer 
months from July to September. 
P. eatifrons {Cereus oxijpetalus, Decandolle).—A very strong-growing 
species, quit! the giant of its family, producing stout flattened stems 4 to 
5 inches broad, deeply crenated, and 8 or 10 feet high. A fine specimen, 
with several stems fully 8 feet in height, is grown in the Kew collection, 
and when in flower it has a remarkable appearance. The flowers seem to 
share the large dimensions of the plant, for they are 7 to 8 inches long and 
about 6 inches in diameter, the petals of a delicate clear creamy white, the 
sepals and tube of a reddish hue. It is a native of Mexico and some districts 
to the south of that country, and has been in cultivation for a considerable 
time, though the date of its introduction is uncertain. 
P. Phyllanthus, Salm. —As the oldest cultivated Phyllanthus this 
possesses a certain degree of historical interest, but it is not particularly 
beautiful, and is far surpassed by P. crenatus, P. Ackermanni, and the hand¬ 
some hybrids that have been mentioned. Its branches are flattened and 
crenated, bearing long tubular flowers in the style of P. Hookeri, but not so 
broad at the mouth ; creamy or greenish white, opening at night, and 
possessing a peculiar odour. According to the “ Hortus Kewensis ” the plant 
was cultivated by Phillip Miller in 1710, and a very good figure was given in 
Dillenius’s “ Hortus Elthamensis” in 1732, with a long description of the 
plant, under the name of Cereus Scolopendrii folio brachiata. It is the Spleen- 
wort-leaved Indian Fig of Miller, and is said to have been originally obtained 
fio n Brazil. 
P. PHYLLANTHOIDES, Solm {Cactus speciosus, Bonpland).—An extremely 
beautiful species, and, like P. Ackermanni, one of the most floriferous of the 
family, continuing in bloom during the greater part of the summer. With 
such an important character it is surprising that hybridisers have not 
employed the species more frequently in crossing with others, but it has no 
doubt contributed a few to the series of garden forms, and some of those 
with rose-coloured flowers can be traced to it. In the typical form the stem 
is flat, the margin crenated, and the centre reddish. The flowers are about 
2 to 3 inches long and 3 to 4 inches across at the mouth, the petals being 
ovate or lance-shaped, and coloured rose and white in irregular streaks, very 
delicate and handsome. As Cactus speciosus it was mentioned by Bonpland, 
who, with Humboldt in 1801, found it growing on trunks of trees at Turbaco, 
south of Carthagena, Plants or seeds were introduced to Europe by those 
travellers, and the first flowers were produced at Malmaison in May, 1811, 
plants also flowering about the same time in the Montpelier Botanic Garden. 
Of other Phyllocactuses which do not need detailed description the 
following are worthy of mention :—P. caulorrhizus, which has handsome 
flowers 6 inches in diameter, the petals white, and the sepals pale green ; 
P. Jenkinsoni, a hybrid or seedling variety, with large beautiful and richly 
coloured flowers of a brilliant crimson-scarlet hue, very free, and a favourite 
with many growers. Concerning this plant, as also in reference to the 
adaptability of Phyllocactuses as window plants, Mr. J. Udale, Shirecliffe 
Hall Gardens, Sheffield, writes :—“ Cacti are associated with my earliest 
memories, for in a window at home we had a plant of P. Jenkinsoni and one 
of P. speciosus, each of which has flowered profusely almost every season for 
the last thirty years ; and as pruning was frequently resorted to, their 
progeny are now innumerable. The plants were grown in the window during 
autumn, winter, and spring, being placed in the open air during the summer ; 
and with such simple attention they have for so many years been a source of 
considerable pleasure.” P. multiflorus, a floriferous form, with reddish- 
crimson flowers, the surface of the petals having a peculiar satin-like lustre, 
is a similarly useful variety; whilst one named in honour of Mr. Peacock is 
marked by a very rich shade of crimson. 
Numbers of flne varieties and hybrids have been raised at various times, 
but there yet remains plenty of room for further additions to the list of 
useful Phyllocactuses. By crossing amongst themselves with the best of 
the Cereuses, or even with the Epiphyllums, some grand results might be 
