CEREUS LEEANUS. 
81 
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CEREUS LEEANUS. 
Nat. Order, Cactace;e, 
Generic Character. —Cereus, Haworth. Perianth multiple, 
the base of the tube connate with the ovary, elongate-campanu- 
late; calycine segments sometimes numerous, arising spirally 
from the tube, from setiferous axils, sometimes few, the tube 
naked below; petals numerous, in many rows. Stamens in¬ 
serted irregularly on the tube, shorter than the corolla; fila¬ 
ments filiform ; anthers oblong. Ovary inferior, one-celled, with 
many-ovuled, parietal placentas; style filiform, surpassing the 
stamens ; stigma divided into many linear lobes. Berry ovoid, 
areolated, with scales or tubercles from the persistent calycine 
segments, one-celled, pulpy, the parietal placentas appearing 
like veins in the pulp. Seeds numerous, imbedded in the pulp. 
Embryo exalbuminous, with free foliaceous cotyledons, and a 
round obtuse radicle.—( Endlicher, Gen. PI., 5157.) 
Cereus Leeanus, Hooker. Lee’s Cereus.—Erect, about a 
foot high, conical-cylindrical, subacute, 12-14 ribbed; areolae 
approximated, pulvinate, tomentose, about 12-spined ; spines or 
thorns acicular, very unequal, strict, dusky, the exterior 2-3 lines 
long, the central one inch long; flowers sub-terminal, showy, 
brick-red; calycine scales green at the apex, retuse; petals 
obovate-oblong acute. 
Synonymy. —C. Leeanus, Hooker in Bot. Mag., t. 4417. 
^DESCRIPTION.—Plant succulent, about a foot high, and four inches in diameter, tapering 
upwards from a nearly cylindrical base ; fm-rowed throughout its length rather deeply and 
acutely, forming elevated rather sharp ridges or angles, which are studded at short intervals 
by small, dense, cushion-like tufts of wool, bearing the cluster of (about twelve) sharp needle- 
shaped aculei, straight, very irregular in length, the outer series being the shortest, and 
gradually lengthening, till the central, longer and stouter than the rest, is about an inch long. 
The flowers large, produced at the summit, brick-red, inclining to blood-colour ; the tube is 
green at the base, then yellowish orange, clothed with oblong fleshy scales, acute, tipped with 
green, and bearing at the point a tuft of aciculi or bristles ; these scales pass rather suddenly 
into petals of an oblong obovate-acute form, spreading and imbricated. Stamens numerous, 
rather longer than the tube. Style columnar; stigma green, of many erect or connivent 
rays.—H. 
History, &c. —Our drawing of this, one of the most beautiful of all the dwarf Cacti, was 
made from a plant obligingly communicated by Messrs. Lee, of Hammersmith, in June last. 
The same plant, which was present at the Royal Botanic Society’s Exhibition, there received, 
as a just tribute to its merit, one of the highest awards made in the class of new plants. Inde¬ 
pendently of the great beauty of the blossoms, they have the additional recommendation of 
being produced freely. Not much seems known of its history. It was introduced to this 
country by Messrs. Lee, who, we are informed, received it from France, as an unknown 
Mexican species. 
Culture. —We reserve any remarks of our own, to make way for the annexed paper on 
the subject by one of the most successful cultivators of this interesting race of plants.—M. 
THE CULTURE OF DWARF CACTI. 
By MAMILLARIA. 
IH1HE cultivation of the melon-shaped or globular Cacti has, in this country, been by most people 
A considered a matter of sufficient difficulty to deter them from paying that attention to the merits 
of the plants which then- singularity, and, I may add, beauty, certainly deserves. I propose, therefore, 
with the view of extending their cultivation, to give some account of their habits and requirements. 
Ihe tall-growing Cereuses and Epiphyllums are sufficiently understood, and admired for their brilliant 
flowers, and are honoured with stations at the various flower-shows ; but the dwarf Cacti, as they are 
called, whose merits I now advocate, infinitely more interesting in their habits, and beautiful in the 
clothing of their surface with variously coloured spines, are neglected and set aside as objects fit only 
to excite a little passing wonder ; whereas, whoever will take the pains to give them the least en¬ 
couragement, will be amply repaid by the beauty of their appearance when in health, and be gladdened 
by the rich colouring or delicate white of their blooms through the greater part of the summer. May 
I add, as a further inducement to their general culture, the growing pleasure that is sure to accompany 
attention to these elegant and curious exemplifications of Nature’s handiworks. I have no fear in 
asserting that they may be (and are) cultivated as successfully in this country as on the Continent or 
even in their native Mexico, by attending strictly to a few simple rules ; and they will be found not 
only to require less skill than most other plants, but with infinitely less trouble may be preserved in 
perfection. 
VOL. II S l 
