THE CEREUS. 
The night-flowering Cereus (Cactus grandi-florus,) is one 
of our most splendid hot-house plants, and is a native of Ja¬ 
maica and some other of the West India Islands. Its stem 
is creeping, and thickly set with spines. The flower is white 
and very large, sometimes nearly a foot in diameter. Its 
petals are of a pure and dazzling white; and a vast number 
of recurved stamens, surrounding the style in the centre, add 
to its beauty. The fine scent of this extraordinary flower 
perfumes the air to a considerable distance; but the most 
remarkable circumstance with regard to it, is the short time 
which it takes to expand, and the rapidity with which it de¬ 
cays. Upon large plants, eight or ten flowers will open on 
the same night, making a most magnificent appearance by 
candlelight, bloom for an hour or more, then begin to droop, 
and before morning be completely dead. This plant does 
not bear fruit in this country, and must be nursed in a stove 
to enable it to produce flowers. 
THE NIGHT-BLOWING CEREUS. 
ANON. 
Can it be true? so fragrant and so fair! 
To give thy perfume to the dews of night? 
Can aught so beautiful shrink from the glare, 
And fade and sicken in the coming light? 
(124) 
