CEREUS TRIANGULARIS. 
3 
for the stigma is divided into a number of crenulated lobes, 
which have no inconsiderable resemblance to a coronet. The 
whole flower is beautifully grand, without any thing gaudy to 
spoil the effect of these more delightful qualities ; and during the 
short time that it would naturally remain expanded on the plant, 
the scent, though not strong, is very sweet. What the flower may 
yet be made by treatment superior to what it has hitherto 
generally received, no one can say ; but of the specimen we have 
figured, we may say that there is not an equal to it in simple 
beauty in the whole of its tribe—or a superior in any tribe. 
The plant which bears this fine flower is of vigorous growth, 
but of very straggling, and even bizarre habit. The stems, or 
fronds, are triangular, or have three projecting ridges ; and one of 
the spaces between them is flatter than the other two, and puts 
out rootlets when near a support. The plant is leafless, unless 
the scales that appear on the joints and buds are to be considered 
as such; the flowers come out from the fleshy parts of the 
fronds ; but never, we believe, from that side which has the 
habit of producing rootlets. The thick and fleshy parts of them 
are connected by scaly, cylindrical, and fleshy joints, not so thick 
in general as an ordinary quill, and all the portions between these 
will root, and become new plants. The roots are even more 
rambling than the stems, and if neglected, will run in crevices for 
a number of yards. 
Plants of this tribe are generally looked upon as dry stove 
ones, and treated accordingly ; but we think the opinion un¬ 
founded, and the treatment unwise. Like most other plants, they 
require a season of rest and a season of growth. When growing, 
they require a good supply of water, and also a strong heat, to 
make them grow vigorously. For the most part they are tro¬ 
pical plants, and therefore justice is not done to them, unless they 
have tropical treatment. But a system has been got into, no one 
can very well tell why, of growing them with cool dry treatment, 
or in the hot-houses, without any moisture ; and as this system has 
been adopted, it must, right or wrong, be followed by those who 
are content with being servile imitators of others, and never trouble 
their heads about “ whys and wherefores.” 
From the improper treatment they receive, these plants make 
but feeble efforts in growth, and still more so in flowering. The 
unthinking and “ mill-horse’’-emulating cultivator, thus first 
