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GA Cs US’ PES E 
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ES 
—— 5 ess 
In America, we had become acquainted with 
our own desert desizens. We had learned much 
about successfully growing them and, applying 
that knowledge, we were trying to give this new 
cactus the same treatment. 
Soon we began to realize that this plant re- 
sponded well to a little more shade, a little 
more water and, most unbelievable of all, it 
seemed to need added fertilizer. In the mean- 
time, European botanical literature became more 
available. Some of our own scientists became 
interested in the plants and, at last, we realized 
that the original home of this cactus was not 
the desert but along the coast-line, in our own 
American jungle country. 
The American botanists, Britton and Rose, 
began their research on these plants and in 
1923, they re-established Haworth’s original 
name of Epiphyllum, which actually held pre- 
cedence over the name Phyllocactus. Thus, in 
America, we finally gave complete recognition 
to our own jungle-born cacti for the name 
Epiphyllum is now recognized throughout the 
entire world. 
GROWING THE ORCHID CACTUS IN AMERICA 
The Epzphyllum, native of the American 
jungles, was first given recognition in Europe. 
The hybrids which European botanists produced 
were of such a brilliant color range that they 
challenged our imagination. A few were im- 
ported to the United States and now we began 
to know and understand this immigrant which, 
with the help of man, had migrated back to us 
from Europe. 
In California, the climate was most ideal, in 
fact, far superior to that of Europe where so 
much had already been accomplished. The 
hybrid Epiphyllums had taken the fancy of two 
very sincere and earnest gentlemen, Mr. H. M. 
Wegener of Los Angeles, and Dr. R. W. Poin- 
dexter of nearby Compton. They worked first 
with European imports, but were not long satis- 
fied, for soon they had produced many original 
hybrids of their own. 
Through their work, and that of Dr. A. D. 
Houghton of San Fernando, these hybrids were 
introduced to a flower-hungry public. Soon 
these Orchid Cacti, as the hybrids were now 
called, were grown in California on a large 
commercial scale and were shipped to all parts 
of the world. American-grown hybrids are 
equal to and often surpass those developed in 
Europe. | 
Only sixteen wild species of Epiphyllum are 
recognized but a complete list of Orchid Cacti, 
including both American and European, would 
run well over 3,000 varieties. Flower sizes vary 
from two inches to perhaps ten inches across 
a single flower and the color range 1s complete 
except for a real blue, which is always lacking 
in the true cacti. Their lustrous texture and 
brilliant colors challenge the entire flower 
world, 
Hybridizing and growing these cacti from 
seed is a long, patience-requiring process which 
few would care to undertake. Most of the 
plants grown from seed will be throw-backs to 
the parent plants, or the grandparents. Only a 
few will have outstanding flowers, and so the 
grower must discard countless plants. It often 
takes seven years for the first flower on a hybrid 
and then perhaps it will be exactly like its 
parent. 
Once a worthwhile hybrid has been estab- 
lished, the propagation of that particular one is 
easy. Like many other cacti, the Orchid Cactus 
grows easily from a cutting. Flowers of plants 
thus grown will run true in color, shape and 
size. They will be exactly like those on the 
plant from which the cutting was taken. 
They are unlike most tropical plants for, even 
though sorely neglected or given the very mini- 
mum of care, your Orchid Cactus, like your 
dog, will reward you most generously. Their 
beautiful flowers with their rainbow hues, will 
bring you just a bit closer to heaven itself, for 
they will make you feel that, at last, you have 
found the “Rainbow’s End.” 

Luana CP. 1946 
