BEAHM GARDENS 
Dear Customer: 
Because many of you are just getting acquainted with the epiphyllum (epi-fill-um) I will 
devote the next few pages to describing the flowers so that you may understand them better. 
You will find that the small gem-like flowers will appeal to you in so many ways, nevertheless 
the very large 10-inch or more flowers are so spectacular as to hold you spellbound. 
FLOWER SIZES 
In stating FLOWER SIZES—large—medium—small—it is very easy to create a confusion 
in the minds of the general public as to what is really meant, therefore we have set up this 
approximate scale for designating sizes of epiphyllum flowers as we grade them—measuring 
diameter of flower when pressed wide open. 
SMALL—will include flowers 214 to approximately 5 inches in diameter. 
MEDIUM—would embrace flowers fram 414 to 614 inches. 
LARGE—indicates flowers an average bloom of which would measure 6 to 8 inches. 
ALL HYBRIDS whose flowers average above 8 inches—some going to 10 or 11 inches— 
should be classed as EXTRA LARGE or GIANT. 
You will note that these sizes are overlapping. Epiphyllum flowers can be expected to vary 
in size on a single plant just as there is a variation in sizes of fruit on one tree—so much 
depends on health of plant, season of the year, fertilization and locale, and whether grown 
indoors or out. A single plant cf Padre may have a medium size as well as a super-size flower 
during the same season. Our statement of sizes is based on the average run after a study of a 
number of flowers on the typical plant. 
The expression SHORT OVARY and TUBE or FLOWER STEM simply means that this 
part of the flower will measure much shorter than the length of the longest sepal or petal. 
For descriptions as to plants and plant care see pages at the back of this catalog. 
FLOWER TYPES 
er Shapes of Blossoms 
There are several distinct forms or shapes of 
these flowers with many of them overlapping 
so no line of demarcation can be given. As in 
flower sizes, the types will overlap and what 
one might envision as bell-shaped another 
would call funnel-shaped. 
This explanation is not concerned with 
SIZES but is an attempt to define SHAPES. 
The different types or forms can often be found 
in several sizes of flowers ranging from so- 
called small, through medium to extra large. 
We are trying to simplify descriptions by set- 
ting up six general classes or types, as follows: 
TYPE A 
Flowers are very wide open. They might be 
termed saucer-like. Quite often they are very 
large and not too compact. The sepals stand 
out or a few may turn back. The petals and 
sepals often number less than 25. Examples: 
Gloria, Conway Giant, Adonis, Jenkinsonii, 
Sun Goddess, Mauvette. 
TYPE B 
Flowers are quite compact. The sepals and 
petals hold together closely and overlap well, 
giving a full effect. These flowers are wide 
open but not flat with numerous sepals and 
petals. They are best represented by the Phyl- 
locereus and often will have a slight spine on 
ovary and plant. Examples: Bohemienne, Pea- 
cocki, Dante, La France, Heliocereus Speciosus, 
Prof. Ebert. 
LY PEG 
Flowers might be of any size; the forward 
petals are well separated from the outstanding 
sepals. A few sepals may turn back. The petals 
may flare trumpet-like or the tips may curve 
inward, forming a cup. Examples: Deutsche 
Kaiserin, Padre, Otto Siepke, Magnolia, Marie 
Van Hoorde, Roseus Superbus, Scheherazade, 
Rosetta. 
TYPE D 
Flowers have a certain similarity to Type C 
in that the sepals and petals are well separated 
from each other but the sepals are usually quite 
narrow and recurved, while the petals extend 
forward well parted. Examples: CeKa, Pink 
Pearl, Jules Schlumberger, Symphony, Monte- 
zuma. 
TYPE E 
Flowers are represented by several of the 
true species. The flowers are flat or wheel- 
shaped; sepals and petals often long and 
slender. Sometimes sepals stand out like spokes 
and the petals may be shorter and not quite 
flat open. Examples: Strictum, Stenopetalum, 
Friedrich Werner Beul, Sunburst, Cartwheel. 
TYPE F 
Flowers are unique or hard to describe 
forms. Examples: Pride of Bell, Ben’s Laura, 
and those with narrow quilled petals. 
Flowers with characteristics common to sev- 
eral types might be represented by a TYPE 
LETTER and the plus or minus sign as needed. 
