OPUNTIA RAFINESQUIIFIG. 84.—OPUNTIA RAFINESQUII
FIG. 84.—OPUNTIA RAFINESQUII
O. rosea(rose-coloured); Fig. 85.—Stem erect, branching freely. Joints varying in length from 2 in. to 6 in., not flattened, with ridge-like tubercles, bearing on their points small cushions of very fine bristles and tufts of pale yellowish spines about ½ in. long, and all pointing upwards. Flowers on the ends of the ripened growths of the year, usually clustered, 2 in. across, bright rose-coloured; they are developed in June. A rare species from Brazil, and one which, as the illustration shows, is both distinct and handsome enough to be classed amongst the most select. It requires a stove temperature.
OPUNTIA ROSEAFIG. 85.—OPUNTIA ROSEA
FIG. 85.—OPUNTIA ROSEA
O. Salmiana(Prince Salm-Dyck's).—Stem erect, branching freely, the branches at right angles to the stem. Joints from 1 in. to 6 in. long, cylindrical, smooth, ½ in. in diameter, clothed with small cushions of soft, short bristles, and one or two longish spines. Flowers produced in September, 2 in. across, yellow, streaked with red, of short duration. Fruit egg-shaped, 1 in. long, crimson. This species is a native of Brazil, whence it was introduced in 1850. It requires to be grown in an intermediate house. It is a charming little Cactus, and quite exceptional among Opuntias in the colour and abundance of its flowers, and in the rich colour of its numerous fruits, which usually remain on the plant several months. The plant, too, has the merit of keeping dwarf and compact. The small joints separate very easily from the branches, and every one of them will root and grow into a plant. There is something very remarkable in the development of the fruits of this kind. A small branch, or joint, grows to its full length, and a flower-bud appears in the apex. If examined at this stage, it will be seen that the ovary occupies only a very shallow cavity in the top of the branch. After flowering, this ovary grows into the branch, and ultimately the whole branch is transformed into a pulpy fruit, with the seeds scattered all through the pulp. This peculiarity is well shown inO. salmiana, and the development of the fruit can be very easily watched. Many of the small branches do not flower, although they change to a red colour like the fruits.
O. spinosissima(very spiny).—Stem erect, woody. Joints very flat and thin, deep green, ovate or rotund, from 6 in. to 1 ft. long. Cushions 1 in. apart. Bristles very short. Spines in clusters of about five, the longest 2 in. in length, brownish-yellow. Flowers reddish-orange, small, usually only 2 in. across, produced in June. A native of South America; naturalised in many parts of the Old World. The stem becomes cylindrical with age, and sometimes is devoid of branches for about 5 ft. from the ground. The plant requires stove treatment. Probably this kind is only a form ofO. Tuna.
O. subulata(awl-shaped). —Stem erect, cylindrical, even below, channelled and tubercled above, about 2 in. in diameter. Joints long and branch-like, with tufts of short, white hair on the apices of the tubercles, and one or two white, needle-like spines from ½ in. to 1 in. long. At the base of each tuft, from the apex to 1 ft. or more down the younger branches, there is a fleshy, green, awl-shaped leaf, from 2 in. to 5 in. long. Ultimately the leaves and spines fall away, the tubercles are levelled down, and the mature stem is regular and cylindrical, with tufts of white setae scattered over it. Flowers small, produced in spring; sepals 2 in. long, green, deciduous; petals small, dull purple, usually about eight in each flower. Fruit pear-shaped, 4 in. long; seeds very large, nearly ½ in. long and wide. This handsome South American species was the subject of an interesting communication to theGardeners' Chronicle, in 1884, from Dr. Engelmann. It had previously been known as a Pereskia from the fact of its leaves being persistent and very large. In its leaves, flowers, and seeds,O. subulatais one of the most interesting of the genus. It is easily grown in a warm greenhouse, and deserves a place in all collections of Cactuses.
O. Tuna(native name); Fig. 86.—An erect-stemmed, flat-jointed, robust-growing species. Joints ovate, 4 in. to 9 in. long, with cushions 1 in. apart, composed of short, fulvous bristles, and several long, needle-shaped, unequal, yellowish spines. Flowers borne on the upper edges of the last-ripened joints, 3 in. across, reddish-orange, produced in July. Fruit rich carmine, about 3 in. long, pear-shaped. The plant is a native of the West Indies, &c., and was introduced in 1731. It has already been stated, underO. spinosissima, that there is a close similarity between that species andO. Tuna. We suspect, also, thatO. nigricansis another near relation of these two. They are much alike in all characters, and they require the same treatment.O. Tunahas been seen as much as 20 ft. in height.
OPUNTIA TUNAFIG. 86.—OPUNTIA TUNA
FIG. 86.—OPUNTIA TUNA
O. tunicata(coated-spined).—Stem sub-erect, cylindrical. Joints club-shaped, variable in length, about 2 in. in diameter. When young the surface is broken up into numerous oblong tubercles, each bearing a small cushion of whitish, short hairs, and about half a dozen white spines, unequal in length, the longest stout, and inclosed in a hard sheath, which becomes broken and ragged when old. Flowers not known. A native of Mexico, and introduced in 1840. It requires stove treatment.
O. vulgaris(common); Bot. Mag. 2393.—A low, prostrate, spreading plant. Joints short, oval, flattened, thicker than inO. missouriensis, 3 in. long by about 2 in. broad. Spine-cushions ¾ in. apart; tufts very small, with, occasionally, a long spine. Leaves fleshy, very small. Flowers 2 in. across, pale sulphur-yellow. Fruits nearly smooth, 1½ in. long, brown when ripe, with a strong disagreeable odour. The flowers are produced freely in June. The plant grows wild in Mexico, and extends up to New York, usually near the coast. It is now common in many parts of Europe, where it has become naturalised. In Madeira it has taken possession of all waste land, and is perfectly at home there. In England it was cultivated by Gerard nearly 300 years ago. It grows rapidly if planted in stony soil, in a position exposed to full sunshine, where it will creep along the ground, and root all along its stems, which rarely get elevated more than 6 in. from the ground. This species andO. Ficus-indicaare confused by some authors, owing, no doubt, to the nameO. vulgarishaving been given by a botanist to the latter, which is a much larger and very different-looking plant.O. vulgarisis capable of withstanding our winters out of doors.
O. Whipplei(Captain Whipple's).—Stem usually prostrate, with slender, elongated branches, which are cylindrical when old, broken up into short joints when young. Joints varying in length from 2 in. to 1 ft., less than 1 in. in diameter. Cushions small, round. Spines white, variable in number, and arranged in tufts on the ends of the tubercles, one being 1 in. long, the others shorter. Flowers nearly 2 in. in diameter, red, borne in a cluster on the ends of the last-ripened joints in June. Fruit 1 in. long, with a cavity in the top. A compact, Mexican species, with crowded branches, and very free-flowering. It requires stove treatment.O. Whippleiis related toO. arborescens, from which, however, it is easily distinguished by the latter having a stout central spine and numerous radiating ones.
Of the 150 species of Opuntia known, about one-third have been selected for description here, and amongst these will be found all the best-marked kinds in the genus, and most of those of which we have any knowledge. Botanists find good specific characters in the size and structure of the seeds, in the character of the fruits, &c.; but for horticultural purposes these are of little or no value.
T
HE thirteen species included in the genus Pereskia differ so markedly from all other kinds of Cactus, that at first sight one can scarcely believe they are true Cactuses, closely related to Cereus and Epiphyllum. They have erect or trailing stems and branches, and usually form dense, large bushes; the branches are woody and thin, and bear large, laurel-like leaves, which remain on the plants several years—so that they may be termed evergreen. They have, however, the spine-cushions, the tufts of woolly hair and stout spines, and the floral characters which distinguish Cactuses from other plants; they are also succulent, the leaves and young branches being soft and fleshy. They appear to have the same peculiar provision for enabling them to bear long periods of drought without suffering that characterises the more familiar forms of Cactuses. The development of the spines in this genus is different from what takes place in all other spiny plants of this order. In the latter the spines are stoutest and most numerous on the younger parts of the plant, the older or woody parts being either spineless, through having cast them, or much less spiny than when they were younger. Thus, in Opuntia we find few or no spines on the old parts of the stems of even such species asO. horrida,O. nigricans, &c. In Echinocactus, too, the spines about the base of old plants are much fewer, if not entirely cast off, than on the upper part. In Pereskia the contrary is the case. TakingP. aculeataas an example, this is best known in gardens as having branches about as thick as a goose-quill, with ovate leaves, at the base of which there is a pair of curved spines, ¼ in. long, and shaped like cats' claws. But this plant when it gets old has a stem 3 in. in diameter, and clothed down to the ground with cushions of spines fixed firmly in the bark, each cushion composed of from twenty to fifty spines, and each spine 1 in. or more in length. From two to six new spines are developed in the centre of each healthy cushion annually. It would be absolutely impossible for any animal to climb an old stem of a Pereskia. InP. Bleothe spines are 2 in. long, and the cushions are much larger.
The flowers of Pereskias are borne singly or in panicles, at the ends of the young, ripened branches. In shape, each flower may be compared to a single Rose, the petals being flat and spreading, and the numerous stamens forming a compact cluster in the centre. The stigma is erect, and divided at the top into four or more rays. The fruit is a berry shaped like a Gooseberry, and covered with minute clusters of short bristles.
All the species are found in tropical America and the West Indies.
Cultivation.—Although several of the kinds of Pereskia are sufficiently ornamental to be deserving of a place in gardens as flowering plants, yet they are rarely cultivated—in England, at least—for any other purpose than that of forming stocks upon which Epiphyllums and other Cacti are grafted. Only two species are used, viz.,P. aculeataandP. Bleo, the former being much the more popular of the two; whilstP. Bleo, on account of the stoutness of its stems, is employed for only the most robust kinds of grafts.
Propagation.—Both the above-named species may be propagated to any extent, as every bit of branch with a leaf and eye attached is capable of rooting and soon forming a stock. The practice among those who use Pereskias as stocks for Epiphyllums is as follows: Cuttings ofP. aculeataare planted in sandy soil, in boxes, and placed on a shelf in a stove till rooted. In about a month they are ready to be planted singly in 3 in. pots, any light soil being used; and each plant is fastened to a stake 1 ft. long. They are kept in a warm, moist house, all lateral shoots being cut away, and the leader encouraged to grow as tall as possible in the year. From December the plants are kept dry to induce the wood to ripen, preparatory to their being used for grafting in February. Stocks 9 in. or 1 ft. high are thus formed. If taller stocks are required, the plants must be grown on till of the required length and firmness. Large plants may be trained against a wall or along the rafters in a warm house; and when of the required size, the branches may be spurred back, and Epiphyllums, slender Cereuses, and similar plants, grafted upon them. In this way very fine masses of the latter may be obtained in much less time than if they were grown from small plants.
P. aculeata(prickly); West Indian or Barbados Gooseberry.—Stem woody, more or less erect, branching freely, and forming a dense bush about 6 ft. high. Young branches leafy; old ones brown, leafless, clothed with large cushions of long, stout, brown spines, sometimes 2 in. in length. Leaves alternate, with very short petioles, at the base of which is a pair of short spines, and a small tuft of wool in the axil; blade 3 in. long by 2 in. broad, soft, fleshy, shining green. Flowers semi-transparent, white, in terminal panicles; sepals and petals ¾ in. long by ¼ in. wide; stamens in a large, spreading cluster, white, with yellow anthers. Ovary covered with small cushions of short bristles, with sometimes a solitary spine in the centre of each cushion. Fruit 1 in. long, egg-shaped, red, edible. There is a large plant of this in the Succulent House at Kew which flowers almost annually, but it has never ripened fruits. In the West Indies it is a very common shrub, whilst at the Cape of Good Hope it is used for fences—and a capital one it makes.
P. a. rubescens(reddish).—This variety has narrower, longer leaves, which are glaucous-green above and tinged with red below; the spines on the old stems are shorter and more numerous in each cushion. This requires the same treatment as the type.
P. Bleo(native name); Fig. 87.—A stout, branching shrub, having an erect stem, 3 in. or more in diameter, with green bark and very large cushions of spines; cushion a round, hard mass of short, woolly hair, from which the spines—about fifty in each cushion—radiate in all directions; longest spines 2 in. or more in length; one or two new ones are developed annually, and these are bright red when young, almost black when ripe; young branches ¼ in. to ½ in. in diameter. Leaves ½ in. apart, 3 in. to 6 in. long by 1 in. to 2 in. wide, oblong, pointed, with short petioles, and a small tuft of short, brown hair, with three or more reddish spines, in the axil of each. Flowers on the ends of the young, ripened branches, clustered in the upper leaf-axils, each flower 2 in. across, and composed of a regular circle of rosy-red petals, with a cluster of whitish stamens in the centre. They remain on the plant several weeks. Native of New Grenada. ProbablyP. grandiflorais the same as this, or a slightly different form of it. A large specimen may be obtained in a year or two by planting it in a well-drained bed of loam, in a warm, sunny house. It blossoms almost all summer if allowed to make strong growth. Pretty little flowering plants may be had by taking ripened growths from an old plant, and treating them as cuttings till rooted. In the following spring they are almost certain to produce flowers. Plants 1 ft. high, bearing a cluster of flowers, are thus annually obtained at Kew. Fig. 87 represents a short, stunted branch, probably from a specimen grown in a pot. When planted out, the leaves and spine-cushions are farther apart.
PERESKIA BLEOFIG. 87.—PERESKIA BLEO
FIG. 87.—PERESKIA BLEO
P. zinniaeflora(Zinnia-flowered); Fig. 88.—Stem erect, woody, branching freely, the branches bearing oval, acuminate, fleshy, wavy-edged, green leaves, with short petioles, and a pair of spines in the axil of each. Spine-cushions on old stems crowded with stout, brown spines. Flowers rosy-red, terminal on the ripened young shoots, and composed of a whorl of broad, overlapping petals, with a cluster of stamens in the centre, the whole measuring nearly 2 in. across. This species is a native of Mexico; it grows and flowers freely if kept in a warm house.
PERESKIA ZINNIAEFLORAFIG. 88.—PERESKIA ZINNIAEFLORA
FIG. 88.—PERESKIA ZINNIAEFLORA
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A
BOUT thirty species of Rhipsalis are known, most of them more peculiar than ornamental, although everyone is in some way interesting. They are remarkable for the great variety in form and habit presented by the different kinds, some of them much less resembling Cactuses than other plants. Thus, inR. Cassytha, the long, fleshy, whip-like branches and white berries are very similar to Mistletoe;R. salicornoides, with its leafless, knotty branches, resembles a Salicornia, or Marsh Samphire; another is like a Mesembryanthemum; and so on. The flowers are usually small, and composed of numerous linear sepals and petals, arranged more or less like a star, with a cluster of thin stamens in the centre, and an erect, rayed stigma. In the flat-jointed kinds, the flowers are developed singly, in notches along the margins of the young, ripened joints; in the knotted, Samphire-like kinds, they are borne on the ends of the branches; and in those with short, fleshy, leaf-like joints, they are usually placed on what appear to be flower-joints. Although the branches of these plants are usually altogether unlike the rest of the Order, yet occasionally they develop joints which are furrowed, and bear clusters of spines exactly as in the commoner forms of Cactuses.
The geographical distribution of Rhipsalis is exceptional. It is the only genus of Cactuses that has representatives in the Old World, excluding, of course, those which have been introduced by man. The bulk of the kinds of Rhipsalis occur in Central and South America, and the West Indies; but one—viz.,R. Cassytha—is also found in Africa, Mauritius, Madagascar, and Ceylon, as well as in tropical America. Several other species are found in Madagascar, some of them only recent discoveries. The occurrence of similar or even identical plants in tropical America and Madagascar has its analogy in the Animal Kingdom as represented in the two countries.
Cultivation.—All the species appear to grow well and flower freely under cultivation, the slowest grower being, perhaps,R. sarmentacea. In their natural homes they are invariably found either on trees or rocks, seldom or never on the ground; but in greenhouses they may be grown in pots, a few being happiest when suspended near the glass. They do not like bright sunshine, nor should they be kept in a very shaded, moist position. There is a good collection of kinds in the Succulent-house at Kew.
Propagation.—Seeds of Rhipsalis ripen freely, and these, if sown on sandy soil, and placed on a shelf in a warm house, germinate in a few days. The development of the seedlings is exceptionally interesting, as the vegetative organs of all the kinds are very similar, and Cactus-like; the gradual transition from this character to the diverse forms which many of the species assume when mature is quite phenomenal. Cuttings will strike at almost any time, if planted in sandy soil and kept in a close, warm house till rooted. Some of the kinds thrive best when grafted on to a thin-stemmed Cereus. Treated in this way,R. sarmentaceamakes 6 in. of growth in a season; whereas, on its own roots it would take about five years to grow as much.
The following is a selection of the species cultivated in gardens. The genusLepismiumis now included in Rhipsalis.
R. Cassytha(derivation not known).—A pendent shrub, 4 ft. or more high, growing on rocks and the mossy trunks of trees. Branches numerous, flexuous, with small branchlets or joints springing from the ends in clusters, smooth, round, the thickness of whipcord, leafless, with numerous brown, dot-like marks scattered over the surface; under a lens these dots are seen to be tufts of very fine hairs. Flowers on the sides of the young branches, small, greenish-white, short-lived; they are developed in September, and are succeeded by white berries, exactly like those of the Mistletoe, whence the name Mistletoe Cactus, by which this species is known. An interesting and easily-grown warm greenhouse plant, native of tropical America, Africa, &c. It was introduced in 1758.
R. commune(common); Bot. Mag. 3763.—Stem straggling, branching freely, growing to a length of several feet. Branches jointed; joints varying in length, triangular, the angles compressed, and notched along the margins; notches regular, and bearing tufts of whitish hair. Strong plants produce joints over 1 in. in width. Flowers white, tinged with purple, springing singly from the notches, and composed of eight to twelve sepals and petals. Stamens and stigma erect, white, the latter four-rayed. This species is a native of Brazil, and was introduced in 1830; Flowering-season, October to December. It may be grown in a warm greenhouse, and treated as a basket-plant or as a small pot-shrub. Syn.Lepismium commune.
R. crispata(curled).—Stem branching freely. Branches jointed and flat, like Epiphyllum. Margins of joints notched, and slightly curled. Flowers small, white, produced singly, in November and December, in the notches on the younger joints. Fruits white, pea-like, rather rarely ripened. A free-growing, compact stove shrub, with a bright green, healthy appearance. The similarity of its branches to Epiphyllum led to its being included in that genus by Haworth.
R. c. purpurea(purple).—This variety has larger, broader joints, which are bronzy-purple in colour.
R. fasciculata(cluster-branched); Bot. Mag. 3079.—Stems terete, as thick as a goose-quill. Branches usually in clusters, and sometimes jointed, green, with small red dots and little tufts of fine, hair-like bristles. Flowers white, produced in March, springing irregularly from the older branches, small, star-like. Fruit a white berry. From its habit of growing on trees, and the character of its stems and fruit, this plant has been called parasitical. It is, however, only indebted to the tree on which is grows for moisture, for it thrives if planted in a pot or basket in ordinary soil, and kept in a stove temperature. It is a native of Brazil, and was introduced in 1831.
R. floccosa(woolly).—Stems as inR. Cassytha, but thicker, longer, and with the branchlets in compact clusters on the ends of the long, arching branches. The dots marking the position of the microscopic hair-tufts are in small depressions. Flowers and fruit as inR. Cassytha, of which this might reasonably be called a variety. This species requires warm-house temperature.
R. funalis(cord-like); Fig. 89.—Stem straggling, branched. Branches numerous, composed of long, terete joints, rather thicker than a goose-quill, glaucous-green, slightly roughened on the surface, with depressions for the dot-like cushions. Branchlets usually fascicled and spreading. Flowers white, produced in spring, on the sides of the young joints, 1 in. across, large for the genus. Introduced from Central America about 1830. An easily-grown plant, sturdy, rather straggling, but very free-flowering. In old specimens the branches become semi-pendulous. It grows best when kept in a warm house. Syn.R. grandiflora.
RHIPSALIS FUNALISFIG. 89.—RHIPSALIS FUNALIS
FIG. 89.—RHIPSALIS FUNALIS
R. Houlletii(Houllet's); Bot. Mag. 6089.—Stems long, graceful, branching freely, round and twig-like, or with broad wings, as in Phyllocactus. Winged or flattened portions notched, and bearing a flower in each notch. Flowers stalkless, with pointed, straw-coloured petals, forming a shallow cup about ¾ in. across the top. Stamens and pistil white, with a tinge of red at the base. Flowering-season, November. Under cultivation, this Brazilian species forms a small, straggling shrub, about 3 ft. high, but in its native woods its stems are many feet long, and pendulous from the branches of trees. It may be grown in a warm house, in a pot, and its branches supported by a stake; or its lower stems may be fastened against a piece of soft fern-stem, into which its numerous stem-roots penetrate freely. In the winter it should be kept almost dry. The flowers remain fresh for several days, and are fragrant. A well-grown plant, when in flower, is an interesting and pretty object. It is the most ornamental kind.
R. Knightii(Knight's).—Stems and joints as inR. commune. Wings of joints usually broad, with red margins, and the hair in the notches in a dense tuft, nearly 1 in. long, pure white, and silk-like. Flowers small, white. This species, which thrives best under warm-house treatment, is a native of Brazil, and is usually grown only for its curious, Cereus-like stems. It forms a straggling plant about 1 ft. high. Syn.Lepismium Knightii, Cereus Knightii.
R. mesembryanthemoides(Mesembryanthemum-like); Bot. Mag. 3O78.—A small, compact plant, with woody stems, densely covered with little fleshy, conical joints, resembling very closely the leaves of some of the Mesembryanthemums. They are green, with a few red dots, each bearing a very small tuft of the finest hair-like spines. The flowers are developed in March, from the sides of the small joints; they are ½ in. across, and yellowish-white. Fruit a small, white, round berry. Native of South America, whence it was introduced in 1831. When grown in a warm house, in a small, round, wire basket, filled with peat and sphagnum, this little Cactus forms a pretty tuft, which in the spring produces large numbers of white, star-like flowers.
R. myosurus(mouse-tailed); Bot. Mag. 3755.—Stems dependent, several feet long, branching freely, jointed, with three or four angles or wings; the angles flattened, reddish, notched in the margin, and bearing a tuft of white, silky hairs in each notch. Flowers small, yellow, tinged with red, springing from the notches; produced in July. Fruit not seen. A native of Brazil; introduced in 1839. This species resembles some of the angular-stemmed kinds of Cereus. It grows freely and flowers annually, if planted in a basket of fibrous soil, and suspended near the glass in a warm greenhouse or stove. It is attractive even when not in flower, owing to the form of its stems and the tufts of long, silky, white hair which spring from the notches. Syn.Lepismium myosurus.
R. pachyptera(thick-winged); Bot. Mag. 2820.—Stem woody; branches jointed, flattened as in Phyllocactus, with deep notches; width of joints, 2 in. or more. Flowers small, yellowish-white, borne singly in the notches in November. Fruit a small, white berry, rarely ripened. A sturdy, comparatively uninteresting stove plant, introduced from Brazil in 1830. Syn.Cactus alatus.
R. paradoxa(paradoxical).—Stems trailing, with numerous long branches of most extraordinary form. Imagine a three-angled, fleshy branch, often several feet in length, the angles winged, about ½ in. deep, green, with smooth, reddish margins. At intervals of about 2 in. the branch has the appearance of having been twisted half round. There is no other plant with branches anything like these. Flowers produced in November, in the apex of the interrupted angles, small, white. Fruit seldom ripened. A native of Brazil, whence it was introduced in 1837. There is a fine example of this trained along a rafter in the Succulent-house at Kew. The numerous branches hang down several feet from the rafter, and have a most extraordinary appearance. This species requires stove treatment.
R. penduliflora(pendulous-flowered).—A small, thin-stemmed plant, with smooth, green branches, no thicker than whipcord, and numerous fascicled or clustered, small joints, ½ in. long, green, with red dots, angular when young. Flowers on the tips of the terminal joints, pale yellow, ½ in. across, developing in August. Fruit white, Mistletoe-like. This species was introduced from tropical America in 1877, and requires stove treatment.
R. p. laxa(loose).—This variety has the branches curving, and more pendulous; in other respects it resembles the type, and requires the same treatment.
R. pentaptera(five-winged).—Stems erect; branches stiff, long-jointed, with five wing-like angles, slightly spiral, the angles notched at intervals of 1 in. Flowers in the notches, ½ in. across, white, produced in August. Fruit a white, Mistletoe-like berry. A curious plant from Brazil, and introduced in 1836. In stove temperature it forms a compact pot-shrub, 2 ft. high, and is worth growing on account of its singular stems.
R. rhombea(diamond-branched).—Stems and branches as inR. crispata, but without the wavy margins, and with more elongated joints. Flowers small, white, produced in the notches of the joints in November. Fruit a shining, milk-white berry. A compact plant from Brazil, worth growing for its bright green, leaf-like stems. It should be grown in pots, in stove temperature, and encouraged to form a globose bush.
R. Saglionis(Saglio's); Bot. Mag. 4039.—A tiny plant, similar in habit toR. penduliflora, but with brown branches, the small joints angled, and bearing silky hairs. The branches and joints are set at zigzag angles. Flowers pale yellow, produced in autumn on the younger joints. Fruits white, Mistletoe-like. A small, delicate plant from Buenos Ayres, not more than 6 in. high. This species requires stove treatment.
R. salicornoides(Glasswort-like); Bot. Mag. 2461.—Stem woody when old, brown, jointed like hens' toes, not quite as thick as a goose-quill. Branches in clusters; joints ½ in. to 1 in. long, the lower half much thinner than the upper, so that the joints look like a number of superposed, miniature clubs. Flowers pretty, on the ends of the terminal joints, yellow, becoming red with age. An erect plant, 3 ft. or more high, introduced from Brazil in 1830. The joints are clustered on the upper part of the stem. When in flower in spring this is an attractive and very remarkable-looking plant. It thrives best in stove temperature.
R. s. stricta(straight).—This variety has the joints all pointing upwards, and is much more compact than the type.
R. sarmentacea(runner-stemmed); Fig. 90.—A creeping, prostrate plant, with round stems as thick as a goose-quill, and attaching themselves to tree-trunks or other bodies by means of numerous adventitious roots, which spring from the under side of the stems. Surface of stem furrowed, and covered with numerous small clusters of short, hair-like, whitish spines. Flowers 1 in. across, springing from the sides of the stems, with pointed, creamy-white petals; stamens spreading; stigma erect, four-lobed. Fruit small, currant-like. This is a pretty little species, introduced from Brazil in 1858; it is, however, a very slow grower, plants ten years old being only a few inches in diameter. It should be grown in stove temperature, in a basket of peat fibre, or, better still, on a piece of soft fern-stem. It is always found on the branches or trunks of trees when growing wild.
RHIPSALIS SARMENTACEAFIG. 90.—RHIPSALIS SARMENTACEA
FIG. 90.—RHIPSALIS SARMENTACEA
R. Swartziana(Swartz's).—Older stems three-angled, young ones flattened, jointed; joints 2 in. broad, stiff with deep notches. Flowers in the notches, small, white, produced in June. This species is a native of Jamaica, and was introduced in 1810. A stiff, ungraceful plant, about 2 ft. high, very similar in its branches to a Phyllocactus. This species requires the temperature of a stove.
R. trigona(triangular).—Habit straggling; branches usually in forks, ¼ in. in diameter, three-angled; angles wavy or slightly notched, grey-green. Flowers small, produced in spring in the notches of the angles, white. Fruit a white berry. A thin, Brazilian plant, not unlike a Lepismium, but without the silky hairs in the notches of the angles. This species also requires to be grown in stove temperature.
T
O enable growers to make a selection of species according to the accommodation that can be afforded for Cactuses, all that are described in this book are here classified in three groups: (1) Species which thrive in a cool-house or frame; (2) Species which can only be successfully grown in a warm house or stove; and (3) Species which are hardy in the more favoured portions of the United Kingdom.
COOL-HOUSE OR FRAME.Temperature: Summer, that of the open air.Temperature: Winter—day, 50 deg. to 60 deg.; night, 40 deg. to 45 deg.
COOL-HOUSE OR FRAME.
Temperature: Summer, that of the open air.Temperature: Winter—day, 50 deg. to 60 deg.; night, 40 deg. to 45 deg.
Cereus Berlandieri.Cereus speciosissimusCereus Blankii.Echinocactus brevihamatusCereus caespitosus.Echinocactus centeterius.Cereus cirrhiferus.Echinocactus cinnabarinus.Cereus ctenoides.Echinocactus Cummingii.Cereus enneacanthus.Echinocactus echidne.Cereus flagelliformis.Echinocactus Emoryi.Cereus Leeanus.Echinocactus gibbosus.Cereus leptacanthus.Echinocactus hexaedrophorus.Cereus multiplex.Echinocactus Leeanus.Cereus paucispinus.Echinocactus Mackieanus.Cereus pentalophus.Echinocactus mamillarioides.Cereus polyacanthus.Echinocactus rhodophthalmus.Cereus procumbens.Echinocactus texensis.Cereus reductus.Echinocactus uncinatus.
Echinocactus viridescens.Mamillaria semperviva.Echinopsis, all the kinds.Mamillaria stella-aurata.Mamillaria atrata.Mamillaria tuberculosa.Mamillaria chlorantha.Mamillaria uncinata.Mamillaria dasyacantha.Mamillaria viridis.Mamillaria elegans.Mamillaria Wildiana.Mamillaria elephantidens.Mamillaria Zucchariniana.Mamillaria elongata.Opuntia arborescens.Mamillaria fissurata.Opuntia aurantiaca.Mamillaria floribunda.Opuntia corrugata.Mamillaria gracilis.Opuntia cylindrica.Mamillaria longimamma.Opuntia Davisii.Mamillaria macromeris.Opuntia Engelmanni.Mamillaria macrothele.Opuntia Ficus-indica.Mamillaria multiceps.Opuntia hystricina.Mamillaria phellosperma.Opuntia macrorhizaMamillaria Schelhasii.Opuntia occidentalis.Mamillaria Schiedeana.
WARM-HOUSE OR STOVE.
WARM-HOUSE OR STOVE.
It is possible that some of those included in this division will eventually prove hardier than is at present supposed. Many of the species now classed as cool-house plants, and even some of those which are hardy, were formerly grown in the stove.
Temperature: Summer-day, 70 deg. to 90 deg.; night, 65 deg. to 75 deg.Temperature: Winter-day, 60 deg. to 70 deg.; night, 55 deg. to 60 deg.
Temperature: Summer-day, 70 deg. to 90 deg.; night, 65 deg. to 75 deg.Temperature: Winter-day, 60 deg. to 70 deg.; night, 55 deg. to 60 deg.
Cereus caerulescens.Echinocactus cornigerus.Cereus extensus.Echinocactus corynodes.Cereus fulgidus.Echinocactus cylindraceus.Cereus giganteus.Echinocactus Haynii.Cereus grandiflorus.Echinocactus horizonthalonis.Cereus Lemairii.Echinocactus Le Contei.Cereus Macdonaldiae.Echinocactus longihamatus.Cereus Mallisoni.Echinocactus mamillosus.Cereus Napoleonis.Echinocactus multiflorus.Cereus nycticalus.Echinocactus myriostigma.Cereus peruvianus.Echinocactus obvallatus.Cereus pleiogonus.Echinocactus Ottonis.Cereus repandus.Echinocactus pectiniferus.Cereus serpentinus.Echinocactus polycephalus.Cereus Royeni.Echinocactus Pottsii.Cereus triangularis.Echinocactus scopa.Cereus variabilis.Echinocactus sinuatus.Echinocactus concinnus.Echinocactus tenuispinus.Echinocactus coptonogonus.Echinocactus turbiniformis.
Echinocactus Visnaga.Opuntia, all not included under "Cool-house or Frame."Echinocactus Williamsii.Pelecyphora.Echinocactus Wislizeni.Pereskia, all the kinds.Epiphyllum, all the kinds.Phyllocactus, all the kinds.Leuchtenbergia.Pilocereus, all the kinds.Mamillaria, all not mentioned under " Cool-house Or Frame."Rhipsalis, all the kinds.Melocactus, all the kinds.
Echinocactus Visnaga.