ty little
Cactus, with spreading prostrate stems, from which upright branches grow
to a height of 3 in. or 4 in.; they are 1/2 in. thick, generally only
four-angled or square, with small spines in tufts along the angles. The
flowers are developed on the ends of the branches, and are 3 in. long and
wide, the sepals spreading and recurved, as in a Paris daisy, their
colour being bright rose purple. The anthers form a corona-like ring,
inclosing the upright, rayed stigma. A native of Mexico; flowers in May
and June. In its native haunts we learn that this little Cactus is very
free-flowering, but under cultivation in this country it flowers only
rarely. It thrives best when grown in a dry, sunny greenhouse, and kept
perfectly dry during autumn and winter. If allowed to get wet in that
season, it is apt to rot, the stems being soft and watery.

[Illustration: FIG. 27.--CEREUS PROCUMBENS.]

C. reductus (dingy); Bot. Mag. 4443.--Stem erect, sometimes 3 ft. high,
and about 4 in. wide, deeply furrowed, the furrows usually numbering
about fourteen; the ridges tumid and irregular, and coloured a dingy
glaucous-green. Spines embedded in a tuft of grey wool, about a dozen
spines in each cluster, 1 in. long, a few of them only half that length.
Flowers on the top of the stem, three or four opening together, each
being 3 in. long and wide; the tube short and scaly, with overlapping
sepals and saw-edged petals, which are white, slightly tinged with rose.
Stamens filling the whole of the flower-cup, bright yellow. A native of
Mexico, introduced in 1796, flowering in summer. This species was
evidently a favourite many years ago, but it is rare with us now. It
thrives in a house where the winter temperature does not fall below
45 deg., requiring no water at that time, but a liberal supply in the
summer when growth is being made, and all the sunlight possible. When
without its star-shaped, handsome flowers, the stem is remarkably
ferocious-looking, the spines upon it being quite as thick and as strong
as on a hedgehog.

C. repandus (undulated); Fig. 28.--Stem erect, 10 ft. or more high,
unbranched, unless compelled to do so by the removal of the top. Ribs
eight or nine in number, rounded, somewhat undulated, and bearing
spine-tufts nearly 1 in. apart; each tuft contains about ten spines,
which are almost equal in length, fine, stiff, brown, and persistent;
there is a little cushion of white wool about the base of the spines.
Flowers pr