Cactus Culture for Amateurs Part 7

This species was introduced from Mexico about 1850; it thrives only when grown in a warm greenhouse, where the temperature in summer may be allowed to run up to 90 degs. with sun heat. For large collections it is one of the most desirable.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 39.--PORTION OF PLANT OF ECHINOCACTUS LONGIHAMATUS.]

E. Mackiea.n.u.s (Mackie's); Bot. Mag. 3561.--A small plant, not more than about 5 in. high, and 2 in. broad at the base, widening slightly upwards.

The ridges are broken up into numerous fleshy, rounded, green tubercles, crowned with a tuft of thin brown spines from in. to 1 in. long, their bases set in a small pad of yellow wool: As the stem gets older, it loses its tubercles at the base, which are changed into brown wrinkles.

The flowers are developed on the top of the stem, generally two or three together, egg-shaped and scaly when in bud, 2 in. across when expanded; the petals white, tipped with brown; the stigma green, club-shaped. This curious little Cactus is one of about a dozen species found in the Chilian Andes. It was introduced in 1837 by the gentleman whose name it bears, and who, at that time, possessed a famous collection of Cacti.

Like the rest of the Chilian kinds, it should be cultivated in a cool greenhouse in full sunshine, where it will produce its flowers in summer.

E. mamillarioides (Mamillaria-like); Bot. Mag. 3558.--This is another small, tubercled species, which, like the preceding, is a native of Chili. Its stem is very irregular in form, owing to the crowding of the tubercles, which look as if they were filled with water. The spines are small, in tufts of about half a dozen, set in a little cushion of yellowish wool. In size, the whole plant is like E. Mackiea.n.u.s, but it blossoms more freely, as many as sixteen flowers having been borne at one time by a plant at Kew. These were short-tubed, the calyx clothed with green scales, and the petals 2 in. long, recurved at the apex, forming a beautiful cup-like flower of a bright yellow colour, with a band of red down the centre of each petal; the stamens and pistil yellow. The number of flowers developed on the small stem formed by this plant is quite extraordinary. It grows and flowers freely in an ordinary greenhouse, and would thrive in a sunny window if kept dry during the winter.

E. mamillosus (nipple-bearing).--A short, dumpy plant, with numerous tubercled ridges, bearing bunches of dark brown hair-like spines, which form a close network about the stem. The flowers are developed on the top of the stem, and are about 4 in. in diameter, with a thick tube; the petals are spreading, bright yellow in colour, and arranged in a regular, bell-like whorl. Inside this bell is a circle of purple filaments or stamens, forming a pretty contrast with the clear yellow of the petals. This is a recent introduction, which flowered in the Kew collection for the first time in June, 1886. It is one of the most beautiful of the large-flowered kinds, and, as it thrives in a warm greenhouse and is very free-flowering, it may be expected to become a favourite with Cactus growers. Owing to the lack of information respecting the conditions under which many of the Cactuses are found wild, and to the fact that little in the way of experimental culture has been done by growers of this family, cultivators are sometimes in the dark as regards the lowest temperature in which the rarer kinds can be safely grown. Many of the species of the present genus, for instance, were grown in stoves years ago but are now known to thrive in a cool greenhouse where frost alone is excluded.

E. multiflorus (many-flowered); Bot. Mag. 4181.--A well-named Cactus, as its small stem (seldom more than 5 in. high, and the same in width) often bears a large cap-like cl.u.s.ter of beautiful white flowers, except for a slight tinge of brown on the tips of the petals. Each flower is composed of a green, scaly tube, and several rows of reflexed petals, which form a shallow cup 2 in. across. The stamens are tipped with orange-coloured anthers, and the stigma is rayed and snow-white. The stem is ridged with rows of fleshy mammae or tubercles, which are curiously humped, and each bears a cl.u.s.ter of spreading, brown spines, 1 in. long. The number of flowers this little plant annually produces seems more than could be possible without proving fatal to its health; but we have seen it blossom year after year, and in no way has its health appeared impaired. It may be grown on a shelf in a warm greenhouse, or in the window of a heated dwelling-room. Introduced, probably from Mexico, in 1845. This, like all the small, globular-stemmed kinds, may be grafted on the stem of a Cereus of suitable thickness. Some cultivators believe that grafting causes the plants to flower more freely, but we have not observed any difference in this respect between grafted and ungrafted plants.

E. myriostigma. (many-dotted); Fig. 40.--In the form of the stem of this species we have a good ill.u.s.tration of how widely a plant may differ from others of the same genus in certain of its characters, for the spines are almost totally suppressed, and the ridges are regular, deep, and smooth. There are usually five or six ridges, a transverse section of the stem revealing a form exactly like the common star-fish (Astrophyton), a resemblance to which the name Astrophytum, sometimes applied to this plant, owed its origin. The form of the stem is well represented in the Figure. The white dots shown on the bark, and which look like scales, are composed of very fine interwoven hairs, which, under a microscope, are very pretty objects. This species was introduced from Mexico along with the large plant of E. Visnaga described at the beginning of this chapter, and was first flowered at Kew, in July, 1845.

Stems 1 ft. in length were received, along with shorter ones; but only the small ones were established. The flowers are daisy-like, 1 in.

across, and are straw-coloured, the petals being tipped with black. It thrives under warm greenhouse treatment. When without its flowers, it looks more like a piece of chiselled stone than a living plant.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 40.--ECHINOCACTUS MYRIOSTIGMA.]

E. obvallatus (fortified); Fig. 41.--The form of stem in this species is shown in the Figure. It grows very slowly plants 4 in. through taking about ten years to reach that size from seeds. The spines are stout, all deflexed, and arranged along the edges of the numerous ribs into which the stem is divided. The flowers are developed from the centre of the plant, and are surrounded by the erect spines, which crown the, as yet, undeveloped tubercles. Two or three flowers are produced at about the same time, each one being composed of a short, spiny tube, and a whorl of erect petals, which are pointed, purple-coloured, paler at the margin, the stamens being yellow. Native of Mexico. It requires a stove temperature, and flowers in summer.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 41.--ECHINOCACTUS OBVALLATUS.]

E. Ottonis (Otto's); Bot. Mag. 3107.--A dwarf kind, with a balloon-shaped stem, rarely exceeding 4 in. in height, and divided into a dozen wide ridges with sharp, regular edges, along which are cl.u.s.ters of small, brown spines, set in little tufts of wool, and looking like an array of spiders. The flowers are borne on the tops of the ridges, and are pale yellow in colour, with a band of red hair-like spines surrounding the calyx just below the petals, which are narrow, spreading, and look not unlike the flowers of the yellow Marguerite; the stigma is bright red. The symmetrical form of the stem, with its rows of spider-like spines, renders this plant attractive, even when without its bright and pretty flowers. It thrives only in a warm stove. Introduced from Brazil in 1831, flowering in the month of July. As it produces young plants about its base, it may be easily propagated by removing them and planting them in soil; or they may be grafted as advised for other of the small, globose-stemmed kinds.

E. pectiniferus (comb-bearing); Bot. Mag. 4190.--One of the most striking of the plants of this genus, owing to the character of its stem, and the large size and beauty of its flowers. The former resembles a pear with the thin end downwards; its height is from 4 in. to 6 in., and it has about twenty ridges, which are sharply defined and bear along their angles little cushions of white wool in. apart, with a radiating cl.u.s.ter of brown spines springing from each. The arrangement of the spines in rows is not unlike the teeth of a comb. The flowers are borne near the top of the stem, and consist of a green, fleshy tube, clothed with spines and little tufts of white wool; the sepals form a row beneath the petals, and are yellowish, tinged with purple; petals 2 in.

long, broad, with the upper margins toothed and the tip acute, their colour being bright rose, tinged with greenish-white at the base; stamens yellow; stigma large, green. The form of the flowers is that of a cup, nearly 3 in. across. Introduced from Mexico in 1845. Flowering season, April and May. It requires warm-house treatment.

E. polycephalus (many-headed); Fig. 42.--Stem globose when young, becoming cylindrical with age; number of ribs varying from twelve to twenty, sharply defined, and bearing, at intervals of 1 in., cl.u.s.ters of stout, reddish spines, somewhat flattened on the upper side, and marked with raised rings, or, as it is termed, annulated, the central ones attaining a length of over 3 in. on old plants, and sometimes curved. The flowers are enveloped at the base in a dense ma.s.s of white wool, which hides the tube, its spines only showing through; petals narrow, 1 in.

long, spreading like a saucer, and coloured bright yellow; stamens numerous, yellow, as also is the large rayed stigma. California and Colorado, on stony and gravelly hills. Flowers in spring; introduced to Kew in 1886. This new plant is remarkable in that it is often found wild with as many as twenty to thirty stems or heads springing from the same base, and even young plants show early a disposition to develop several heads. The largest stems are from 1 ft. to 2 ft. high, and have a somewhat forbidding appearance, owing to the size and strength of their numerous spines. For its cultivation, a warm-house temperature appears most suitable; it bears a close resemblance to E. texensis.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 42.--RIDGE, WITH SPINES, OF ECHINOCACTUS POLYCEPHALUS.]

E. Pottsii (Potts').--The stem of this is shown in Fig. 43. Full-sized plants are 1 ft. in diameter, and have about a dozen ridges with acute sinuses, the ridges being rounded and even. The spines are 1 in. long, bristle-like, and are arranged in cl.u.s.ters of seven or nine, with a cushion of white wool at the base of each cl.u.s.ter. Flowers short-tubed, about 2 in. across, and coloured yellow; they are produced on the top of the stem in summer, several expanding together. The plant is a native of California, and was introduced about 1840. Under cultivation this species proves to be a shy-flowering Cactus, although in a warm house it grows freely, and remains in good health. It is well adapted for grafting on to the stem of some kind of Cereus, and in this way may be made to look very singular, as was shown in Mr. Peac.o.c.k's collection of succulents some years ago, when a fine specimen, over 1 ft. across, was successfully grafted on to three stems of C. tortuosus, and had much the appearance of a melon elevated on a short tripod.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 43.--ECHINOCACTUS POTTSII.]

E. rhodophthalmus (red-eyed); Bot. Mag. 4486, 4634.--Stem cone-shaped, 4 in. to 1 ft. high, deeply furrowed; ridges about nine, 1 in. high, the angles bearing closely-set cl.u.s.ters of radiating spines, with a projecting one in the middle of each cl.u.s.ter, which contains nine spines 1 in. long, purple when young, becoming white when old. The flowers are produced from the summit of the stem, and have a thick, green, scaly calyx tube, upon which the spreading, rose-coloured petals are arranged in a regular series, and form a shallow bell nearly 3 in. across. The throat of the flower is coloured a deep crimson, against which the little sheaf of white stamens and the star-shaped yellow stigma form a pretty contrast. Three or more flowers are expanded together on a plant.

It is a native of Mexico; introduced in 1845. It thrives in a house or frame where it is protected from frost, and during summer gets plenty of sunlight and air. It flowers in August. During the months of April and May, when it starts into growth, it should be kept close; but by the end of June, it should be exposed to the open air and allowed to ripen, so that its flowers may be produced in the autumn. The plant called E. v.

ellipticus does not differ from the type, owing its name to the form of the stem of the first plant that flowered at Kew.

E. scopa. (brush-like); Fig. 44.--The stem of this species, when seen covered with numerous tufts of bristly spines, has been compared to a brush, a comparison not, however, applicable to the form represented in the Figure. In height the stems sometimes reach l ft., with from thirty to forty ribs, bearing little discs of white wool at the bases of the cl.u.s.ters of spines. The flowers spring from the upper part of the stem (the nodules shown in the ill.u.s.tration represent the places where flowers have been developed at an earlier stage of growth), from four to six being borne in the same season; they are 1 in. long and wide, the tube short and brown, bristly; the petals are arranged in several overlapping series, rather wide for their length, toothed at the ends; their colour is a bright sulphur-yellow, as also are the stamens, whilst the stigma, which is rayed, is bright crimson. Native of Brazil.

Introduced about 1840; it is more like a Cereus, in the form of its stem, than an Echinocactus. It flowers in June, and requires stove treatment. The stems, when dried carefully and stuffed with wadding, form pretty ornaments.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 44.--ECHINOCACTUS SCOPA.]

E. scopa cristata. (crested variety); Fig. 45.--This curious monstrosity owes its origin to fasciation similar to what occurs in the Celosias or c.o.c.ks...o...b.., in some Echeverias, &c. These monster varieties of Cactuses do not flower, but they are nevertheless interesting, and worth growing on account of their curious shapes. The plant shown in Fig. 45 is grafted on the stem of a Cereus, and it is remarkable that a portion of the crest of the Echinocactus will, if grafted on to another plant, develop the abnormal form of its parent, proving that the variation, whatever its cause, has become fixed.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 45.--ECHINOCACTUS SCOPA CRISTATA.]

E. Simpsoni (Simpson's).--One of the smallest plants in the genus, and one of the prettiest. It produces tufts of irregularly-formed stems about 4 in. high, and composed of numerous rounded tubercles over in.

wide, bearing on the top of each a tuft of about twelve spines in.

long. The flowers are borne from the apex of the young tubercles, and are 1 in. wide and long, cup-shaped; petals pale purple, the stamens yellow. Native of Mexico and Colorado, where it is found at elevations of 8000 ft. to 10,000 ft., in great abundance, forming large patches on gravelly morains, where the climate during the summer is dry, whilst in winter a thick covering of snow protects the plants from severe frosts.

In England, this species is said to have withstood 32 degs. of frost without being injured. It has been grown out of doors in a garden at Northampton, where it pa.s.sed several winters planted in a raised border at the foot of a south wall with a natural coping of ivy. In New York, where the frosts of winter are severer than in England, it is cultivated out of doors. In this country it is apt to be injured by excessive moisture and fogs; but by protecting it with a handlight from November to March or April, this is overcome. If grown in pots, it should be kept in a position where it can enjoy all the sunlight possible.

E. sinuatus (undulated).--Stem about 8 in. wide and long; globose, bearing fourteen to sixteen ridges, the edges of which are wavy or undulated, the prominent points crowned with tufts of thin, flexuous, yellow spines, the longest 1 in., and hooked, the shorter in., and straight. The stem of E. longihamatus is very similar to this. Flowers developed on the top of the stem; tube short, scaly, green; petals yellow, spreading, and forming a cup 3 in. across, which is greenish outside. A native of Mexico, where it flowers in April. A recently-introduced kind, not yet flowered in this country. It is described as being a distinct, large-flowered, handsome species.

E. tenuispinus (thin-spined); Bot. Mag. 3963.--Stem globular, depressed, with ridges and spines similar to those of E. Ottonis; indeed, by some these two are considered forms of the same species. In the number and size of the flowers, their colour and form, and the time of flowering, there is no difference between them. Native of Mexico (and Brazil ?).

E. texensis (Texan); Fig. 46.--A short-stemmed plant, with a thick, leathery skin and broad-based ridges of irregular form, crowned with tufts of stout h.o.r.n.y spines, the central one much the longest, flattened at the base, and strong as steel. The flowers are produced near the centre of the top, from the tufts of whitish wool which accompany the spines on the young parts of the ridges. They are 2 in. long and wide; the tube short and woolly; the petals spreading, beautifully fringed, and rose-coloured. Native of North-east Mexico, where it grows on stony hillsides in full exposure to sunshine, and where, during winter, it has to endure weather verging on to frost. It thrives in a greenhouse under cultivation. Like several of the stout-spined, robust-stemmed kinds, this may find favour as a garden plant because of the character of its stem, and the extraordinary strength of its large iron-like spines.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 46.--ECHINOCACTUS TEXENSIS.]

E. turbiniformis (top-shaped).--A very distinct dwarf kind, with globular stems 2 in. high and about 3 in. wide, clothed with spirally-arranged rows or ridges of tubercles, similar to those shown in the figure of E. hexaedrophorus, except that, in the former, there are no spines on the mature tubercles, although, when young, they have each a little cl.u.s.ter of fine spines. The flowers expand in June, several together, from the top of the stem; they are round, 1 in. across, the petals being numerous, pale yellow in colour, tinged with red on the outside. Introduced from Mexico, 1840. This curious little plant requires stove treatment, and thrives when grafted on the stem of some other kind. It is sometimes known as Mamillaria turbinata.

E. uncinatus (hooked); Fig. 47.--A small species, with oval stems when young, older plants becoming cylindrical, as shown in the accompanying Figure. The height of the largest plant does not exceed 6 in., so that, when wild, it is often hidden by the long gra.s.s in which it is frequently found on stony hillsides at high elevations, in Mexico. The ridges are broken up into large tubercles, upon each of which is a tuft of short straight spines, arranged in a circle, and a long hooked one springing from the centre, and often attaining a length of about 4 in. In old plants the spines are almost white, whilst in young ones they are purplish. The flowers are borne in a cl.u.s.ter on the apex of the stem, and are nearly 2 in. long, the tube being short and spiny, and the petals numerous, arranged in a cup, their colour dark purplish-red, the tips pointed; the stamens are yellow, with orange tips. The flowers expand only when the sun shines on them, closing up again in dull light, but opening again, and remaining fresh for about a week. Introduced in 1850.

Flowers in March and April. This plant may be grown in a cool, sunny greenhouse, or window, requiring only protection from frost in winter, and in summer plenty of light, with a moderate amount of water. There are several varieties of it described, their differences being chiefly in the shape of the stem.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 47.--ECHINOCACTUS UNCINATUS.]

E. viridescens (greenish).--Stem 1 ft. high and 9 in. across, young plants being broader than high; the sides split up into about twenty ridges, which are again divided into knotty tubercles or waves. The spines are remarkable for their size and strength, those on large plants being 4 in. long by in. broad at the base, gradually narrowing to a stiff point; there are four central spines of this size, the others, of which there are about a dozen, being shorter and thinner, and arranged stellately. The flowers, which are rarely produced, are poor in comparison with the majority of the flowers of this genus. As the name denotes, their colour is yellowish-green; and they are about 1 in. wide and high. There are often as many as a dozen flowers expanded together on a stem of this plant when wild, and they are arranged in a circle around the growing point. The interest in this species, however, centres in its spines rather than its flowers. It is a native of the dry hills of California, extending sometimes down to the sea-beach. There is a plant of it at Kew 6 in. high and about fifteen years old; it has not been known to flower there. Mr. Peac.o.c.k also possesses a large plant of it.

E. Visnaga. (visnaga means a toothpick among the Mexican settlers); Fig.

48.--Of the most remarkable features of this truly wonderful Cactus we have already spoken earlier in this Chapter. In 1846, Sir W. J. Hooker described, in the Ill.u.s.trated London News, a large plant of it, which had been successfully introduced alive to Kew, and which, a year or so later, flowered, and was figured in the Botantical Magazine (4559). Its height was 9 ft., and it measured 9 ft. in circ.u.mference; its weight a ton. Afterwards, it exhibited symptoms of internal injury. The inside became a putrid ma.s.s, and the crust, or sh.e.l.l, fell in by its own weight. The shape of the stem is elliptical, with numerous ridges and stout brown spines arranged in tufts along their edges. The flowers are freely produced from the woolly apex; the tube is scaly and brown, and the petals are arranged like a saucer about the cl.u.s.ter of orange-coloured stamens. The colour of the petals is bright yellow, and the width of the flower is nearly 3 in. This plant is a native of Mexico, and is usually cultivated in a tropical temperature, but it would probably thrive in a warm greenhouse. It flowers in summer. As we have stated, large specimens do not live long in this country; and as the flowers are only borne by such, the plant, except only for its stems, is not to be recommended for ordinary collections.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 48.--ECHINOCACTUS VISNAGA.]

E. Williamsii (Williams's); Bot. Mag. 4296.--A very distinct dwarf species, often called the "Dumpling Cactus," from the puffed-out, tumid appearance of its stems, which frequently branch at the base, so as to form a tuft of several heads; these are turbinate, 3 in. or 4 in. high, and 2 in. across the top, where the smooth, pale green flesh is divided into about half-a-dozen rounded tubercles, pressed closely together, and suggesting a number of small green potatoes joined by their bases. Each tubercle bears several tufts of short hairs. The flowers proceed from the young tubercles near the centre of the crown, their bases being enveloped in pale brown wool, the petals spreading out daisy-like to the width of 1 in., with a short disk of stamens in the middle; they are white, tinged with rose, and are developed in the summer months. Native of the rocky hills of Mexico, whence it was introduced in 1845. The stems of this plant are its most distinctive feature. It thrives on a shelf in a warm greenhouse, if kept perfectly dry in winter, and it should be potted in a compost consisting of broken brick two-thirds, loam one-third.

E. Wislizeni (Wislizen's); Fig. 49.--A large-stemmed kind, second only in size to E. Visnaga. Young plants have depressed stems, those in older specimens being cylinder-shaped. A specimen at Kew is 8 in. high by 18 in.

in diameter, with twenty-one ridges, which are regular and sharp-edged, and bear bunches of spines at regular intervals, the outer and shorter ones being spreading and white, whilst from the middle of each tuft arise four longer and stouter spines, three of them 2 in. long, and one 3 in., with the point hooked, and as strong as if made of steel. The flowers, which are developed only on large plants, are greenish-yellow, about 2 in. long and wide, and expand during summer and autumn. The juice of the stems is said to serve as a subst.i.tute for water when the latter is scarce, and instances have been known among the white trappers where the lives of men have been saved by this plant. A novel use the stems are put to by the Indians is that of boilers, a purpose which they are said to answer well. The fleshy inside is scooped out, and the tough skin, with its iron-like spine protection, is then filled with vegetables and water and placed on the fire. As there is a plentiful supply of plants, the Indians do not trouble to carry this "boiler"

about with them, but make a fresh one at every stage of their journeyings.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 49.--SPINES AND FLOWERS OF ECHINOCACTUS WISLIZENII.]

CHAPTER VIII.

THE GENUS ECHINOPSIS.

(From echinos, a hedgehog, and opsis, like.)

No less than three sections of Cactuses, viz., the above, Echinocactus, and Echinocereus, owe their names to their hedgehog-like stems. From a horticultural point of view, there is perhaps no good reason for keeping the above three genera and Cereus separate; but we follow Kew in the arrangement adopted here. The genus Echinopsis, as now recognised by most English botanists and cultivators, comprises about thirty species, most of which have been, or are still, in cultivation. They are distinguished from Echinocactuses by the length of their flower tube, from Cereuses by the form and size of their stems, and from both in the position on the stem occupied by the flowers. They are remarkable for the great size, length of tube, and beauty of their flowers, which, borne upon generally small and dumpy stems, appear very much larger and handsomer than would be expected.

The distribution of Echinopsis is similar to that of Echinocactus, species being found in Chili, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, &c. They grow only in situations where the soil is sandy or gravelly, or on the sides of hills in the crevices of rocks.