Cactus Culture for Amateurs Part 12

SPECIES.

O. arborescens (tree-like).--This species is known as the Walking-Stick or Elk-Horn Cactus, from its cylindrical, woody stems being made into very curious-looking walking-sticks (examples of which may be seen in the Museum at Kew), whilst the arrangement of the branches is suggestive of elk horns. Habit erect; joints cylindrical, branching freely, and forming trees from 8 ft. to 30 ft. high. Stems covered with oblong tubercles and tufts of long, needle-like spines, which give the plant a very ferocious aspect. Flowers on the ends of the young branches, 2 in.

to 3 in. in diameter, bright purple in colour, developing in June. It is a native of Mexico, &c., and requires greenhouse or stove treatment. The skeletons of this species, as seen scattered over the desert places where it is wild, have a very singular and startling appearance. They stand in the form of trees, quite devoid of leaves, spines, or flesh, and, owing to the peculiar arrangement of the ligneous layers, nothing remains except a hollow cylinder, perforated with mesh-like holes, indicating the points where the tubercles and small branches had been.

These skeletons are said to stand many years.

O. arbuscula (small tree).--Another of the cylindrical kinds, with a solid, woody trunk, about 4 in. through, and clothed with smooth, green bark; it grows to a height of 7 ft. or 8 ft. Branches very numerous, slender, copiously jointed, the ultimate joints about 3 in. long and in.

thick; they are slightly tuberculated, and bear tufts of spines nearly 1 in. long. Flowers 1 in. in diameter, produced in June; petals few, greenish-yellow, tinged with red. It is a native of Mexico, and requires stove treatment. A pretty plant, or, rather, a very remarkable one, even when not in flower, the thin branches, with their hundreds of long, whitish spines, being singular. Unfortunately, it is not easily grown.

O. arenaria (sand-loving).--Stems spreading, forming a tuft 3 ft.

through and about 1 ft. high. Joints 1 in. to 3 in. long, and a little less in width, terete, with very prominent tubercles and numerous tawny bristles; upper spines 1 in. to 1 in. long, white, with a yellow point, shorter ones hair-like and curled. Flowers 2 in. in diameter, produced in May. Fruit 1 in. long, bearing a few short spines. Mexico. A strong-rooted plant, which should be grown in very loose, sandy soil. It would probably thrive best when planted out on a stage near the gla.s.s in a stove.

O. Auberi (Auber's).--An erect-growing plant, 8 ft. or more high, not unlike O. Ficus-indica in the form of its joints, but with long spines springing from the cus.h.i.+ons, whereas the latter has none. The joints are oblong-ovate, glaucous-green, the cus.h.i.+ons few and scattered; spines white, flattened, of various lengths. Flowers tawny yellow, small for the size of the plant. A native of Cuba, and requiring stove treatment.

Being very brittle, this plant should be supported with stakes.

O. aurantiaca (orange).--A dwarf, cylindrical-stemmed kind, branching freely. Joints short, in. in diameter; cus.h.i.+ons of reddish spines, one about 1 in. long, the others shorter; bases of spines enveloped in white wool. Flowers bright orange, 2 in. to 3 in. across. This species is a native of Chili, whence it was introduced in 1824. It should be grown in a warm greenhouse all winter, and placed in a sunny position outside during summer.

O. basilaris (branching at the base); Fig. 76.--A dwarf, compact plant, of peculiar habit. Stem short, branching into a number of stout, obovate, often fan-shaped joints, which usually spring from a common base, and curve inwards, suggesting an open cabbage. Joints 5 in. to 8 in.

long, about 1 in. thick, covered all over with dot-like cus.h.i.+ons of very short, reddish spines, set in slight depressions or wrinkles. Flowers of a beautiful and rich purple colour, about 2 in. in diameter, and produced in May. This distinct plant is a native of Mexico, and is of recent introduction. Plants of it may be seen in the Kew collection. It is apparently easily kept in health in an ordinary stove temperature along with other Cactuses. It varies in the form of its joints and in its manner of branching, but it seems never to develop the joints one on the top of the other, as do most Opuntias. This species is certain to become a favourite when it becomes better known.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 76. OPUNTIA BASILARIS.]

O. Bigelovii (Bigelow's).--A cylinder-stemmed, tall-growing plant, with a stout, woody stem, bearing a dense head of branches. Joints 2 in. to 6 in. long, 1 in. to 2 in. in diameter, light green, covered with small tubercles and little spine-cus.h.i.+ons, with larger spines 1 in. long. When wild, the young joints are often shaken off by the wind, and cover the soil around, where they take root or stick to the clothes of the pa.s.sers-by like burrs. Flowers not known. A native of Mexico, where it forms a tree 12 ft. high; it requires stove treatment. The skeleton of the trunk is a hollow cylinder, perforated with numerous holes, which occur in a regular spiral. The appearance of a full-grown specimen is very striking, the oval joints, thickly covered with long, needle-like spines, hanging in cl.u.s.ters, more suggestive of spiny fruit than branches.

O. boliviana (Bolivian); Fig. 77.--Stems 1 ft. high, erect, branching, and composed of roundish, pale green joints, with small, round tubercles, and long, white, flexible spines, sometimes as much as 4 in.

in length; cus.h.i.+ons about 1 in. apart. Flowers 1 in. across, yellowish.

This is a fat, gouty-looking plant, from Bolivia, requiring stove treatment. It often a.s.sumes a yellow hue on the older joints, even when in good health.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 77. OPUNTIA BOLIVIANA.]

O. brachyarthra (short-jointed); Fig. 78.--A dwarf-growing, singular-looking plant, with short, tumid joints from 1 in. to 2 in. long and wide, and nearly the same in thickness. The shortness of the joints, together with their growing on the top of each other, has been not inaptly compared to a jointed finger. Cus.h.i.+ons very close together, composed of short, white and yellowish bristles, and stout, terete spines, 1 in. or more long, set on little tubercles. Flowers 1 in. in diameter, with about five sepals, eight or nine petals, and a five-rayed stigma; they are borne on the apices of the topmost joints. This species is worth growing on account of its peculiar stems and the length of its white spines. It is a native of New Mexico, and has been recently introduced to Kew, where it is cultivated among the hardy kinds, and also in the greenhouse.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 78. OPUNTIA BRACHYARTHRA.]

O. braziliensis (Brazilian).--The peculiar habit and mode of growth at once distinguish this species. It rises with a perfectly straight, erect, slender, but firm and stiff, round stem, to a height of from 10 ft. to 30 ft., tapering from the base upwards, and furnished all the way up with short, horizontal branches, spreading about 3 ft. all round, like an immense candelabrum. Spines long, subulate, very sharp, ash-coloured, in cl.u.s.ters. Joints broadly oblong, margins wavy; they resemble leaves, or the thin, leaf-like joints of a Phyllocactus, with the addition of long, whitish spines on both sides. Flowers 1 in. in diameter, lemon-yellow, very freely produced on the younger joints during May and June. Fruit as large as a walnut, spiny, yellow when ripe. This species is a native of Brazil, whence it was introduced in 1816. It may be recommended for large, airy houses, as it grows freely, and forms a striking object when arranged with foliage and flowering plants of the ordinary kind. Its fruits are edible.

O. candelabriformis (candelabrum-shaped).--Stems erect, 5 ft. to 8 ft.

high; joints flat, almost circular, about 6 in. in diameter, glaucous-green, densely clothed with numerous cus.h.i.+ons of white, bristle-like spines, a few in each cus.h.i.+on being long and thread-like.

Flowers not known on cultivated plants. This st.u.r.dy species is a native of Mexico, and succeeds well if planted on a little rockery or raised mound in a warm house, where, properly treated, it branches freely, and forms a dense ma.s.s of circular joints. It is one of the most useful of the larger Opuntias for cultivation in large houses.

O. clavata (club-shaped).--Stem short; joints club-shaped, 2 in. long and 1 in. wide, narrowed almost to a point at both ends. Cus.h.i.+ons in.

apart, composed of numerous spines, varying from short and bristle-like to 1 in. in length, stout, flattened, and spear-like. Leaves in. long.

Flowers yellow, 1 in. across. Fruit 1 in. long, lemon-yellow when ripe, and covered with stellate cl.u.s.ters of white, bristle-like spines. New Mexico, 1854. A stove species, remarkable for the strength and form of its central spines, which are spear or dagger-shaped.

O. cochinellifera (cochineal-bearing); Bot. Mag. 2742.--An erect-growing plant, attaining a height of 9 ft. or more, and branching freely, the older parts of the stem and branches being woody and cylindrical; young joints flat, oblong-ovate, varying in length from 4 in. to 1 ft., deep green, rather soft and watery, spineless, the cus.h.i.+ons distant, and sometimes bearing a few very short bristles.

Flowers at the extremities of the branches, 1 in. long, composed of numerous imbricating, scale-like petals, curving inwards, and coloured crimson. Fruit flat-topped, 2 in. long, red; pulp reddish; seeds black.

It is a native of tropical South America, whence it was introduced in 1688. It requires stove treatment, and blossoms in August. This is one of the most useful of the genus, on account of its being the kind chiefly employed in the cultivation of cochineal. It is one of the easiest to manage, requiring only a rather dry atmosphere, plenty of light, and a temperature not lower than 50 degs. in winter. Syn. Nopalea cochinellifera.

O. corrugata (wrinkled).--Stem not more than 2 ft. high; joints cylindrical, wrinkled all over, about 2 in. long, covered with cus.h.i.+ons of white hair or bristle-like spines. Flowers 1 in. across, reddish-yellow, produced in August. A native of Chili, whence it was introduced in 1824. It may be grown in an ordinary greenhouse, on a shelf near the gla.s.s, and exposed to full suns.h.i.+ne.

O. cura.s.savica (Cura.s.soa); Pin-pillow.--Branches spreading; joints cylindrical or club-shaped, dark green, bearing numerous cus.h.i.+ons of woolly bristles, and long, white, very sharp-pointed spines. Flowers 3 in. across, greenish-yellow, borne on the young joints in June.

Introduced from Cura.s.soa in 1690. A free-growing plant under favourable conditions, and one requiring stove treatment. It has been cultivated in gardens almost as long as any species of Cactus. There are several varieties of it known, differing from the type in habit, length of spine, or shade of colour in the flower.

O. cylindrica (cylindrical).--Stem and joints cylindrical, the latter covered with spindle-shaped tubercles, each one crowned with a tuft of fine, hair-like, whitish spines, one or two in each tuft being stiff, and sharp as needles. The leaves are fleshy, cylindrical, 1 in. or more long, and they remain on the joints longer than is usual in Opuntias.

Flowers crowded on the ends of the branches, each 1 in. in diameter, scarlet; they are developed in June. This plant is said to grow to a height of 6 ft. or more in its native habitat, but under cultivation it is rarely seen more than 3 ft. high; it was introduced in 1799. It is handsome and distinct enough to be worth growing. It requires stove or greenhouse treatment, but rarely flowers under cultivation.

O. c. cristata (crested).--A dwarf, c.o.c.ks...o...b..like variety, with the leaves and white hairs growing all along the wrinkled top of the comb.

It is a very singular example of a "monster" Cactus. It requires stove treatment.

O. Davisii (Davis'); Bot. Mag. 6652.--Stems somewhat horizontal, not exceeding 1 ft. in height; joints 4 in. to 6 in. in length, and about in. in thickness; wood dense, and hard when old; tubercles not prominent, bearing cus.h.i.+ons of very slender bristles, forming a kind of brush, from amongst which the spines spring. The longest spines are 1 in., and they are covered with a loose, glistening sheath. Flowers 2 in. in diameter, greenish-brown. The plant is a native of New Mexico, and was introduced in 1883. It forms a compact, shrubby little plant if grown in an intermediate house during winter, and placed in the open in full suns.h.i.+ne during summer. It was flowered for the first time in England in 1883, and although not what we should call an attractive plant, in America it is described as being "a well-marked and pretty species." It is named after Jefferson Davis, the American statesman.

O. dec.u.mana (great-oblong). This is the largest-growing species in cultivation. At Kew it is represented by a plant 12 ft. high (it would grow still taller if the house were higher). It has a hard, woody, brown-barked stem, bearing an enormous head of very large, elliptical, flat joints, 12 in. to 20 in. long, and about 1 ft. broad, smooth, grey-green, with a few scattered cus.h.i.+ons of very tiny bristles, and sometimes, though rarely, a spine or two. Flowers large, orange-coloured, produced in summer. Fruit oval, 4 in. long, spiny, brownish-red, very watery when ripe; flesh red, sweet. A native of Brazil, and requiring stove treatment. This is said to be what is known in Malta as the Indian Fig. The plant is chiefly interesting here on account of the extraordinary size of the joints.

O. diademata (diademed).--A small, remarkable, and extremely rare little species, with a short, erect stem, composed of globose, superposed joints, grey-green in colour, and very succulent. The topmost joint is pear-shaped, with a tuft of whitish hair and spines on the apex, out of which the new growth pushes. Cus.h.i.+ons large, about 1 in.

apart, furnished with a tuft of short, grey hairs and short spines, with a large one at the base. The character of this large spine is exceptional, being broad, flat, cartilaginous, whitish, and curving downwards. On healthy large examples these spines are 2 in. long, and nearly in. wide at the base. Flowers and fruit not known. Native of Mendoza (La Plata). This little plant requires to be cultivated in a warm greenhouse or stove, but it grows very slowly. It is certainly a most interesting Cactus; examples of it may be seen at Kew, where there is a plant which, although over ten years old, is only 4 in. high. Syns.

O. platyacantha and Cereus syringacanthus.

O. Dillenii (Dillenius'); Fig. 79.--An erect-growing, robust species, attaining a height of 15 ft., with flattened, ovate joints, about 5 in.

long by 3 in. broad. Cus.h.i.+ons composed of short, white, hair-like bristles, and numerous long, stout, yellow spines. Flowers yellow, tinged with red, 4 in. in diameter, freely produced on the ends of the youngest joints all summer. Fruits similar to those of O. Ficus-indica.

A native of the West Indies, now naturalised in all warmer parts of the world. In India it is so plentiful and widespread that Roxburgh, an Indian botanist, said it was a native. In India, its fruits are eaten by the poor natives, and it is often planted as a hedge. It is also a great pest in the open lands of that country, and large sums are annually expended in cutting it down and burying it. This species, which requires warm greenhouse treatment, is also employed in the cultivation of cochineal.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 79. OPUNTIA DILLENII.]

O. echinocarpa (spiny-fruited).--A low, straggling shrub, not exceeding 1 ft. in height. Joints cylindrical, from 1 in. to 3 in. long, less than 1 in. thick. Cus.h.i.+ons of rather coa.r.s.e bristles and numerous spines, from in. to 1 in. in length. Flowers 2 in. in diameter, yellow, produced in summer. Fruit short, depressed, almost saucer-shaped, and bearing spines nearly 1 in. long. A native of Colorado, &c. It requires stove treatment.

The variety major has stems 4 ft. high, joints 8 in. to 10 in. long, and long, sheathed spines. This species is closely related to O. Bigelovii and O. Davisii.

O. Emoryi (Emory's).--A prostrate, spreading plant, less than 1 ft.

high. Joints cylindrical, curved, 4 in. long, 1 in. thick. Tubercles very prominent, longitudinally attached to the stem, the apices crowned with pea-shaped cus.h.i.+ons of short bristles, and numerous radiating spines, some of which are fully 2 in. long, very strong and needle-like. Flowers 2 in. in diameter, sulphur-yellow, tinged with purple, produced in August and September. Fruit 2 in. long and 1 in. thick, covered with cus.h.i.+ons of bristles and spines. A native of Mexico, on dry, sandy soils, where its prostrate stems, clothed with powerful spines, form a hiding-place for the small animals, snakes, &c. Stove or warm greenhouse treatment is best for this species.

O. Engelmanni (Engelmann's).--A stout, coa.r.s.e-looking plant, 6 ft. high, with woody stems and large, flat, green joints, 1 ft. long and 9 in. in diameter. Cus.h.i.+ons 1 in. apart, composed of coa.r.s.e bristles, and one or two spines over 1 in. long, and pointing downwards. Flowers 3 in. in diameter, yellow, produced in May and June. Fruit nearly round, 2 in.

long, purplish both in rind and pulp, the latter rather nauseous to the taste. Mexico. This is a greenhouse plant which grows freely and flowers annually under cultivation. It is very similar to O. monacantha, a much better known species. According to American botanists, it is probably the most widely spread of the whole Cactus tribe.

O. Ficus-indica (Indian Fig); Fig. 80.--Branches erect, 8 ft. to 12 ft.

high; joints flat, oval or obovate, about 1 ft. long by 3 in. in width, and 1 in. in thickness. Stems hard and woody with age. Cus.h.i.+ons 1 in.

apart, composed of short, yellowish bristles, and very rarely one spine.

Flowers 3 in. to 4 in. across, sulphur-yellow, produced all through the summer. Fruit 3 in. to 4 in. long, pear-shaped, covered with tufts of bristles, white, yellow, or red when ripe. It is a native of Central America, whence it was introduced about 300 years ago. It is now widely spread, in tropical and temperate regions all over the world. In many parts it is cultivated for the sake of its fruits, which in some of our colonies are used for dessert. In England it must be protected from damp and cold; it is, therefore, best cultivated in a sunny greenhouse during winter, and placed outside in a position exposed to full suns.h.i.+ne all summer. Tenore, an Italian botanist, named this species O. vulgaris, and this mistake has led others to consider the North American O. vulgaris (true) and O. Ficus-indica as one and the same species.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 80. FRUITING BRANCH OF OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA.]

O. filipendula (hanging filaments); Fig. 81.--Stems prostrate, about 1 ft. high, spreading; joints flat, round or oval, about 3 in. long, often less, milky-green in colour. Cus.h.i.+ons in. apart, composed of a little tuft of white woolly hair, a cl.u.s.ter of erect, rather long bristles, like a small shaving-brush, and all pointing upwards; spines usually only one in each cus.h.i.+on, and this is slender, deflexed, white, and from 1 in. to 2 in. long. Sometimes the joints are wholly spineless. Flowers 2 in. in diameter, purplish, very handsome, produced in May and June.

Fruit not known. The roots of this species bear tubers often 1 in. in thickness, and several inches in length, and these tubers will grow into plants if severed and planted. It requires stove treatment. Native country, Mexico.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 81. OPUNTIA FILIPENDULA.]

O. frutescens (shrubby).--A thin-stemmed, copiously-branched species.

Joints almost continuous, like ordinary branches, from 2 in. to 6 in.

long, the thickest not exceeding in. Cus.h.i.+ons on raised points or tubercles, each consisting of a small tuft of hair, inclosed in a row of bristles, and one long, central spine, often exceeding 2 in. in length.

When young, the spines are inclosed in a thin, bony sheath. Flowers scattered along the younger branches, 1 in. across, greenish-yellow, borne in June. Fruit 1 in. long, pear-shaped, smooth, scarlet, with tufts of bristles all over it, and a depression in the apex. Mexico. This forms an interesting pot-plant when properly cultivated. It should be grown in a warm greenhouse.

O. Grahami (Graham's).--This is one of several species of Opuntia which are remarkable in having thick, fleshy roots, not unlike those of the Dahlia. The joints are 2 in. long and 1 in. in diameter, cylindrical, with adpressed tubercles, in. or more long, each tubercle bearing a tuft of long, straight, radiating spines. Flowers 2 in. across, yellow, borne on the ends of the ripened joints in June. Fruits 1 in. long and in. wide, covered with stellate cl.u.s.ters of short, bristle-like spines. This plant is a native of Mexico, and is a recent introduction. From the nature of its roots, which are no doubt intended to serve as reservoirs for times of extreme drought, it should be grown in well-drained, sandy soil, and kept quite dry all winter. It requires stove treatment.