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PLATE DXIIT.
C A C T U S HEXAGONUS.
Creai Torch Thistle.
CLASS XIL ORDER L
ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNU. About 20 Chives. One Pomtal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
CALYX monophyllus, superus, ¡mbricatus. Corolla
multiplex. Bacca monolocularis, po
lysperraa.
EMPALEMENT one-leafed, above, tiled. Blojsom
of many folds. Berry of one loculament,
many-seeded.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
CACTUS erectus, altissiraus, maximus, sex- et
octágonas, angulis distantibus, acúleos stellatos
ferens. Calyx tubulosus, viridis : corollis
radialis, albis: petalis exterioribus
laeviter purpuréis.
Habitat in Surinamo.
Cactus hexagonus. ìvìlld. Sp. PI.
CACTUS with an upright stem, tall and large,
six- and eight-sided, angles distant, bearing
starry prickles. Empalement tubular, and
green. Blossom rayed, and white: the
outer petals slightly tinged with purple.
Native of Surinam.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A flower divested of the petals, and cut open to the base of the tube.
2. The seed-bud cut transversely.
3. One of the side shoots.
4. Miniature figure of the plant.
N o genus of plants more remarkable has yet been discovered than that toVhich our present subject
beloi^gs, whether we consider their simple succulent structure, strange diversity of form and habit, or
n L f r " H"? their growth and disposition of their spines. Some of them, like the
Upuntm and ftcus Indica, grow like figs or cucumbers stuck one upon another ; others, like C. curasr
^ r ^ ' - l , ' rl poinfs outwards 5 the C.Melocactus and
mammalians are l,ke melons covered with prickles: one, the moniliformis, has globular joints: the-
C l una, ( which Jacquin in his History of the Plants of America informs us is planted in the Island
n l ^ L ^ n f r "p^ n u fortifications,) the coccinilifer, and some others, have comannn!
^ Phy'l^nthus they are two-edged : we have Cactus triangularis, tetragonus, pentagmius
and ^ e hexapnus now figured, but which varies occasionally from 6 fo 8: we also have 7- 8- Q-
10- 14- and 15-angled species, and even their spines are regularly disposed in quincunxes.
Monsieur Ihiery in his Voyage a Guaxaca, informs us that in Mexico he found whole forests of the
i^actus composed ot 8 or 10 difterent species, from 40 to SO feet high, and some of them 5 or 6 feet
m crcurnference. Woe to the unfortunate traveller who is under them in a storm, when their thorny
W vf t the ground ! his destruction is inevitable. In Mexico and Campeachy, not only thel^
ruits but the young shoots of most of the species of Cacti are eaten : ragouts are also made of tlie
buds and unopened flowers: even their seeds are made into bread, and tl,at of the smaller sorts (as-
^^^^ had tasted, and they were excellent.
^^ supported himself when alinost famished ia.
traversing the sandy deserts. Professor Jacquin also informs us, that the fruits of all the species he
fotmd in America were eaten by the natives. The arts are likewise much indebted to the gentis Cactus,
as the cochineal insect (so essential in the formation of our fine lake and carmine colours) can only
be bred upon the coccinilifer and some other species of Cacti
Our hgure represents a plant that flowered in the hot-house of Major Leathes at Bury St. Edmunds.
I h e living specimen, accompanied with an accurate miniature representation of the plant, was obligingly
communicated by the Rev. G. R. Leathes, who infomis me that it was 17 feet high; that the bend at
the top was owing to a want of room in its ascent, which subverted its otherwise naturally erect
posture; that if began to flower in July, expanding about 5 in the afternoon, and was in the greatest
perfection at midnight: but as the aulumn advanced the flowers opened later and later, till at last
m the month of October (by which time at least 30 had been produced) they did not open till o or
10 o clock in the morning It ,s increased by the side shoots, whose absence adds vigour to the plLt,
which IS as hardy as any of the species, and may be kept in a green-house, but will not flower withoxit
the assistance of the hot-house, and even then is very rarely to be found in bloom.
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