. The Book of gardening; a handbook of horticulture. Gardening; Horticulture. 8oo THE BOOK OF Fig. 536.—Melocactus communis. ends of the young branches, are from 2in. to 3m. in diameter, and bright purple; the plant will attain a height of from 8ft. to 30ft. O. basilaris (Fig. 537) has a very curious habit, the stem being short, and producing a number of flat branches which spread out at the top. O. braziliensis has a straight, slender stem from 10ft. to 30ft. high, having short lateral branches; the flowers are pale yellow. O. cylindrica has cylindrical stems and branches; the flo
. The Book of gardening; a handbook of horticulture. Gardening; Horticulture. 8oo THE BOOK OF Fig. 536.—Melocactus communis. ends of the young branches, are from 2in. to 3m. in diameter, and bright purple; the plant will attain a height of from 8ft. to 30ft. O. basilaris (Fig. 537) has a very curious habit, the stem being short, and producing a number of flat branches which spread out at the top. O. braziliensis has a straight, slender stem from 10ft. to 30ft. high, having short lateral branches; the flowers are pale yellow. O. cylindrica has cylindrical stems and branches; the flowers are scarlet, and very numerous. O. Ficus - indica is the. Indian Fig, so well known on account of its Pear-shaped fruit; it grows from 8ft. to 12 ft. high, and has yellow flowers. O. Rafinesquii is a low-spreading species (Fig. 538), with flowers of a bright yellow colour, produced in profusion on the edges of the young joints; the fruit is Pear-shaped and edible. O. Tuna is erect, with flat stems; the flowers are orange-red, borne on the newly ripened joints. Others sorts are O. aurantiaca, O. boliviano,, O. Emotyi, O. Engelmanni, O. frufescens, O. microdasys, O. missouriensis, and O. polyacantha. Pereskia (Barbados Goose- berry).—These are chiefly grown to afford stocks for Epiphyllums, &c. However, P. Bleo is very decorative, having red blossoms. Phyllocactuses are the most ornamental of all the Cacti, and the species are largely grown on that account. They have fine flowers, varying in shades of rose, white, and red. When of a good size, the plants benefit by a top-dressing of rich soil; and during the grow- ing season liquid manure may also be given. Till the end of the summer they will be greatly assisted in ripening if placed against a dry wall, well exposed to the sun. Sorts: P. Ackermanni (Fig. 539) has large handsome flowers of a deep scarlet colour. P. anguliger has very deeply-notched branches and a stiff, erect habit; the. Please note that these images
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