FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140  
141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   >>   >|  
offsets. The tubercles are closely set in numerous spiral rows, and are 1/2 in. long, rather narrow, pointed, with a crown of radial spines, very slender, hair-like, white, and 1/2 in. long; central spines three or four, 1/2 in. long. At the base of each tubercle is a pea-like tuft of white wool. In this kind the spines fall from the old tubercles, which are persistent, gradually hardening to a cork-like substance. The flowers are produced in the apex of the stem, and are 1 in. long and wide, daisy-like, pale purple in colour; they are succeeded by red, oval berries, which are as pretty as the flowers. About five flowers are developed on each stem annually--May and June. Native of Mexico, in the mountains. It thrives when grown in an ordinary greenhouse, on a shelf, in full sunshine. M. turbinata (top-shaped); Bot. Mag. 3984.--Stem globose, depressed at top, about 3 in. in diameter, pale glaucous-green; tubercles quadrangular, flattened at the apex, and bearing, when young, from three to five erect, slender, hair-like spines, which fall off soon after the tubercles ripen, exposing little depressions or umbilica, and giving the stem a bald, pudding-like appearance, quite distinct from any other kind. Flowers from the centre of the stem, short, about 1 in. across, pale yellow, with a reddish tint outside; anthers yellow. Two or three flowers are usually expanded together in the month of June. Native country, Mexico. M. uncinata (hooked).--Stem globose, simple, about 4 in. in diameter; tubercles closely pressed against each other at the base, where they are four-angled; in length they are 1/4 in., and they are blue-green in colour. Apex bearing four short spines, arranged crosswise, and 1/4 in. long; central spine slightly longer, yellow, and hooked. The flowers are 1 in. long and wide, erect, the tube hidden by the young mammae, amongst which they appear in May and June; they are purple in colour, a line of deeper tint running down the middle of each petal. Like all the kinds with short, angular tubercles, this species is easily managed, flowers freely and profusely, and always ripens seeds. Native of Mexico. It may be grown in a frame, or even out of doors, all through the summer, removing it to a greenhouse for the winter. M. vetula (old).--One of the small Thimble Cactuses, its stems seldom exceeding 3 in. in height by 11/2 in. in diameter. Tubercles 1/4 in. long, conical, with a radial crown of fine, hair-like ye
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140  
141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
tubercles
 

flowers

 
spines
 

colour

 
Native
 

Mexico

 

yellow

 
diameter
 

purple

 

hooked


bearing
 

globose

 

greenhouse

 

closely

 

radial

 
slender
 

central

 
deeper
 
hidden
 

mammae


running

 

offsets

 

middle

 

longer

 

simple

 

pressed

 

uncinata

 

country

 

angled

 

crosswise


arranged
 

length

 

slightly

 
angular
 

removing

 

summer

 

height

 

winter

 
vetula
 
Thimble

exceeding

 

seldom

 
managed
 

freely

 

Tubercles

 

conical

 

species

 

easily

 

profusely

 

ripens