deep rose-red, the
base of the petals slightly paler. The varieties differ in having
colours which vary from almost pure white, with purplish tips, to a
uniform rich purple, whilst such colours as salmon, rose, orange, and
scarlet, are conspicuous among them.

[Illustration: FIG. 9.--EPIPHYLLUM RUSSELLIANUM.]

E. Russellianum (Russell's); Fig. 9.--This has smaller branchlets than
the type plant (E. truncatum), and is thus easily distinguished; they do
not exceed 1 in. in length and 1/2 in. in width, whilst the edges are
irregularly and faintly notched, not distinctly toothed, as in E.
truncatum. The flowers are a little larger than in the older kind, and
are not curved, whilst the petals are narrower; their colour is bright
rosy-red. This species flowers rather later in the year than E.
truncatum, and may be had in blossom so late as the month of May or
June. There are several varieties of it which have either larger and
darker, or smaller and variously tinted flowers. Both the species will
cross with each other, and probably many of the varieties enumerated by
nurserymen have been obtained in this way.

VARIETIES.

The following is a selection of the best varieties, with a short
description of the flowers of each:

E. bicolor (two-coloured).--Tube of flower white; petals purple,
becoming almost white towards the base.

E. Bridgesii (Bridges').--Tube violet; petals dark purple.

E. coccineum (scarlet).--Bright scarlet, paler at the base of the
petals.

E. cruentum (bloody).--Tube purplish-scarlet; petals bright scarlet.

E. Gaertneri (Gaertner's).--This is an interesting and beautiful
hybrid, raised from Epiphyllum and a Cereus of some kind. The branchlets
are exactly the same as those of E. truncatum, but the flowers are not
like Epiphyllum at all, resembling rather those of Cereus or
Phyllocactus. They are brilliant scarlet in colour, shaded with violet.

E. magnificum (magnificent).--Tube rosy-violet; petals dark red.

E. salmoneum (salmon-coloured).--Tube and base of petals white, rest
salmon-red, shaded with purple.

E. spectabile (remarkable).--Tube and base of petals white; tips of
petals carmine.

E. tricolor (three-coloured).--Tube salmon-red; petals red, centre
purplish.

E. violaceum (violet).--Tube white; petals carmine, margined with
violet-purple.

CHAPTER VI.

THE GENUS PHYLLOCACTUS.

(From phyllon, a leaf, and Cactus).

As in the case of the Epiphyllums, the principal c