C. leptacanthus (slender-spined); Fig. 23.—­One of the most beautiful of all Cactuses, and one of the easiest to cultivate, the only drawback being that it rarely flowers under cultivation.  In habit it is similar to C. Berlandieri.  A plant 8 in. across bears about twenty short branches, each of which, under careful cultivation will produce several flowers in the months of May and June, and these, when expanded, last about eight days before withering; they close every afternoon, opening about ten o’clock in the morning.  The petals are arranged in a single series, spreading so as to form a shallow cup, and are notched on the edges near the upper end.  They are coloured a deep purple-lilac on the upper half, the lower part being white, like a large pied daisy.  The stamens are pure white; the anthers orange-coloured, as also is the star-shaped stigma.  The plant is a native of Mexico, and was introduced in 1860.  It requires the same treatment as the preceding kinds.  The illustration is sufficient to show the beauty of this little creeping Cactus, which, although so long known, is not grown in English gardens, though it is common enough in Continental collections.

[Illustration:  Fig. 23.—­Cereus leptacanthus.]

C. multiplex (proliferous); Fig. 24.—­A globose-stemmed species, becoming pear-shaped with age; height 6 in., by 4 in. in diameter; ridges angled, clothed with clusters of about a dozen spines, the central one longest.  Flowers 6 in. to 8 in. long, and about the same across the spreading petals; tube clothed with small, hairy scales; the sepals long and pointed; petals 2 in. or more long, 1 in. wide, spreading out quite flat; stamens arranged in a ring, with the whitish-rayed stigma in the middle.  This species flowers in autumn.  It is a native of South Brazil, and was introduced in 1840.  It thrives best when kept in a warm, sunny position in a window or heated greenhouse.

[Illustration:  Fig. 24.—­Cereus multiplex.]

At Fig. 25 is a curious variety of the above, the stem being fasciated and divided into numerous crumpled, flattened branches.  It is remarkable as a monster form of the type plant.  So far as is known, neither this nor any other of the monster Cactuses produces flowers.

[Illustration:  Fig. 25.—­Cereus multiplex cristatus.]

C. paucispinus (few-spined); Bot.  Mag. 6774.—­A dwarf-stemmed species of recent introduction, and one which, owing to the beauty of its flowers and the hardy nature of the plant, is certain to find much favour among growers of Cactuses.  The stem is about 9 in. high, by 2 in. to 4 in. in diameter, the base much wider than the apex, the ridges irregular, very thick and rounded, giving the stem a gouty or tumid appearance.  Upon the prominent parts of these ridges are stellate tufts of long, pale brown spines, some of them nearly 2 in. long, and each tuft containing about eight spines.  When young, the