The Republican journal., 1869-09-02
A NIGHT BLOOMING CEREus.

Many Il time have we watched the unfold
ING of this superb child Of the soil, but never
before have we devoted Il whole evening to
an observation of its brief life from the e;lrli-
est opening Of the bud to the midnight gran
deur OF full inforesccnce. The night bloom
ing-cereus, to whose short existence from
dcwy eve till morn, it was our pleasant priv
ilege to devote glad homage, was brought
from its home in Il well known greenhouse in
Waterman street to be our evening guest
Cereus granditlorus is the scientific name
which distinguishes this variety of the large
family to which it belongs. 1t is q member
OF the cactac;e, a tavorite order of plants much
cultivated in greenhouse and parlor for bril-
liantly colored and fantastic flowers The
genus numbers about eight hundred members
and is found principally in tropical America,
where it may be seen in all the native beauty
of lnXuriant growth. There are 1nany varie-
ties OF the cereus family, but the enc before
Us is most commonly cultivated in the green
house; he splendor Of its flowers is an ample
reward for the pains-taking and patience re-
CURED before the rough, angular stem stud
ded with hristles can be induced to put forth
the fioWerstalk, astounded the beholder with
the shortlived and meqnaled beauty of its
milOrescence.
And now the unsightly plant with its rough
table, brilliantly lighted from above and be-
low, that no opportunity may be lost in watch
ING its full development. 1t is early in the
evening just as the fading twilight is passing
into darkness. The lfe-principlc is already
in action; dropping from the leafy stem the
IloWerbud hangs suspended, as it were, in
mid air; cylindrical bag Of golden brown
with Just perccptible opening of the cxtrenl-
ity, and 4 shy peeping out Of the snowy pet
ais The cylinder is the tube of the corola
the coloring Of golden brown is that of the
mbrcated sepals; the creamy white belongs
to the petals which are soon to unvel to our
watching eyes their sanity purity of tint, and
their rich luXuriancc Of development. Other
lovers OF the loneliness of the kingdom of the
flowers are grouped around the table which
this evening Serves as u dais for the queen
about to be enthroncd. A basket of exquisite
flowers, honcysucklc tcaroses, and varicnat-
ed leaves of tropical warmth of coloriny and
dclicately penciIled beauty is placed beneath
the queen OF the evening, and seems by its
rich perfume to do homage to the more rich
y gifted and rarer exotic specimen of the
floral race. Now watching the flower, and
now talking pleasantly, the evening passes.
Ihe flower, true to its destiny, gradually I'M
folds; the tube swells; the golden scpals
spring out; the snowy petals expand: and
from the depths Of the tube appear threadlike
organs gracefully resting on one sidc-thc
congregated stamens and pistil With the
utmost care we cannot see II petal move, but
none the less surely does the work of devel-
opment go on, while idly talking we specu-
late on the wonders of the floral kingdom,
and try to outvic each other in stories of veg
etabc growth. The Century plant Madeira
vine, the whole trailing tribe, and even
"JacKs bean stock serve for illustrations,
while all the time quietly imperceptibly, and
steadily, tbs flower expands
At II O'Clock we arc the only observer
Inc glorious creature has turned back her
golden train; softest satin, richest silk cannot
compare with the creamy tissues which form
her robes Of purest white; while from within
the golden tipped stamens arranged in u cir
Gle form q fitting crown. The Queen has put
on her glorious apparel-she has reached the
summit of her power-she sits enthroned II
miracle of floral beauty. Slowly her golden
sepals turn hack-slowly her pcarly petals
opcn-Slowly from her eorolla project hcrcu-
riously wrought Sti@mas aud anthers poised