-I 



OPUNTIA. 



115 



ed. 2. f. i3o;Knippel, Kakteen 2: pi. 28, these three as Opuntia polyantha; Curtis's Bot. Mag. 

 53 : pi. 2691, as Cactus polyanthos; De Candolle, PI. Succ. Hist. 2: pi. 138^^^, as Cactus opuntia 

 polyanthos; Descourtilz, Fl. Med. Antil. pi. 513, as Cactus opuntia. 



Figure 141 is from a photograph of a plant collected by William Harris, near Kingston, 

 Jamaica, in 19 13; figure 142 represents a joint of the same plant. 



pennellii 



(See Appendix, p. 219.) 



103. 



antillana Britton and Rose, Brooklyn Bot. Gard. Mem 



1918. 



Growing in dense clumps, often i meter broad, more or less prostrate; joints usually obovate, 

 7 to 20 cm. long, narrow and nearly terete at base; terminal joints easily breaking off; leaves conic- 

 subulate, about 2 mm. long; areoles large, 2 to 3 cm. apart, containing soft brown wool; spines stout, 

 terete, 3 to 6 at an areole, unequal, i to 6 cm. long, yellow but becoming gray to nearly white in age; 

 glochids numerous, yellow; flowers 5 to 7 cm. long; petals broad, obtuse, yellow, turning reddish in 

 age; fruit reddish purple, 4 cm. long. 



Fig. 143.— Opuntia antillana forming thickets 



Typ 



February 2, 1913. 



Near Basse Terre, St 



Distribution: St. Christopher, 

 Thomas, Porto Rico, and Hisp 



This soecies is one of the most 



Tortola 



West Indies and, on some of the islands on which 



abundant. This is partly 



most 



terminal 



may 



The question has frequently been raised in our 



mmds whether this species may 

 It has some resemblance 

 smaller joints and these very 



What 



parent would be is not so clear. The fragile joints 

 would suggest O. triacantha or 0. rcpens, but otherwise 



*^"- • ^ - -'^ pifber of these. Owmg 



with 

 more common 



them 



pjg ,^^. — Opuntia antillana. X0.33. 



iiVvp it to be distinct, In the 



