CLASS XII. 
ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
CACTUS. Schreb. gen. n. 838. 
Calyx one-leaved, imbricated.  Corol many petalled. 
Prom inferior, one-celled, re nat: 
1. C. indicus. R. ; 
Joints proliferous, oblong, much compressed, thorns 
generally simple, long and straight, issuing from tufts of 
sharp bristles. Corol yellow, twice as haion 3 as the sta- 
mens ; exterior petal obcordate. : 
Tam. Naga-kalee. 
Beng. Nag-phunee. 
This plant is found here and there on road sides, in 
forests, and among bushes in the vicinity of Calcutta, 
and I am informed that itis equally common, not only 
over the whole of the province, but also on most of the 
adjoining districts; so that, independent of its proper 
Bengalee name, and medicinal uses, there is every rea- 
son to imagine it is a native of these countries. Nor can 
I well reconcile it to any of the opuntias hitherto describ- 
ed; as will appear more evidently after reading the follow- 
ing description. It is in flower during the hot season, 
_— more or less the whole year round. 
_ Root fibrous. Trunk, Lhave not yet seen any plant 
With any ‘thing like one, (though Iam informed it grows to 
be a perfect tree,) here it is a ramous bush, with toler- 
ably erect joints ; these are proliferous, of an obovate- 
ere | ete and auch compressed, wer while ape : 
ae hee 
