476 ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Fabricia. 
smooth, except in the axills of the leaves;* length and 
breadth various, according to soil and situation. Leaves 
scattered over the joints, small, sessile, subconical, fleshy, 
caducous. Thorns axillary, generally single, though 
sometimes in pairs, straight, from half an inch to two 
inches long, very strong, whitish, except the point, which 
is darker coloured, and very sharp; their insertions are 
surrounded with innumerable, slender, sharp, short bris- 
tles, which readily penetrate the skin, and give much 
trouble to the unwary handler. Flowers from the upp2t 
edges of the joints ; sessile, large, of a bright beautiful yel- 
low colour, opening only in the day. Calyx one-leafed, 
consisting of a leathery cup which fills exactly the umbili- 
cus of the germ, deciduous with the corol, stamens and 
stylein one body. Petals many, the exterior ones small- 
er, and obcordate ; the interior ones oblong with somewhat 
ragged margins. Stamens not half the length of the petal 
Pistillum, &c. as in the genus. 
Upon this plant the Cochineal insects lately brought 
- from America, thrive and multiply abundantly, 
AE oh chinensis. R, 
_ Subarboreous, joints compressed, proliferous, sublan- 
ceolar, almost unarmed. Petals retuse, truncate, long- 
er than the stamina. 
A native of China ; from ‘thence it was introduced i into 
the Botanic garden at Calcutta about twenty years ago, 
_ during all that time it has blossomed only once. 
FABRICIA. 
Calyx five-cleft. Petals five, sessile. Stigma capitate 
Capsule many-celled ; seeds winged. 
thet as bracteata. R. ; 
Leaves « opposite, oblong, the floral ones minute andl 
te I call the little caducous conical bodies over the joints leaves 
