156 FIG-MARIGOLD FAMILY. 



C. multiplex. Stem preen, with about 13 acute ridges and 10-12 rather 

 long unequal spines. 



5. ECHINOCACTUS. (JZsme means Spiny or Hedgehog Cactus.) ^ There 

 arc inaiiv wild species far S. W., but few cuniiuon in cultivation. Flowers 

 i .tly small, opening tor 2 or 3 da\s, do-ing at night. 



E. Texensis, of S. 'IV\a.- and Ari/.ona, ha- stem much broader than high, 

 or globular when young, becoming 1 broad, with 12- 27 acute wavy rid-e-, 

 6 or 7 very stout and horn-like reddish recurved spines : the central one larger 

 and turned down, sometimes 2' Ion-: flower rose-colored, very woolly, 2' long. 



E. Ottdnis, from Bra/.il, is pear-haped. becoming club-shaped, 2' - 3' 

 thick, with 12- 14 narrow ridges, clusters of 10- 14 short .-lender prickles, and 

 yellow Dowers with red stigmas. 



6. MELOCACTUS, i. c. MELON-CACTUS. One species is often brought 



from the West Indies, but does not long survive, viz. 



M. communis, called TURK'S-CAP. Globular or ovate, dark green, often 

 1 hiirli, with 12-20 rid-es, beset with clusters of short brownish spines : the 

 cylindrical muff-like crown of bristles and cottony wool, 2' -5' high, in which 

 the very small pink Dowers are half-imbedded ; berries small, red. 



7. MAMILLARIA. (Xamefrom the nipple-shaped tubercles which cover 

 the stem.) Many wild species far W. and S. W. on the plains : few common 

 in cultivation. 



M. longimamma, from Mexico, has the tubercles rising from a depressed 

 body, or apparently almost from the root, 1'or more long, loosely spreading, 

 much longer than the 8-11 prickles at their apex; flowers large for the genus, 

 l.V lollL, r , yellow. 



'M. plisilla, wild in Texas and S., with clustered ovate or globular stems 

 l'-2' lout;, oblong or ovate tubercles bearing wool in their axils, and tipped 

 with very many capillary crisped bristles and several slender prickles ; Dowers 



pink, :';' loll-. 



M.'gracilis, with globular and at length short-cylindrical stems 1' - 2' 

 long, excessively proliferous, the oblong tubercles baring about Hi recurving 

 white prickles, and on older plants 1 or 2 stouter and longer straight ones of a 

 brown hue; (lowers small, white. 



M. elongata, with cylindrical clustered stems, covered with short conical 

 tubercles, which bear 1 1> - 30 uniform radiating and recurving slender prickles 

 in a -tarry tuft, and verv rarely a central one ; (lowers small, white. 



M. vivipara, wild* from Nebraska s., I'-.V high, simple, or proliferous 



in tufts, u'lobular, with the terete tubercles slightly grooved down the 

 upper side, bearing 12-30 rigid widely radiating whitish prickles, and 3-12 

 stouter and darker ones; Dower pink-purple, large for the plant, about 2' in 

 diameter. 



50. MESEMBRYANTHEME.EJ, FIG-MARIGOLD 



FAMILY. 



Fleshy plants, of aspect between tlu> Cactus. Purslane, and Orpine 

 Families, with .simple entire leaves, and ealyx-tuho coherent with 

 the compound ovary, which has 4 - 'JO styles and as many cells : 

 represented in cultivation by the following. 



1. MKSKMI'.llYAXTHKMrM. Herbaceous or fleshy-shrubby and prostrate or low 



liraneliinu plants, with very Micculent leave* and mostly handsome (lowers, 

 opening ,7nly in lu-iirlit light', commonly at noon. Lobes of the calyx mostly 5. 

 Petals ( linear) and stamens very nmnerons mi the calyx. Styles, cells of the 

 ovarv, am! radiating horns or lobes of the many-seeded pod 4 - 'J". 



2. TETRAGONIA. I.ow s]ireadmi; Ii.-His, with broad and flat tliickish leaves, and 



small flowers in their axils. Calyx usually 4-lobed. Petals none. Stamens 

 few or many. Styles and 1-ovu'led cells of the ovary few. Fruit hard and 

 nut-like, 3 - 8-horhed, 3 - 8-seeded. 



