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THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



the plant kingdom what the camel or dromedary is to the ani- 

 mal kingdom. It thrives in dry and poverty stricken soil, 

 where the rainfall is infrequent ])ut occasionally torrential 



during the rainy season. This grotesque but unique division 

 of the vegetable kingdom has been so fitted by nature that its 

 members may store away vast quantities of water within their 

 bodies of pulp and spines, thus enajjling tlicm to tide over any 

 dry season. 



