CACTACE^. 



145 



er, and covered with clusters of prickles. The flowers come forth from the 

 edge of the joints or internodes, are large, yellow, followed by a smooth, crim- 

 son, eatable fruit. Prickly Pear. 



2. 0. PHYLLAN'THUS. Dc. Cactus phyllanthus. L. 



Proliferous; branches ensiform, compressed, serrate, with a central, woody 

 rib. From S. America. A species of remarkable form. The articulations 

 of the stem are 2 or more feet long and about 2 inches wide, weak, bordered 

 with large, rounded serratures, and traversed lengthwise by a thick, cylindri- 

 cal nerve. Flowers very large, pink-colored, growing from the indentures of 

 the stem. Spleenwort. 



3. O. PHYLLANTHOI'DES. Dc. Cactus phyllanthoides. L. 



Branches ensiform, compressed, obovate, with spreading, rounded teeth ; 

 spines few, setaceous, slender, longer than the vvooly covering. From Jamai- 

 ca. A splendid flowerer, witii leaf-like, fleshy joints, each G — 10 inches long, 

 and 1 — 2 wide. Flowers very large, from the summit or notches of the joints. 

 Sepals and petals pink-colored, lanceolate, several inches in length. 



4. 0. TRUNCA'TUS. Dc. Cactus truncatus. L. 

 Branching; articulatiojis short, compressed (leaf-like), serrate, truncate at 



the summit. From Brazil. A very distinct species, growing a foot high. 

 Flowers with reflexed, pink-colored petals. Truncate Cactus. 



2. CE'REUS. 

 Sepals and petals very numerous, imbricated and adnate to 

 the base of the ovary, the outer shorter, the inner petaloid; 

 stamens numerous; style filiform, with many stigmas; berry 

 scaly with the remains of the sepals. 



Fleshy shrubs, with long, cylindrical, furrowed a.\es, armed with fascicles 

 of spines. Flowers from the clusters of spines. 



1. C. GRANDIFLo'RUS. Cactus grandiflorus. L. 

 Stems creeping, rooting, with about five angles. Native of the W. Indies. 



Stems cylindric or prismatic, branching, the angles not very prominent. 

 Spines small, clustered. The flowers, which endure but a few hours, are lat- 

 eral, G inches to a foot in diameter, very fragrant. Sepals brown without, 

 yellow within. Petals of a pure white. It is cultivated in the hot house, and 

 may be trained against the wall. Much care is requisite, but no flowering 

 plant better repays the labor of its culture. Kight-hloondng Ccreus. 



2. C. FLAGELIFO'RMIS. Cactus flageliformis. L. 

 Stem creepinor, with about 10 angles, hispid. Native of S. America. Stem 



about the size of the little finger, cylindric, channelled, 3 — 3 feet long. Flow- 

 ers lateral, sessile, of a lively pink-color, smaller but more numerous than 

 those of the preceding species, and continuing in bloom several days. 



Snake Ccreus or Cactus. 



3. C. TRIANGULA'rIS. Cactus triangularis. L. 

 Stem, creeping, triangular. Native of W. [nclies. Stem long, and in its na- 

 tive country, chmbing trees, and supporting itself with lateral roots. Flowers 

 very large, white, lateral solitary. Fruit ovate, both sweet and acid, pleasant 

 and cooling, much esteemed in the W. Indies. Strauberry Pear. 



