172G 



* OPI'JNTIA monacantha. 

 One-sp'med Opuntia. 



ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Nat. ord. CACTEiE. {Introduction to the Naiural System of Botany, 

 p. 54.) 



OPUNTIA. Tourn. Sepala numerosa, ovario adnata, foliiformla, summa 

 plana, brevia, intima petaliformia, obovata, rosacea, expansa, tubo supra ovarium 

 nuUo. Stamina plurima, petalis breviora. Stylus cylindricus, basi constrictus. 

 Stigmata plurima, erecta, crassa. Bacca ovata, apice umbilicata, tuberculosa, 

 saep^ spinifera. Embryo subspiralis, teretiusculus. Cotyledones semiteretes, 



germinantes foliacece plans crassaj. Plumula parva. Frutices, trunco demum 



tereti, juniore ramisq. rarissimis cylindricis, sccpius plus minus compressis, 

 articiilatis, articulis ovatis v. ohlongis fasciculos aculeorum aut setarum ordine 

 quincunciali seu spirali dispositos gerenlibus. Folia sediformia, caducissima, 

 sub quoque fasciculo juniore. Flores e fasciculis aut marginibus arficulo- 

 rum orti, Jlavi, aut rubentes. Stamina tactu subirritabilia. De Cand. prodr. 

 3. 471. 



O. monacantha ; articulis obovato-oblongis, aculeis solitariis subulatis validis. 



De Cand. I. c. 

 Cactus monacanthus. Willd. enum. suppl. 



We were favoured with a fine plant of this Cactus by the 

 Countess of Guildford in May last. It is said to be a native 

 of the hotter parts of South America. 



With regard to the species, or supposed species of this 

 difficult genus, we cannot do better than quote the words of 

 Professor De Candolle, who has long, carefully and skilfully 

 cultivated them. 



''With regard to Nopals with yellow flowers, although 

 they are the most common in the gardens, the study of their 



* Said to be named from the country of the ancient Opuntians, where it grew 

 wild. These people were located upon the site of the present Tolandi, in the 

 Morea, where one species is still found. 



