CLASS XII. 



ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



CACTUS. Schreb. gen. n. 838. 

 Calyx one-leaved, imbricated. Corol many petalled. . 

 Berry inferior, one-celled, many-seeded. 



1. C. indicus. R. 



Joints proliferous, ol)lon^, much compressed, thorns 

 generally simple, long and straight, issuing from tufts of 

 sharp bristles. Corol yellow, twice as long as the sta- 

 mens ; exterior petal obcordate. 



Tatn. Naga-kalee. 



Beng. Nag-phunee. 



This plant is found here and there on road sides, in 

 forests, and amon<» bushe^; in the vicinity of Calcutta, 

 and I am informed that it is equally common, not only 

 over the whole of the^ province, but also on most of the 

 adjoining districts, ; so that, independent of its proper 

 Bengalee name, and medicinal uses, there is every rea- 

 son to imagiPie it is a native of these countries. Nor can 

 I well reconcile it to any of the opuntias hilherto describ- 

 ed; as Will appear more evidently after reading the follow- 

 ing d'escription.' It is in flower during the hot season, 

 an^a more or less the whole year round. 



Root fibrous. Trunk, 1 have not yet seen any plant 

 with any thing like one, (though I am informed it grows to 

 be a perfect tree) here it is a raraous bush, with toler- 

 ably erect joints ; these are proliferous, of an obovate- 

 oblong form, and much compressed, thin, while young 



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