]\l CACTACK.K. (cactus FAMILY.) 



OIK'S pinn!iti(i(l ; fruit sli;,'litly roiiglicnid. — ronds jind difrlicH, Florida, and 

 noithwiud. July. 



4. M. SCabratum, Miclix. Stem short (C- 12'); leaves 4 -5 in a whorl, 

 the divisions fi.'\v and eaj)illiuy, the floral ones linear, peotinately toothed ; fruit 

 strongly ridged and roughened. — Shallow ponds. South Carolina, and north- 

 ward. June and Julv. 



Order 56. CACTACEiE. (Cactus Family.) 



Succulent, shrubby, and commonly leafless and prickly plants, ■with 

 globular, or columnar and anjrular, or flattened and jointed stems, and 

 solitary sessile flowers. — Sepals and petals similar, imbricated in several 

 rows, and adherent to the l-celled ovary. Stamens indefinite, with lonjj 

 filaments, inserted on the base of the petals. Style siii>.de: stigmas nu- 

 merous. Fruit baccate. Seeds numerous, campylotropous, borne on 

 several parietal placentie. Albumen scanty or none. 



1. CEREUS, Haw. 



Sepals and jtctals united into an elongated tube above the ovary. Stamens 

 inserted on the tuljc. Style filiform. Stigma many-lobed. Seeds without al- 

 bumen. — Stems elongated, ribbed or angled; the angles bearing tufts of spines 

 and showy flowers. 



1. C. monoelonos, DC ? Stem tall, columnar. 6-8-angled, green; 

 angles obtuse; s])ines short, brownish. — Key West. — Stem 4° -10° high. 

 Flowers 6' long, the inner petals lanceolate, acuminate, white ; the outer ones ■ 

 linear, greenish, and gradually diminishing into the scales of the tube. Stigmas 

 10 or more, filiform, exserted. Stamens included. 



2. C. triangularis, Haw. ? Stem elongated, jointed, 3-sided, rooting at 

 the joints ; flowers greenish externally, white within, very large ; fruit large, 

 naked. — Key West. — Stem climbing over bushes. Joints 1° long. 



2. OPUNTIA, Tourn. JMmckly Fkar. 



Sepals and petals not united into a tube. Stamens inserted into the base of 

 the petals. Style cylindrical. Stigma 3- 8-lobed. Seeds with thin albumen. 

 — Stems with flat or rarely cylindrical joints. Leaves fleshy, with tufts of bristly 

 hairs and commonly strong spines in their axils, deciduous. I'lowei-s large, 

 yellow. 



1. O. Ficus-Indicus, Haw. Stem erect, spreading; joints oval and. 

 obovate ; leaves subulate, bristly in the axils, without spines ; fruit bristly, ob- 

 ovate, red within, edible. — South Florida. May. — Joints 1° long. 



2. O. vulgaris, Mill. Stem prostrate; joints obovate, pale; spines few 

 and short; fruit nearly smooth. — Dr}' sandy soil, Florida and northward, near 

 the coast. June and July. 



