I 36 Datiscacee. [ Tetrameles. 
Page 265.— 
Tetrameles nudiflora R. Br. Chini, T. (Gamble). 
Rambukkana; Maduwanvela (F. Lewis); Bibile. 
LXI.—CACTACE/:. 
Pendulous epiphyte ‘ : : . 1. RHIPSALIS. 
Erect terrestrial shrubs . : : ; : : . 2. Opuntia. 
Page 267.— 
2. OpunTIA Mill. 
Succulent perennials, with flattened, jointed stems; fis. 
regular, with numerous perianth segments and stamens; 
styles cylindric, with numerous stigmas; fruit, a berry with 
numerous seeds.—Sp. 200; natives of Tropical America. 
Spines 2-5 together, straw-coloured, some curved ; 
petals yellow outside; segments glaucous , . 1. O. Dilenu: 
Spines usually solitary, dark-coloured at apex, all 
straight; petals reddish outside; segments bright 
green 2. O. vulgaris. 
1. O. DitLent Haw. Suppl. Succ. p. 79 (1819) ; Burkill in Rec. Bot. 
Surv. Ind. IV, p. 314 (1911); Johnston & Tryon, Rep. Prickly-pear 
Trav. Comm. (Queensland) pp. 3, 6 f. 64 (1914). Cactus Dilleni 
Edwards, Bot. Reg. III, t. 258 (1817). 
Joints flattened, broadly oblong, glaucous; spines 2-5- 
nate, on cushions, yellowish, often curved; fls. 4 in. diam., 
bright yellow. 
The common species in the Jaffna Peninsula, at Trincomalee and as 
a hedge plant about Colombo. 
Native of America. 
2. O. vutcarRis Mill. Gard. Dict., ed. 8, no. 1 (1768); Burtt-Davy 
Fl. Transv. p. 235 (1926). O. monacantha Haw. 1. c. p. 81 (1819); 
Lindl. Bot. Reg. VII, t. 1726 (1835); Burkill, 1. c. p. 312 (1911); John- 
ston & Tryon, |. c. pp. 4-6. 8-13 (1914). Cactus monacanthus Willd. 
Enum. Hort. Berol. Suppl. p. 33 (1913). 
Joint flattened, broadly obovate, bright green; spines 
usually solitary on the cushions, dark brown at their apices, 
whitish below, straight; flowers 2 in. diam., bright yellow 
with reddish blotches on the backs of the petals; fruit 
obovoid, reddish. 
Low country, common but exterminated in some places by a parasite 
(Coccus indicus Green). 
Native of N. America. 
Part If. 
