070 MESEMBRYANTHACEA. 
parietal placentas (fig. 631); style 1; stigmas several. Fruit 
succulent. Seeds numerous, parietal or imbedded in the pulp, 
without albumen. 
Distribution and Numbers.—Natives almost exclusively of 
the tropical regions of America. Illustrative Genera :—Melo- 
cactus, C. Bawhin; Mamumillaria, Haw. There are about 800 
supposed species. 
Properties and Uses.—The fruit of many species is some- 
what acid and agreeable, and is useful in febrile complaints. 
The fleshy stems of the Melon Cactus (Melocactus) are eaten by 
cattle on account of their juice in the dry districts of South 
America. Many species of Cereus, Epiphyllum, &c., are culti- 
vated on account of their showy flowers. Some species of Cereus, 
as C. grandiflorus and C. wycticallus, open their flowers at 
night; they are remarkable for their size, some being as much 
as 1 foot in diameter. 
Opuntia.—O. vulgaris—The fruit of this plant is the Prickly Pear, 
which is much eaten in America and the South of Europe, and is now com- 
monly imported into this country, and used as a dessert fruit. It is not, 
however, much esteemed. The fruit of O. Tuna is of a carmine colour, and 
has been employed as a water-colour.—O. cochinillifera, the Nopal Plant, is 
cultivated in Mexico, Teneriffe, &c., for the nourishment of the Cochineal 
Insect ( Coccus Cacti) ; the dried female forming the Cochineal of commerce. 
Pereskia aculeata:—The fruit of this plant is the Barbados Gooseberry. 
Order 2. MESEMBRYANTHACE or FicoripEs, the Ice-plant 
Order.—Character.—Succulent herbs or shrubs, with opposite 
or alternate, simple, exstipulate leaves. Calyx 3—8-partite, 
either free or partially adherent to the ovary. Petals either 
numerous and showy, or altogether absent. Stamens perigy- 
nous or epigynous, distinct, numerous or definite. Ovary infe- 
rior or nearly superior, usually many-celled, rarely 1-celled; 
placentas axile, free central, or parietal: styles and stigmas as 
many as the cells of the ovary, distinct ; ovules usually nume- 
rous or rarely solitary, amphitropous or anatropous. Fruit 
usually capsular and many-celled, or rarely 1-celled, dehiscing 
in astellate or circumscissile manner at the apex, or splitting at 
the base ; or woody and indehiscent. Seeds few or numerous, 
or rarely solitary ; embryo curved or spiral, on the outside of 
mealy albumen. 
Diagnosis. —Succulent herbs or shrubs, with simple exstipulate 
leaves. Sepals definite, generally more or less adherent to the 
ovary. Petals very numerous or absent. Stamens perigynous 
or nearly epigynous. Ovary inferior or nearly superior; styles 
distinct; placentas axile, free central, or parietal. Fruit cap- 
sular or indehiscent. Seeds with a curved or spiral embryo on 
the outside of mealy albumen. 
Division of the Order and Illustrative Genera.—The Mesem- 
bryanthacez may be divided into three sub-orders as follows :— 
Sub-order 1. MrsSEMBRYANTHEX.—Leaves opposite. Petals nu- 
