167. CACTACEAE — 168. GEISSOLOMATACEAE — l6g. PENAEACEAE 379 



Perianth wheel-shaped, of free or nearly free segments. Ovules few, on 

 short funicles. Epiphytes. — Species 7. Tropical and South Africa, 

 (Under Hariota Adans.) [Tribe RHIPSALIDEAE.] Rhipsalis Gaertn. 

 4. Stamens much exceeding the perianth. Seed-coat leathery. Stem without 

 spines. Flowers red. — Species i {N. cuccinellifcra S. Dyck). Culti- 

 vated and sometimes naturalized, especially in the Canary Islands. 

 It is used for rearing the cochineal insect and as a vegetable. (Under 

 Opitntia Haw.) Nopalea S. Dyck 



Stamens shorter than the perianth. Seed-coat hard. — Species 3. Culti- 

 vated, especially in North Africa. They yield edible fruits (prickly pear) 

 from which also dyes, drinks, medicaments, and sugar are prepared ; one 

 species is used for rearing the cochineal insect. . . . Opuntia Haw. 



ORDER MYRTIFLORAE 



SUBORDER THYMELAEINEAE 

 FAMILY 168. GEISSOLOMATACEAE 



Shrubs of heath-like appearance. Leaves opposite, undivided, stipulate. 

 Flowers solitary, axillary, regular, 4-merous, hermaphrodite, surrounded by 

 6—8 unequal bracteoles. Calyx-tube short. Sepals petal-like, imbricate in 

 bud. Petals none. Stamens 8, perigynous, unequal, .'\nthers versatile, 

 short, with a narrow connective, opening inwards by two longitudinal slits. 

 Ovary superior, 4-celled. Ovules 2 in each cell, pendulous, inverted, the raphe 

 turned outwards. Style i. Stigmas 4. Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds 

 with a small outgrowth at the hilum, a smooth testa, a fleshy albumen, and a 

 large straight embryo. (Under PENAEACEAE.) 



Genus i, species 2. South Africa. . . . Geissoloma Lindl. & Kunth 



FAMILY 169. PENAEACEAE 



Shrubs or undershrubs of heath-like appearance. Leaves opposite, entire, 



with sometimes gland-like stipules. Flowers solitary or in pairs in the axils 



of the leaves or in terminal spikes or heads, with 2 or 4 bracteoles, regular, 4- 



merous, hermaphrodite. Calyx-tube long. Sepals petal-like, red or yellow, 



valvate in bud. Petals none. Stamens 4, perigynous, alternating with the 



sepals. Anthers adnate, with a thickened connective, opening inwards by two 



longitudinal shts. Ovary superior, sessile, 4-celled. Ovules 2 or 4 in each 



cell, all or the lower ones ascending, inverted, the raphe turned outwards. 



Style simple with a 4-lobed or 4-parted stigma, or 4-cleft. Fruit a locuHcidal 



capsule. Seeds exalbuminous. Embryo with very small cotyledons. — 



Genera 5, species 35. South Africa. (Plate 108.) 



I. Ovules 4 in each ovary-cell, two of them ascending, two descending. Ovary 



and style cylindrical. Style simple. [Tribe ENDONEMEAE.] . 2 



Ovules 2, very rarely 4 in each ovary-cell, all ascending. Flowers in the 



axils of crowded leaves or bracts. Bracteoles 2. [Tribe PEXAEEAE.] 3 



