546 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



placentas {fig. 617); style I; stigmas seYeval. i>'>mY succulent. 

 Seeds numerous, parietal, or imbedded in the pulp, without 



albumen. 



Fig. 935. 



Fig. 936. 



Fig. 935. Vertiral pertinn of the flower 

 of tlie Prickly Pear {Opwntia vul- 

 garis).— —Fip. 936. Diagram of the 

 flower of the same. 



Distribution, S~c. — Natives exclusively of the tropical regions 

 of America. Examples of the Genera : — Melocactus, Mam- 

 millaria, Cereus, Opuntia. There are about 800 supposed 

 species. 



Properties and Uses.— The fruit of many species is somewhat 

 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, Eiyiph/llum, Phi/llocactus, &c., are cul- 

 tivated on account of their showy flowers. Some species of 

 Cereus open their flow(^rs at night ; they are remarkable for their 

 size, some being as much as 1 foot in diameter. 



Opuntia.— 0. vulgaris.— T\\(iirv\\t of this plant is the Prickly Pear, which is 

 much eaten in America and the South of Europe, and is now commonly im- 

 ported into this country, and used as a dessert fruit. It is not. however, 

 much esteemed. The fruit of 0. Tuna is of a carmine colour, and has been 

 employed as a water-colour. 0. cocMnillifera, the Nopal Plant, is cultivated 

 in Mexico, Teneriffe, &c., for the nourishment of the Cochineal Insect 

 (Coccus Cacti) ; the di-ied female forming the Cochineal of commerce. 



Natural Order 103. GROSSULARiACEiE. — The Gooseberry or 

 Cm-rant Order. — Character. — Shrubs, with {fig. 358) or with- 

 out spines or prickles. Leaves alternate, lobed, radiate-veined. 

 Flowers axillary, racemose, perfect or rarely unisexual. Cah/x 

 siiperior, 4 — 5-lobed. Petals 5, minute, and inserted on the 

 calyx. Stamens 5, inserted on the calyx, and alternate with the 

 petals. Omry inferior, 1-celled with 2 parietal placentas {fig. 



