154 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY 
at length smoother. Leaves broadly and very unequally ovate- 
lanceolate, tapering toward the tip but at the extremity somewhat 
blunt, half-heart-shaped at the base, somewhat lobed and sinuate- 
toothed, rough-hairy above and below and on the petioles, dark 
green above with coppery streaks along the veins. Flowers on 
short peduncles, few, of medium size, beautiful rose-pink in the bud, 
becoming almost white, thickly covered outside with soft, moss-like 
hairs. Cultivated from Mexico. [Often called B. metallica.] 
5. B. semperflorens, Link and Otto. Stems smooth, herbaceous, 
rather fleshy, branching near the ground and reclining. Leaves 
obtuse or nearly so, broadly ovate, somewhat unevenly heart-shaped 
or tapering at the base, irregularly serrate, or scalloped and wavy, 
smooth, dark green, and very glossy above; stipules rather large, 
nearly ovate. Flowers in small, axillary clusters near the top of the 
stem, whitish to crimson, about 1} in. in diameter. Ovary in fruit 
very broadly winged. An easily grown but homely species. | Culti- 
vated from 8. Brazil. 
69. CACTACEZ. Cactus FAMILY. 
Plants usually with very fleshy and much thickened, often 
globular or cylindrical stems (Fig. 49). Leaves usually 
wanting. Flowers sessile, solitary, often very showy. Peri- 
anth consisting of several rows of sepals and petals, adnate 
below to the ovary. Stamens many, with slender filaments, 
borne on the inside of the perianth-tube. Style 1; stigmas - 
numerous; ovary 1-celled, many-ovuled. Fruit a many- 
seeded berry. 
I. OPUNTIA, Tourn. 
Stem composed of a series of flattened joints, which are 
usually leafless when full grown. Leaves very small, awl- 
shaped, spirally arranged, appearing on the young joints, but 
soon dropping off, with barbed bristles and sometimes spines 
in their axils. Flowers yellow. Sepals and petals not much 
united into a tube. Fruit often eatable. 
1. O. vulgaris, Millk Common Prickity Pear. Prostrate or 
nearly so, pale green. Leaves about } in. long, rather scale-like ; 
bristles many, with few or no spines. Flowers 2 in. or more in 
diameter, with about 8 petals. Fruit about 1 in. long, crimson . 
