116 KEY AND FLORA 



above the growing bunches of spines. Ovary covered ivith 

 sepals. Seeds with endosperm. 



III. CE'REUS, Column Cactus 



Oval or columnar plants, sometimes tall, ribbed, or angled, 

 with bundles of spnnes on the ribs. Flowers larger than the 

 two preceding, close above the bundles of full-grown spines. 

 Ovary covered ivith sej^als. Seeds without endosperm. 



IV. OPUN'TIA, Jointed Cactus 



Branching or jointed plants, ivith joints either flattened or 

 cylindrical. Spines barbed, and accompanied by numerous 

 short bristles that easily become detached. Ovary bearing 

 bristles in the axils of small terete deciduous sepals. Seeds 

 with the embryo coiled around the endosperm. 



FICOFDE^. Fig Marigold Family 



Fleshy, succulent plants, with opposite leaves without stip- 

 ules. Petals and stamens numerous, inserted on the tube of 

 the calyx, which is adnate to the capsule. 



MESEMBRYAN'THEMUM, Fig Marigold, Ice Plant 



Calyx lobes 5, unequal. Petals numerous, linear. Stamens 

 indefinitely numerous. Capsule with as many cells as styles 

 (4-20), usually 5, dehiscent at the top. 



M. aequilatera'le Haworth. Fig Marigold. Perennial, with 

 stout, usually prostrate stems. Leaves thick, 3-sided, smooth, 1-3 

 in. long. Flowers crimson, nearly sessile. Fruit edible. This is 

 common on the coast. 



ARALIAXE^. Ginseng Family 



Perennial herbs or shrubs, generally with woody stems. 

 Umbels not regularly compound. Styles and carpels more 

 than 2. Fruit fleshy, forming a berry or drupe. 



