432 A. E. Verrill— The Bermuda Islands. 
appearance. Among these, the native Maiden-hair Fern, peculiar to 
the Bermudas, is the most delicate and graceful. (Fig. 33.) 
Several species of Cactus or “prickly pear” (Opuntia) grow 
commonly on the walls and rocks by the roadsides. They bear large 
yellow flowers, in their season, and dark red edible fruits. 
The singular Life Plant (Sryophyllum) covers. the barren places, 
rocks, and walls along the roads with its large fleshy leaves, and in 
the spring it sends up tall spikes of pink bell-shaped flowers. ‘This 
is the same plant that is cultivated with us as a house-plant, partly 
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Figure 11.—Quarrying Limestone with chisels and saws. 
on account of its singular power of putting forth several complete 
young plants from the edges of a cut leaf, when laid on the surface 
of the earth. It is very much at home in Bermuda and spreads 
rapidly. It serves well to cover unsightly or barren places, for it 
appears to be able to grow on almost bare rocks. (Plate lxxiv, fig. 2.) 
The underbrush along the roads is composed largely of the 
naturalized shrubby Lantanas, which bear a profusion of bright 
orange or red flowers. It is here called ‘Sage Bush,” and in some 
places it has become a troublesome weed, as in many tropical coun- 
tries, but it is very useful in binding the drifting sands. - 
