J56 



ICOSANDIUA. 



177 - 



seven or eight o'clock in the evening, are full blown by eleven, 



and at four or five o'clock the next morning, they droop, and are 



quite withered. There is hardly a more magnificent flower 



than this, even when seen by candle light, and it is probable 



that its splendor would be increased, could it be seen by the 



light of day. Its calyx, when open, is nearly a foot in 



diameter, the inside of which being 



of a splendid yellow color, appears 



like the rays of a star, the petals of 



which do not reach the outer cir- 



cumference of the calyx, are pure 



white, while the vast number of re- 



curved stamens which surround 



the pistil in the centre, add greatly 



to the beauty of the whole. The 



shape of this flower is represented 



by Fig. 1 77. 



The species on which the Co- 

 chineal insect chiefly feeds is call- 

 ed Cochineal Fig, Fig. 178, (Cac- 

 tus cochinillifer,) and is without 

 spines or thorns. The insect 

 also feeds on other species of the 

 Cactus tribe, but this only is culti- 

 vated as its food, because it is the 

 least annoying by its prickles. It 

 grows four or five feet high, and 

 appears like a number of thick 

 succulent leaves; joined to each 

 other. It resembles the common Prickly Pear, denuded o 

 its arms. This, as well as the Prickly Pear, produces in then 

 native climate an edible fruit, which is highly esteemed. 

 " On the top of this fruit there grows a red flower ; this, when 

 the fruit is ripe, falls down on the top of it, and covers it, sc 

 that no rain or dew can wet the inside. A day or two after, 

 the flower being scorched up by the heat of the sun, the fruit 

 opens wide, and the inside appears full of small red insects, 

 (probably attracted by the fruit.) The Indians, when they 

 perceive the fruit open, spread a large linen cloth, and then 

 with sticks shake the plant to disturb the insects, so that they 

 may take wing to be gone, but [they] keep hovering ovei 

 the plant, till by the heat they fall down dead on the cloth, 



What species of cactus is cul^-ated as food for the cochineal insect ? 



