548 FLORA OF MADRAS. [Opuntia. 



ANALYSIS, AFTER I. H. BURKILL IN RECORDS BOT. SURVEY 



INDIA, IV. 



Stamens exserted; flowers rose-coloured; spines 0...1. coccinellifera. 

 Stamens not exserted : 



Spines falling except one long one on each cushion; flowers yellow, 



the sepals and petals tinged with red 2. monacantha. 



Several large spines remaining on each cushion : 



Spines all straight, slender, tawny or purplish-black ; flowers at 



opening lemon-yellow, changing to rose-pink 3. elatior. 



Spines some curved, the largest stout, light horn-coloured in 

 life, darkening afterwards ; flowers yellow 4. Dillenii. 



1. OPUNTIA COCCINELLIFERA, Mill. 



Chingleput and Tinnevelly Districts in Carnatic. 

 A Mexican species which is only occasionally found in 

 India and has apparently never spread itself widely; it 

 was introduced at Masulipatam in 1788 with the object of 

 .acclimatizing the cochineal insect, for which it is suited. 



2. OPUNTIA MONACANTHA, Haw. 



N". Circars, common ; Carnatic, about Madras ; Deccan, in 



Coimbatore. 



A species which has spread widely in some localities and is 



at once recognized by its single straight thorns. It was 



introduced very early, certainly before 1 786, probably from 



Brazil. 



3. OPUNTIA ELATIOR, Mill. 



N. Circars, along the coast down to the Kistna river, also 

 near Madras ; Deccan, about Bellary. 



A common species, but frequently mistaken for the next, it 

 is recognized by its rose-pink flowers and was apparently 

 introduced about 1800. 



4. OPUNTIA DILLENII, Haw.; F. B. I. ii. 657; W. & A. 363 

 excl. syn. Cactus indicus, Roxb. ; Wt. 111. t. 114. 



E. Coast from G-anjam to Madras, often quite close to the 

 sea, inland also in various places ; Deccan, in Bellary and 

 Mysore, the most common species, easily recognized by its 

 glaucous-green joints, yellow flowers, purple fruits and 

 curved thorns. It comes probably from the Californian 

 Peninsula and was introduced very early, and before 1786 

 it was established in Madras (Burkill). Many attempts 

 have been made to eradicate it, but unsuccessfully in 



