156 FIG-MARIGOLD FAMILY. 



C. multiplex. Stem green, with about 13 acute ridges and 10-12 rather 

 long unequal spines. 



6. ECHINOCACTUS. (Name means Spiny or Hedgehog Cactus.} There 

 are many wild species far S. W., but few common in cultivation. Flowers 

 mostly small, opening for 2 or 3 days, closing at night. 



E. Texensis, of S. Texas and Arizona, has stem much broader than high, 

 or globular when young, becoming 1 broad, with 1227 acute wavy ridges, 

 6 or 7 very stout and horn-like reddish recurved spines ; the central one larger 

 and turned down, sometimes 2' long ; flower rose-colored, very woolly, 2' long. 



E. Ottbnis, from Brazil, is pear-shaped, becoming club-shaped, 2' -3' 

 thick, with 12 - 14 narrow ridges, clusters of 10- 14 short slender prickles, and 

 yellow flowers with red stigmas. 



6. MELOCACTUS, i. e. MELON-CACTUS. One species is often brought 

 from the West Indies, but does not long survive, viz. 



M. communis, called TURK'S-CAP. Globular or ovate, dark green, often 

 1 high, with 12-20 ridges, beset with clusters of short brownish spines ; the 

 cylindrical muff-like crown of bristles and cottony wool, 2' - 5' high, in which 

 the very small pink flowers are half-imbedded ; berries small, red. 



7. MAMILLARIA. (Name from the nipple-shaped tubercles which cover 

 the stem.) Many wild species far W. and S. W. on the plains : few common 

 in cultivation. 



M. longimamma, from Mexico, has the tubercles rising from a depressed 

 body, or apparently almost from the root, 1' or more long, loosely spreading, 

 much longer than the 8-11 prickles at their apex; flowers large for the genus, 

 1|' long, yellow. 



"M. plisilla, wild in Texas and S., with clustered ovate or globular stems 

 l'-2' long, oblong or ovate tubercles bearing wool in their axils, and tipped 

 with very many capillary crisped bristles and several slender prickles ; flowers 

 pink, ^' long. 



M. gracilis, with globular and at length short-cylindrical stems l'-2' 

 long, excessively proliferous, the oblong tubercles bearing about 16 recurving 

 white prickles, and on older plants 1 or 2 stouter and longer straight ones of a 

 brown hue ; flowers small, white. 



M. elongata, with cylindrical clustered stems, covered with short conical 

 tubercles, which bear 16-30 uniform radiating and recurving sfender prickles 

 in a starry tuft, and very rarely a central one ; flowers small, white. 



M. vivipara, wild from Nebraska S., l'-5' high, simple, or proliferous 

 in tufrs, globular, with the terete tubercles slightly grooved down the 

 upper side, bearing 12-30 rigid widely radiating whitish prickles, and 3-12 

 stouter and darker ones ; flower pink-purple, large for the plant, about 2' in 

 diameter. 



50. MESEMBRYANTHEME^I, FIG-MARIGOLD 

 FAMILY. * 



Fleshy plants, of aspect between the Cactus, Purslane, and Orpine 

 Families, with simple entire leaves, and calyx-tube coherent with 

 the compound ovary, which has 4-20 styles and as many cells : 

 represented in cultivation by the following. 



1. MESEMBEYANTHEMUM. Herbaceous or fleshy-shrubby and prostrate or low 



branching plants, with very succulent leaves and mostly handsome flowers, 

 opening only in bright light, commonly at noon. Lobes of the calyx mostly 5. 

 Petals (linear) and stamens verv numerous, on the calyx. Styles, cells of the 

 ovary, and radiating horns or lobes of the many-seeded pod 4 -20. 



2. TETRAGONIA. Low spreading herbs, with broad and flat thickish leaves, and 



small flowers in their axils. Calyx usually 4-lobed. Petals none. Stamens 

 few or many. Styles and 1-ovuled cells of the ovary few. Fruit hard and 

 nut-like, 3 - 8-horhed, 3 - 8-seeded. 



