240 Select Plants for Industrial Culture 



Opuntia Rafinesquii, Engelmann. 



The Prickly Pear. North-America. The most northern of all 

 species, extending to Lake Michigan. It resists severe frosts, as da 

 also O. brachyantha, O. Comanchica, O. humilis (Mayer), O. Whip- 

 plei, O. oplocarpa, O. arborescens and Mammillaria Missouriensis 

 (Loder, Meehan). 



Opuntia spinosissima, Miller. 



Mexico and West-Indies. Stem columnar, with pendent branches. 

 Also a good hedge-plant. Harding recommends for hedges, besides 

 these species, O. maxima (Miller) as the most repellent. 



Opuntia Tuna, Miller. 



West-Indies, Ecuador, New Granada, Mexico. Irrespective of its 

 value as the principal cochineal-plant, this Cactus is also of use for 

 hedges. It will attain a height of 20 feet. The pulp of the fruit is 

 edible. With many other species hardy anywhere in Australia down 

 to the south-coast. Of Cochineal Great Britain imported in 1884 

 14,100 cwt., value 80,000. 



Opuntia vulgaris, Miller. 



Central America, northward to Georgia, southward to Peru. Very 

 hardy. Adapted for big hedges, and like the rest not inflammable, 

 hence particularly valuable along railway-lines. The fruit almost 

 smooth, eatable. A dye can also be prepared from its pulp and that 

 of allied species. Numerous other species are industrially eligible for 

 hedging purposes, but sometimes spreading beyond control. 



Oreodoxa frigida, Humboldt. 



Central America, ascending the Andes to 8,500 feet. This dwarf 

 slender Palm may be chosen for domestic decoration. 



Oreodoxa oleracea, Martius. 



West-Indies, up to nearly 5,000 feet elevation. One of the most 

 rapid growing of all Palms, rising to a height of 120 feet. In 

 highly manured moist ground the Palm-cabbage, which in this species 

 is of exquisite nut-flavor, can be obtained in two years (Imray, 

 Jenman), should ever such a culture become desirable. Hardy in 

 Florida (B. Smith). 



Oreodoxa regia, Humboldt. 



West-Indies. This noble Palm attains a height of 60 feet. It 

 has proved hardy in Southern Brazil. The stem is thickened at the 

 middle, and from it, as from that of O. oleracea, starch can be 

 obtained. 



Origanum Dictamnus, Linne". 



Candia. Like the following, a scent-plant of somewhat shrubby 

 growth. 



