302 



HENDEESON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



CAC 



plants are allied to the Water Lilies, and 

 are found in America from Cayenne to 

 New Jersey, as well as in New Holland. 

 There are two genera, Cabomba and Hy- 

 dropeltis, which comprise three genera. 

 Cactacece, (Cacti, Cactece, Opuntiacece, Nopa- 

 lece; Indian Figs, the Cactus family.) A 

 natural order of Calycifloral Dicotyledons, 

 consisting of succulent shrubs, with re- 

 markable spines clustered on the stems, 

 which are angular, round, two-edged, or 

 leafy, and have their woody matter 

 often arranged in a wedge-like manner. 

 The calyx consists of numerous sepals, 

 combined and epigynous, (which see;) 

 the petals are numerous; the stamens are 

 numerous, with long filaments. The 

 ovary is one-celled, with parietal placen- 

 tas; the style is single, and the stigmas 

 several. The fruit is succulent, and the 

 seeds without albumen. They are na- 

 tives of various parts of America, but 

 have been introduced into many parts of 

 the world. The fruits of the Opuntias 

 are called Indian Figs, and are edible, 

 having a subacid and refreshing juice. 

 The stems of some of the species are eat- 

 en by cattle. These stems vary greatly 

 in form, some being spherical, others 

 jointed, while still others are triangular, 

 and some send polygonal shafts sixty 

 feet or more into the air. These stems 

 are very succulent or fleshy, and the 

 plants are thus adapted to dry climates, 

 or, rather, such as have a "dry season." 

 Among the tall-growing kinds may be 

 mentioned Cereus giganteus, growing 

 sixty or more feet high, and from one 

 to two feet in diameter; C. Peruvianus, 

 with stems thirty to forty feet high; C. 

 Thurberi, with stems ten to fifteen feet 

 high, and C. Schotlii, with stems eight to 

 ten feet high. The spines on some Cac- 



CAL 



ti are very formidable, and on others very 

 numerous. The spines and bristles on a 

 specimen of Echinocackus platyceras were 

 reckoned at 51,000, and those of a Pilo- 

 cereus senilis at 72,000. Opuntia vulgaris, 

 our common Prickly Pear, bears an edi- 

 ble fruit. 0. cochinillifera, (Nopalea,) the 

 Nopal plant, is very largely grown for 

 rearing the Cochineal insect, (Coccus 

 Cacti. ) The number of known genera is 

 eighteen, and 800 species. Cereus, Epi- 

 phyttum, Phyllocactus, Mammittaria, Melo- 

 cactus, Peres/cia, etc., are examples of this 

 order. 



Caducous. When a part falls off very early 

 compared with other parts with which it 

 is associated. Thus the sepals of many 

 Poppies fall as soon as the flower begins 

 to expand. 



Ccesius. A pale blue; a blue metallic lus- 

 ter seen on some leaves, as those of Sela- 

 ginella ccesia. 



Cceruleus or Cozruleus. Blue ; the clear 

 blue of the sky. 



Ccespitose. Growing in little tufts or patch- 

 es. 



Calamarice. Fossil plants resembling 

 weeds. 



Calambac. The commercial name of Aloes- 

 wood, Eagles-wood, or Lign Aloes, 

 which is produced by Aloexylum agalloch- 

 um. 



Calamus, (a Reed.) This word has been 

 restricted to hollow, inarticulate stems, 

 like those of Hushes. 



Calathida, Calathus, Calathidium.The head 

 of flowers borne by Composites; as, for 

 example, the Aster. 



Calcar. A spur; a hollow process of some 

 part of a flower. 



Cakarate. Spurred; having a spur. 



Calcareous. A dead or dull white, like 

 chalk. Also growing in chalky places, 



