456 



SCIENTIFIC AND APPLIED PHARMACOGNOSY 



Indies, and is extensively cultivated as a house plant. The fresh 

 stems and flowers only are employed in medicine (Fig. 198). 



Description. Stems cylindrical, 5- to 7-angled, branching; usually 

 in pieces from 10 to 15 cm. in length and from 1 to 3 cm. in thickness; 

 externally of a grass-green color and marked by alternate clusters of 

 6 to 8 prickly thorns, from 1 to 2 mm. in length; internally bright 



" 



--'** 



FIG. 198. Cactus grandiflorus in burlap bags of about 150 Ibs. Shipped from 

 northern Mexico, in a fresh condition. After Moser. 



green, having a thick cortex with large mucilage cells and a small 

 central woody cylinder. Occasionally producing at the nodes cylin- 

 drical, gradually tapering, irregularly curved, light grayish-brown 

 roots from 5 to 20 cm, in length and I to 2 mm. in thickness. 



The flowers are from 15 to 20 cm. in diameter, subtended by 

 a cylindrical stalk from 12 to 18 cm. in length and about 1 cm. 

 in diameter; the latter consists of an ellipsoidal and nearly solid 



