A GUIDE TO THE WILD FLOWERS 



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483. ORANGE-GRASS. SAROTHRA. 



A much branched essentially leafless annual weed, the ob- 

 viously opposite leaves reduced to tiny scales. Flowers small, 

 yellow, solitary in the points of the scale-like leaves. {Hypcr- 

 icaceae.) Related plants are Nos. 413, 472-479. The only 

 species is : 



Orange-grass. Sarothra gcntianoides. {Hypericum gcntian- 

 oides.) Erect and freely branching, not usually over 8 in. 

 tall, sometimes 15 in., wiry. Leaves reduced to tiny, sharp- 

 pointed scales, scarcely ^0 ^^- wide. Flowers yellow, about 

 Vio in. wide, closing at night, or on cloudy days. Sandy places. 

 Maine to Florida, and westward. June-October. Fig. 483. 



484. PRICKLY PEAR. OPUNTIA. 



The only eastern representative of the numerous Cactus 

 Family. Leaves mostly none, the flat joint-like green branches, 

 serving as leaves, and more or less irregularly dotted with 

 long spines. Flowers borne directly on the edges of the joints, 

 bright yellow in our species, composed of numerous petals. 

 Fruit fleshy, edible if the spines are removed, but causing 

 near strangulation if they are not. {Cactaccae.) Our only 

 species is : 



Prickly Pear. Opiintia Opuntia. (Opuntia vulgaris.) Pros- 

 trate and rooting at the joints in mature specimens. Joints 



