LUTHER BURBANK 



quality of the fruit of this cactus, the pulp some- 

 times being white and again variegated with 

 yellow. 



Specimens from different parts of the world 

 might at first sight be thought to represent different 

 species or at least different varieties; but I have 

 found the various kinds of fruit growing on con- 

 tiguous branches of the same plant. 



The large species of cactus that grows 

 commonly in the Mediterranean region, known 

 there as Indian Fig or Barbary Fig, is closely simi- 

 lar if not identical with the species called Tuna in 

 Mexico, although the fruit of the Mexican variety 

 is usually somewhat smaller than that of the Old 

 World form. The name tuna is applied indiscrim- 

 inately in Mexico to cultivated and wild species 

 of the tribe, but the varieties are sometimes recog- 

 nized by different names, as Tuna Amarillo, Tuna 

 Colorado, Tuna Blanca, etc. 



Another quite common Mexican form known as 

 Tapuna, appears to be entitled to recognition as 

 a distinct species of Opuntia. 



It produces flat leaves that are generally 

 circular or heart-shaped. The plant does not grow 

 as rapidly as others of the large-fruit Opuntias, 

 and the fruit ripens late in the season. The leaves 

 have a somewhat white appearance, as if dusted 

 with flour, which distinguishes them readily from 



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