166 KEY AND FLORA 



4. B. incarnata L, & O. Herbaceous or mainly so, rather tall 

 (2-4 ft.), stems clustered, slightly reclining, hairy when young, at 

 length smoother. Leaves broadly and very unequally ovate-lanceo- 

 late, tapering toward the tip but at the extremity somewhat blunt, 

 half heart-shaped at the base, somewhat lobed and sinuate-toothed, 

 rough-hairy above and below and on the petioles, dark green above 

 with coppery streaks along the veins. Flowers on short peduncles, 

 few, of medium size; beautiful rose-pink in the bud, becoming almost 

 white; thickly covered outside with soft, moss-like hairs. Cultivated 

 from Mexico. [Often called B. metallica.'] 



5. B. semperflorens L. & O. Stems smooth, herbaceous, rather 

 fleshy, branching near the ground and reclining. Leaves obtuse or 

 nearly so, broadly ovate, somewhat unevenly heart-shaped or taper- 

 ing at the base, irregularly serrate or scalloped and wavy, smooth, 

 dark green, and very glossy above ; stipules rather large, nearly ovate. 

 Flowers in small, axillary clusters near the top of the stem ; whitish to 

 crimson, about 1\ in. in diameter. Ovary in fruit very broadly winged. 

 An easily grown but homely species. Cultivated from S. Brazil. 



70. CACTACE^. Cactus Family 



Plants usually with very fleshy and much thickened, often 

 globular or cylindrical, stems. Leaves usually wanting. Flowers 

 sessile, solitary, often very showy. Perianth epigynous, con- 

 sisting of several rows of sepals and petals. Stamens many, 

 with slender filaments, borne on the inside of the perianth 

 tube. Style 1 ; stigmas numerous ; ovary 1-celled, many- 

 ovuled. Fruit a many-seeded berry. 



I. OPUNTIA L. 



Stem composed of a series of flattened joints, which are 

 usually leafless w^hen full grown. Leaves very small, awl- 

 shaped, spirally arranged, appearing on the young joints but 

 soon dropping off, with barbed bristles and sometimes spines 

 in their axils. Flowers yellow. Sepals and petals not much 

 united into a tube. Fruit often eatable. 



1. 0. vulgaris Mill. Common Prickly Pear. Prostrate or nearly 

 so, pale green. Leaves about \ in. long, rather scale-like; bristles 

 many, with few or no spines. Flowers 2 in. or more in diameter, 



