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.E. 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 when 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, 



