Opuntia 



( 138 ) 



Opuntia 



freely, and the seedlings may be at once trans- 

 ferred to their permanent flowering quarters. 



Only Species : 



Cliironium, 6', Je., Jy., hdy., yel. (syns. Malabaila 

 Opopanax and Pastinaca Opopanax). 



OPUNTIA. (INDIAN FIG. PEICKLY PEAR.) 

 Description. A large and important genus of suc- 

 culent trees and shrubs (ord. Cacteas). Many of 

 the species have large and showy flowers, and 

 Pear-like, edible fruits, and, despite the poisonous 

 character of the spines and prickles, many species 

 are cultivated. Quaint and curious plants are 



Soil. Crushed bricks one part, and loam two 

 j parts. If the drainage is free, loam alone will 

 suffice for the larger plants. 



Other Cultural Points. The essentials are (1) 

 plenty of light, (2) very free drainage, (3) little or 

 no water during the winter. The hardy forms 

 should be grown in a frame. The frames may be 

 placed over them during the winter and removed 

 in late spring. A miniature rockery constructed of 

 lumps of hard-baked earth, brick burrs, and stone, 

 with pockets of soil here and there, will suit Opuntias 

 well. Under glass it is well to devote a special 

 house, if only a small one, to them, as this can be 



Caaaell tt Company, Ltd. 



OPUNTIA LEUCOTRICHA (syn. WRSISA) (GRIZZLY BEAR CACTUS). 



not uncommon, but there is not so much variation 

 amongst the Opuntias as there is amongst the 

 members of some of the other genera of Cacti. 

 Some are hardy as far as cold is concerned, 

 although always impatient of wet during the 

 winter months, and others need a stove tempera- 

 ture, but the greater number may be accommo- 

 dated in a warm greenhouse, where rather dry 

 and airy conditions can be maintained. The 

 spines show a good deal of variation, and display 

 their maximum of beauty in the group platy- 

 acantha, as typified by papyracantha, and a few 

 other species. Here they are long, very broad, 

 white, and paper-like in consistency. 



Propagation. By cuttings, which should be 

 dried somewhat before they are inserted in the 

 soil; By seeds ; also by grafting O. Ficus-indica 

 is a favourite stock. (For other details, see 

 CACTUS.) 



Oporanthut (see Slenibcrgia). 



easily fitted up with shelves, when the plants will 

 not only be brought up close to the light, but a 

 larger number can be accommodated. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 



[NOTE. Except where otherwise stated a warm 

 greenhouse is required.] 



frts. = fruits, s. = spines, t. = tubercles, 

 arborescens, 5' (uaturally Davisii, dwarf, bronze 



20' to 30'), sum.,- pur., 



t. grn., spiny, s. varia- 

 ble. 



Bigelovii, 10' to 12', t. 

 hemispherical. 



brasiliensis, 10' to 30', Je., 

 lemon yel., frts. nearly 

 round, yel. , spiny. 



camauchica albispina, 

 hdy. , frts. red, s. wh. 



cyliiidrica, 6', sc., frts. 

 yel. , s. wh. , slender. 



cristata, Cockscomb- 

 like. 



gru. 

 decumana, sum., st., or., 



frts. br. red, 4" long, 



sweet. The largest 



species in cultivation 



(syn, maxima), 

 echinocarpa, dwarf, sum., 



grn., yel., frts. very 



spiiiy. 



major, 4'. 

 Emory i, Aug., Sep., yel., 



pur. , t. very spiiiy. 

 Engelmanni, 4" to 6", 



hdy., My., Je., yel. 



