154 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY 



at length smoother. Leaves broadly and very unequally ovate- 

 lanceolate, 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. metaUica.~\ 



5. B. semperflorens, Link and Otto. Stems smooth, herbaceous, 

 rather fleshy, branching near the ground and reclining. Leaves 

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

 or tapering 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 \\ in. in diameter. Ovary in fruit 

 very broadly winged. An easily grown but homely species. Culti- 

 vated from S. Brazil. 



69. CACTACE^E. CACTUS FAMILY. 



Plants usually with very fleshy and much thickened, often 

 globular or cylindrical stems (Fig. 49). Leaves usually 

 wanting. Flowers sessile, solitary, often very showy. Peri- 

 anth consisting of several rows of sepals and petals, adnate 

 below to the ovary. 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, Tourn. 



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 i in. long, rather scale-like ; 

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

 diameter, with about 8 petals. Fruit about 1 in. long, crimson 



