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and west side of the center bench are plants of the hedgehog 
cactus, Echinocactus, and also of Echinocereus and Echinop- 
sis. On the south bench is a collection of cactuses, largely 
of the genus formerly known as Afamillaria. Here also 
will be found specimens of Echinocereus, Echinocactus, and 
of the curious Turk’s-head cactus which bears its flowers on 
the red cap to the plant, hence its popular name. 
House 8 is mainly devoted to the collections of the genus 
Opuntia. On the center and north benches are the platy- 
opuntias, those with broad flat joints, while on the south 
bench will be found the cylindropuntias, or those with 
rounded stems. Among the platyopuntias are a number 
of plants of Burbank’s so-called spineless cactus; these 
were obtained direct from Mr. Burbank in rg12, and it is 
curious to note that many of them are now developing 
spines. It is claimed that these plants are valuable for 
fodder in arid regions. As already remarked above, the 
leaves of the opuntias are usually small and awl-shaped and 
occur on the young growths. In this house will also be 
found the genus Pereskia, in which the leaves are normally 
developed. One of the commonest of these is the Barbados 
gooseberry, Pereskia Pereskia, of tropical America. Peresk- 
iopsis is a related genus of which a number of species will 
be found here; its leaves are also well developed. 
An interesting economic plant in this house is Nopalea 
coccinellifera, upon which the cochineal insect breeds; it is 
from these insects that the dye cochineal was obtained. 
Nopalea much resembles the flat-stemmed Opuntia in 
its plant body, but is distinguished readily by its different 
flowers. 
Few of the cacti are of economic importance. A number 
of different kinds are used for hedges in tropical America. 
Certain species of Opuntia produce edible fruits known 
as Indian figs. These are offered for sale in the fruit 
stores in New York at the proper season. In the island of 
Grand Turk certain species of Opuntia which grow there 
are used in making a soup, known as pear soup, the young 
joints of the plant being used for the purpose. 
