31 
5. Opuntia Ficus-tnpica (L.) Mill. Gard. Dict. Ed. 8. 
Opuntia. No.2. 1768 
Cactus Ficus-indica L. Sp. Pl. 468. 1753. 
Plant erect, often tree-like, 4 m. tall or less, the early joints 
somewhat fusing to form a thick trunk which supports irregularly 
spreading heavy branches: joints elliptic, varying to slightly 
broadest above the middle or below it, very thick, mostly 3-4 dm. 
long, often slightly glaucous: areolae small, with yellowish bristles 
and white wool: spines wanting, or occasionally and irregularly 
developed, and mostly solitary, pale, at maturity turning white, 
nearly terete: flowers usually several on a joint: corolla yellow, 
7-10 cm. wide: berries obovoid, red or orange (said to be some- 
times yellow), 5-9 cm. long: seeds 3.5-4.5 mm. in diameter. 
Waste places, roadsides, and old fields, Florida. Doubtless 
native of tropical America; but its original home is unknown. 
Naturalized in the Old World. 
Two of the species of Opuntia now growing naturally in Florida 
are naturalized exotics. The present plant is apparently a 
rather recent introduction. The Opuntia Ficus-indica of the 
older floras is evidently based on specimens of the species fol- 
lowing the one here described. 
The species is apparently represented in several forms. In 
some places it has escaped from flower-gardens, while in other 
regions it may be found on roadsides, in fence-corners, and in 
old fields where it formerly was planted extensively by people 
who are locally known as “cactus-crazy.”’ This plant does not 
seem to be of much practical use at present. 
6. Opuntia keyensis Britton, sp. nov. 
Plant erect, much-branched, sometimes forming clumps 3 m. 
tall, with long fibrous roots: joints elliptic, oval, obovate or 
spatulate, thick, 1-3 dm. long, bright-green: leaves ovoid, 2-3 
mm. long, green: areolae rather conspicuous, often relatively 
large and prominent, apparently unarmed: spines stout, 4-13 
together, very short, mostly hidden in the bristles, pink, at 
maturity salmon-colored, and sometimes protruding from the 
areolae as tufts of very coarse bristles, slightly flattened: buds 
short-pointed: flowers solitary or 2 or 3 on a joint: sepals deltoid 
‘o subreniform, acute or acutish: corolla salmon-colored, cup- 
like or short-campanulate, 3-3.5 cm. wide; petals rather few, 
