OFUNTIA. H7 



O. Salmiana. 



Stem erect, branching freely. Joints from 1 to 6 inches long, 

 cylindrical, smooth, J- inch in diameter, clothed with small cushions 

 of soft, short bristles, and one or two longish spines. Flowers 

 produced in September, 2 inches across, yellow, streaked with red, 

 of short duration. Fruit egg-shaped, 1 inch long, crimson. Brazil, 

 whence it was introduced in 1850. Thrives in a warm greenhouse. 

 A charming little Cactus, and exceptional among Opuntias in the 

 colour and abundance of its flowers, and fruits, which usually 

 remain on the plant several months. A small branch, or joint, 

 grows to its full length, and a flower-bud appears in the apex. If 

 examined at this stage, it will be seen that the ovary occupies only 

 a very shallow cavity in the top of the branch. After flowering, 

 this ovary grows into the branch, and ultimately the whole branch 

 is transformed into a pulpy fruit. Many of the small branches, 

 although they do not flower, change to a red colour like the fruits. 



O. spinosissima. 



Stem erect, woody. Joints very flat and tlrn, deep green, 

 ovate or rotund, from 6 inches to 1 foot long. Cushions 1 inch 

 apart. Bristles very short. Spines in clusters of about five, the 

 longest 2 inches in length, brownish-yellow. Flowers reddish- 

 orange, small, usually only 2 inches across, produced in June. 

 South America ; naturalised in many parts of the Old World. 

 Requires stove treatment. 



O. subulata. 



Stem erect, cylindrical, even below, channelled and tubercled 

 above, 2 inches in diameter. Joints long, cylindrical, with 

 tufts of short, white hair on the apices of the tubercles, and one or 

 two white, needle-like spines from i to 1 inch long. At the base 

 of each tuft, from the apex to 1 foot or more down the younger 

 branches, there is a fleshy, green, awl- shaped leaf, from 2 to 5 inches 

 long. Ultimately the leaves and spines fall away, the tubercles 

 are levelled down, and the mature stem is regular and cylindrical, 

 with tufts of white setae scattered over it. Flowers produced in 

 spring ; sepals 2 inches long, green, deciduous ; petals small, dull 

 purple. Fruit pear-shaped, 4 inches long ; seeds r, inch long and 

 wide. South America. Formerly known as a Pereskia from the 

 fact of its leaves being persistent and very large. Easily grown in 

 a warm greenhouse. 



O. tetracantlia. 



Allied to 0. arborescens, but never more than f> feet high, 

 with cylindrical joints covered with prominent tubercles, bearing 

 tufts of brown bristles and straw-coloured, flattened, deflexed, 

 loosely-sheathed spines. Flowers greenish-purple ; fruit ovate, 

 bright red, Arizona, Like all the plants of this set, 0. tetracantha 



