﻿PLATE DXXXIII. 

 CACTUS COCCINELLIFER. 



Cochineal Torch Thistle. 



CLASS XII. ORDER I. 



ICOSJNDRIA MONOGYNIA. About twenty Chives. One Pointal. 



ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER. 

 2alyx monophyllus, superus, imbricatus. Co- [j Empalement one-leafed,, above, tiled. Blos- 

 rolla multiplex. Bacca monolocularis, po- som of many folds. Berry of one loculif- 



lysperma. II m ent, many-seeded. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Cactus prolifero-articulattis : articulis ovato-ob- II Ceheus proliferous-jointed. Joints are of an 



longis, sub-inermibus. ovate and oblong form, and nearly unarmed. 



Habitat in Mexico. N ative of Mexico. 

 Tuna cochenillifera.—ZM. Eltk. tab. 2tf. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE, 

 A flower cut open. 

 The same shown from the outer side. 

 A longitudinal section of the seed-bud. 

 The cochineal insect as retailed in the shops. 

 The same shown from the under side. 

 A larger and darker sort. 

 The same shown from the under side and magnified. 



Cactus c6tdnellifer is a native of Mexico, where the principal culture of cochineal is situated, under 

 the torrid zone where little or no rain I ng of October to 



■r^e end of March); » rain destroys .as 



<eed, as their roots are very impatient of water. Aith< ugh the ins cts r< 



- ■" ■ ■ ■ - . : .,:■ .' :-,. ■: ■■; ■■■■■■'■■ ■ ' 



These they breed under - ison ; and, v 



< their plantations, scattering a t'< w breeding insects upon < 

 ■ars speckled over with them, each bringing about 300 

 I collect, by sera;,: bark with the •' 



r preparation than, i minute in boiling i 



they breed under sheds in tfa *b«lthe«prj ; 

 two months after they begin to collect i ' • . "'. , lcn u : ll V I£ ., ,, ._ u , iltp 



■ 

 n this manner are generally ma h breeding insects 1 



t- - i i.lccti ;.- 



V "• '"^'Mm,ir an: g< 



: :. pounds a day, while trom me,,, 



: tila° t Ba/swaTer^' 5 ^ ° U ' drawin * was ,uad * in Jul - V ^ * ** 



