INDIAN FIGS AND PRICKLY PEARS 241 
described in being open and not tubular. The flowers are succeeded by 
pear-shaped or egg-shaped spiny fruits; those of some species being 
known as Prickly Pears, and greatly esteemed for their sweet, cooling, 
juicy pulp. The species are natives of the tropical and warm portions 
of America, but some have been introduced to and become naturalised in 
Southern Europe, the Canaries, and Northern Africa—hence its name 
of Barbary Fig. 
Opuntia vulgaris, the hardiest of the tribe, and a native 
of Mexico, ete., was introduced from Southern Europe in 
that golden year from which we date so many horticultural novelties, 1596. 
Nearly a century passed by before another species was added to our green- 
houses; this was 0. cwrassavica from Curagoa in 1690. 0. ficus-indica 
from Mexico, and 0. Tuna, from the West Indies, were introduced in 1731, 
O. nigricans from South America in 1795, and many less popular species 
during the present century. 0. Z’wna, by reason of its prickly nature, 
is largely grown as a hedge-plant, as well as for rearing the valuable 
Cochineal insect. The same species, as well as 0. ficus-indica and O. 
decumana, is also much cultivated on account of its juicy fruits (Prickly 
Pears). From these fruits sugar and water-colours have been prepared, 
and from them the Mexicans make a beverage called Colinche. 
PUNTIA FICUS-INDICA (Indian-fig). Stem erect, 6 
feet high, joints oval, flattened, without spines. Leaves 
awl-shaped. Flowers yellow; May. Fruit oval, bristly, red within; 
edible. 
O. MULTIFLORA (many-flowered). Erect growing, branches oval, 
flattened, with numerous clusters of unequal spines. Flowers yellow; 
June to August. 
O. Rarinesquii (Rafinesque’s). Plant spreading, 1 foot high; joints 
pear-shaped, flattened. Leaves spreading, a few small spines and a long 
one in some of the axils. Flowers yellow, often with red centre. 
Introduced from North America (1868). 
O. Tuna (American-Spanish name). Stem 20 feet high in old 
plants; joints with tufts of four to six spreading yellow spines. 
Flowers dull reddish orange; July. Fruit pear-shaped, 2 or 3 inches 
long, rich carmine in colour and fleshy. 
O. VULGARIS (common). Plant of low stature, spreading ; joints 
broadly oval, flat, dotted with downy eminences from which the leaves 
have fallen. Leaves thick, awl-shaped, fleshy, a few spines in their 
axils occasionally. Flowers pale yellow; June to September. This 
plant is similar to 0. Rafinesquii, but the joints are more flattened and 
broader, and the flowers have a smaller number of petals. Plate 119. 
ii.—-20 
History. 
Principal Species. 
