156 riG-MARIGOLD FAMILY. 



C. rmiltiplex. Stem green, with about 13 acute ridges and 10-12 rather 

 long unequal spines. 



5. ECHINOCACTUS. {If^me means Spiny or Hedgehog Cactus.) There 

 are many wild species far S. W., but few common in cultivation. Flowers 

 mostly small, opening for 2 or 3 days, closing at night. 



E. Tex^nsis, of S. Texas and Arizona, has stem much broader than high, 

 or globular when young, becoming 1° broad, with 12-27 acute wavy ridges, 

 G or 7 very stout and horn-like reddish recurved spines ; the central oiie larger 

 and turned down, sometimes 2' long; flower rose-colored, very woolly, 2(itoi%. 



E. Ottdnis, from Brazil, is pear-shaped, becoming club-shaped, 2' -3' 

 thick, with 12-14 narrow ridges, clusters of 10 - 14 short slender prickles, and 

 yellow flowers with red stigmas. 



6. MELOCACTUS, i. e. MELON-CACTUS. One species is often brought 

 from the West Indies, but does not long survive, viz. 



M. OOmmtinis, called Tukk's-Cap. Globular or ovate, dark green, often 

 1 ° high, with 12-20 ridges, beset with clusters of short brownish spines ; the 

 cylindrical muff-like crown of bristles and cottony wool, 2' -5' high, in which 

 the very small pink flowers are half-imbedded ; berries smaU, red. 



7. MAMIIiIjAIIIA. (Name from the nipple-shaped tubercles which cover 

 the stem.) Many wild species far W. and S. W. on the plains : few common 

 in cultivation. 



M. lougillld.niina, from Mexico, has the tubercles rising from a depressed 

 body, or apparently almost from the root, 1' or more long, loosely spreading, 

 much longer than the 8-11 prickles at their apex ; flowers large for the genus, 

 1^' long, yellow. 



M. pusllla, wild in Texas and S., with clustered ovate or globular stems 

 l'-2' long, oblong or ovate tubercles bearing wool in their axils, and tipped 

 with very many capillary crisped bristles and several slender prickles ; flowers 

 pink, J' long. 



M. gracilis, with globular and at length short-cylindrical stems l'-2' 

 long, excessively proliferous, the oblong tubercles bearing about 16 recurving 

 white prickles, and on older plants 1 or 2 stouter and longer straight ones of a 

 brown hue; flowers small, white. 



M. eIoilg&,ta, with cylindrical clustered stems, covered with short conical 

 tubercles, which bear 16-30 uniform radiating and recui-ving slender prickles 

 in a starry tuft, and very rarely a central one ; flowers small, white. 



M. Vivipara, wild from Nebraska S., l'-5' high, simple, or prohferous 

 in tufts, globular, with the terete tubercles slightly grooved down the 

 iipi)er side, bearing 12-30 rigid widely radiating whitish prickles, and 3-12 

 stouter a^nd darker ones ; flower pink-purple, large for the plant, about 2' in 

 diameter. 



50. fflESEMBRYANTHEME^, FIG-MARIGOLD 

 FAMILY. 



Fleshy plants, of aspect between the Cactus, Purslane, and Orpine 

 Families, with simple entire leaves, and calyx-tube coherent with 

 the compound ovary, which has 4-20 styles and as many cells : 

 represented in cultivation by the following. 



1. MESEMBRYANTHEMUJI. Herbaceous or fleshv-.lmibbv nnd prostrate or low 

 DrancUing plants, with very succulent leaves and mostlv handsome flowers, 

 opening only in bright light, commonl v at noon. Lobes of the ealvx mostlv 6. 

 f etals (linear) and stamens very numerous, on the calvx. Stvles, cells of "the 



o Trxo'-^'n ^iri'^"'*"^ ''°™^ "'■ ^°^^ of ^e mnnv-seeded pod 4 - 20. 



,, 1 : ^'°^ spreading herbs, witli broad and flnt thickish leaves, and 



small flowers in their axils. Calyx usuallv 4-lobed. Petals none. Stamens 

 few or mnny. Styles nnd 1-ovnIed cells of the ovary few. Fruit hard and 

 nut-like, 3 - 8-horned, 3 - 8-seeded. 



