166 KEY AND FLORA 
4. B. incarnata L. & O. Herbaceous or mainly so, rather tall 
(2-4 ft.), stems clustered, slightly reclining, hairy when young, at 
length smoother. Leaves broadly and very unequally ovate-lanceo- 
late, tapering toward the tip but at the extremity somewhat blunt, 
half heart-shaped at the base, somewhat lobed and sinuate-toothed, 
rough-hairy above and below and on the petioles, dark green above 
with coppery streaks along the veins. Flowers on short peduncles, 
few, of medium size; beautiful rose-pink in the bud, becoming almost 
white ; thickly covered outside with soft, moss-like hairs. Cultivated 
from Mexico. [Often called B. metallica.) 
5. B. semperflorens L. & O. Stems smooth, herbaceous, rather 
fleshy, branching near the ground and reclining. Leaves obtuse or 
nearly so, broadly ovate, somewhat unevenly heart-shaped or taper- 
ing at the base, irregularly serrate or scalloped and wavy. smooth, 
dark green, and very glossy above; stipules rather large, nearly ovate. 
Flowers in small, axillary clusters near the top of the stem; whitish to 
crimson, about 1} in. in diameter. Ovary in fruit very broadly winged. 
An easily grown but homely species. Cultivated from S$. Brazil. 
70. CACTACEH. Cacrus FAmiLy 
Plants usually with very fleshy and much thickened, often 
globular or cylindrical, stems. Leaves usually wanting. Flowers 
sessile, solitary, often very showy. Perianth epigynous, con- 
sisting of several rows of sepals and petals. Stamens many, 
with slender filaments, borne on the inside of the perianth 
tube. Style 1; stigmas numerous; ovary 1-celled, many- 
ovuled. Fruit a many-seeded berry. 
I. OPUNTIA L. 
ae composed of a series of flattened joints, which are 
usually leaHess when full grown. Leaves very small, awl- 
shaped, spirally arranged, appearing on the young joints but 
soon dropping off, with barbed bristles and sometimes spines 
in their axils. Flowers yellow. Sepals and petals not much 
united into a tube. Fruit often eatable. 
1. 0. vulgaris Mill. Comaon Prrekty Pear. Prostrate or nearly 
so, pale green, Leaves about | in, long, rather seale-like; bristles 
many, with few or no spines. Flowers 2 in. or more in diameter, 
