286 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SIVA MP 



S, forming in fruit a 5 -celled capsule, angled and beakei 

 opening by the falling off of the beaks. Stems, 4 or 5 inch* 

 high. Flowers in i -sided, at first coiled, leafy, 3 -spike 

 cymes. 



Plants of this genus spread and attach themselves to the su 

 faces of rocks. Not uncommon. Found from New England ( 

 Georgia. 



21. Prickly-pear. Indian Fig 



Opuntia vulgaris. — Family, Cactus. Color, pale yello\ 

 Leaves, very small, pale green, -^ inch long, awl-shaped, wil 

 barbs or prickles in their axils, arranged spirally on the flesh; 

 flattened, jointed stems. Time, June. 



Sepals, indefinite. Petals, about 8, united with the sepa 

 into a short tube, which is attached to the top of the i-celle 

 ovary. Flowers, about 2 inches broad. Stamens, many, the 

 filaments long and slender. Pistil, i, forming in fruit a flesh 

 pear-shaped, edible berry, i inch long. 



The flowers lie close to ttie flattened branches. Clusters ( 

 short, greenish-yellow bristles underlie them and spring up in tl 

 leaf-axils. The branches grow irregularly out of each other, 2 1 

 4 inches long, oval in shape. 



22 



O, Rafinesquii is the only other Eastern species, with long( 

 jointed, deeper green branches and larger flowers and frui 

 The flowers often have a reddish centre. Bristles reddis 

 brown, otherwise much like the last. 



Both species grow on sandy soil or on flat rocks. Among tl 

 hills of New Jersey they attain great perfection, the pedestri; 

 coming sometimes upon a large, flat rock covered with the yello 

 beauties basking in the direct heat, which they love so well. Thi 

 are also found near the shore from Nantucket to South Carolin 

 in sandy soil. 



The cactus is essentially a desert plant, adapted by its habit 

 patient, slow growth, its succulent branches, wherein moisture 



