TREES AND SHRUBS 



125 



spines, radiating in all directions, the hardened midribs of the 

 leaves of the previous season. In the spring these spiny stems 

 produce clusters of brilliant scarlet flowers at their tips. Later 

 on in the season the smooth spatulate leaves cover the stems 

 from one end to the other. They endure for a very short 

 time, during which the rtems grow very rapidly at the end. 

 The plant is sometimes called Coach Whip Cactus, but this 

 is a very decided misnomer, because the plant is in no way 

 related to the cacti. It is also called Candlewood. For use 

 as a bedding plant with cacti and other spiny shrubs it has a 

 value all its own. 



Tree Cactus. (Opuntia arborescens) 



The Cactaceae are a number of them shrubby and most 

 of them are of value in several different ways. They are 

 discussed at length in Bulletin No. 78 of this station. 



