392 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



in height, composed of numerous projecting tubercles, like teats, 

 of various lengths and forms, hearing on their apex a tuft of 

 hairs and spines of a yellow or white colour ; often being very 

 dense, and have been compared to balls of wool or cotton. 

 They generally grow in tufts, and possess no peculiar qua- 

 lities ; their flowers are small, and the fruit of many, which 

 is of red colour, has the flavour of fried beef. 



7. Rhipsalis (Mistleto Cactse). 



Stems slender, cord-like, pendulous or suberect and branched, 

 shmb-like ; branches cylindrical, angular or flat and leaf-like, 

 jointed with the stem and to one another. Flowers small. 

 Fruit white or red, the size of currants. 



About a dozen species belong to this genus ; they are 

 found growing on trees, extending from Mexico to South 

 Brazil. 



R. Cassytha, a native of the West Indies, where it grows 

 from 1 to 6 feet long, hanging from the branches of trees 

 like cords. This, with several other species, judging by 

 their appearance, seem to have little relationship with Cactae 

 as generally seen ; but they agree in the character of their 

 flowers, fruit, and mode of growth. The white berries have 

 some resemblance to Mistleto. 



As already stated, it was generally believed that Cactse 

 were not originally indigenous to the Eastern hemisphere ; 

 but during the last fifteen years several species of Rhipsalis 

 have been found undoubtedly wild in several parts of Tropical 

 Africa, as well as in Mauritius and Natal. 



8. Pereskia (Barbadoes Gooseberry). 



Stems ivoody, leafy, climbing or trailing like brambles, and 

 furnished with strong spines. Flowers rosulate pink. 



The principal species is P. aculeata, a native of the 

 West Indies. It differs from the rest of the Cactus family in 

 having true leaves. The fruit is about the size of a goose- 

 berry, and is made into a preserve. P. grandiflorus is a 



