Descriptive Flora 



143 



protected through the tufts of unequal, rigid, straw-colored 

 bristles and 1 to 4 straw colored spines, 1 to 2" long, coming out 

 of nearly all the tufts of bristles. Flowers large, 2 to 5" across, 

 blossoming out of the upper edge of the flat joints, and resem- 

 bling big, full blown, yellow or orange-colored roses. Petals and 

 sepals many, waxy, the inner largest and broader above the 

 middle, the outer successively shorter and slightly greenish. 

 Stamens numerous, yellow. Stigma with 10 green sticky lobes 

 that spread open in the full sun like the spokes of a wheel. 

 Blossoms open only in full sun. Joints known as leaves are im- 

 portant food for grazing cattle during drought seasons. The 

 spines are burned off by a gasoline torch. An interesting account 

 of its uses will be found in Mackensen's Trees and Shrubs of 

 San Antonio and Vicinity. April and May. In dry soil. These 

 plants are of interest to tourists as they may be found thriving 

 on roofs of old buildings or cracks of old stone walks, or lodged 

 in the crotch of some old tree. The plants are subject to a white 

 fuzzy or cottony-covered insect, from which cochineal dye is made 

 in Mexico. The pear "apples" are used for making candy and 

 delicious jellies. Mr. Q. Schmeltzer of San Antonio reports that 

 a tea made from the "apples" is good for relieving one of gall 

 stones. 



Opuntia leptomulis P. DC. "Tasajillo." 



An erect, bushy cactus, 1 to 4" tall, with thick greyish-green, 

 fleshy stems, thickly set with green, fleshy, cylindrical finger- 

 like branches one to several inches long, and armed with one or 

 more treacherous, loosely sheathed spines, 1 to 2y 2 " long, usually 

 each spine having a tuft of short bristles at the base. Spines are 

 difficult to remove from the flesh and cause annoying sores. 

 Flowers inconspicuous, green or yellowish green, about %" 

 across. Fruit, scarlet, about y 2 " long, branching out of the axil 

 of a long sheathed spine. In spring, one to several short thick 

 branches come out of this fruit, which then turns green and is 

 easily broken off. These pieces take root where they fall and 

 form new plants. May and June. In dry soil. 



