CACTE.B. 
173 
Browne, 238.' — C. melocactus, Linn. Sp.,Q(ji). — Melocac- 
tus communis, Link, and Otto. 8. t. 11. —(Hook. Dot. Mas;. 
309^. Lr — - 
H A B. Common along the Windward-road, near the 
fifth mile stone. Abundant, savannah near Port-Hen- 
derson. 
FL. Throughout the year. 
This plant forms a succulent mass at first subrotund, 
but afterwards in its growth becoming elongated and ob- 
long, 12-15 inches in length, and 10 inches in diameter 
Spines, the largest, rather more than an inch in length. 
Crown at first flat ; afterwards elongating so as to-be- 
come cylindrical, G inches or more in length, composed 
of innumerable compact rigid long acicular bristles of a 
reddish brown colour, matted at the base with a whitish 
cotton-like wool. Flowers imbedded in the crown, ses- 
sile, of a rich crimson colour, upwards of an inch in 
length. Calyx and corolla combined into a 10-cleft 
fleshy perianth : divisions linear, erect, afterwards spread- 
ing. Anthers numerous. Style length of the corolla : 
Stigmata 6-7. Berry oblong, crimson : seeds numerous, 
small, black. 
This is not a long-lived plant. In a few years it at- 
tains its full growth, and, after sending out a number of 
suckers, it dies. It grows in the driest and hottest situa- 
tions. It thrives on a dry bank near Rock-fort, and it 
covers whole acres of a Salina, near Hanson’s Salt-ponds. 
On the contrary it rots if transplanted to a situation 
where the rains are frequent. Our plant appears to differ 
from that of Sir William Hooker, in which the spines 
scarcely exceed three lines in length, whereas in ours 
many exceed an inch. Lucan mentions that in seasons 
of excessive drought the cattle are observed tearing these 
plants open with their horns in order to obtain the watery 
cellular substance which they contain. 
II. Cereus. The Torch Thistles. 
Sepals very numerous, adnate at the base to 
the ovary, concrete so as to form an elongated 
tube, with the inner ones petaliform. Stamens 
very numerous, concrete to the tube. Style mul- 
ti-fid. Berry areolated, tuberculose or scaly from 
the remains of the sepals, 
