178 
CALYCIFLOR/E. 
2. Opuntia Tuna. Prickly- Pear. 
Branches from the root, joints obovate, prickles 
long subulate flavescent fasciculated longer than 
the setaceous hairs. 
O. major, folio oblongo rotundo, spinis longis et validis- 
simis, flore luteo. Sloane, II. 149. t. 244. f. 1. — Cactus 
brachiatus, aculeis longissimis. Browne, 237. — C. opuntia. 
Liman’s Hort . I. 409.— Opuntia spinosissima, DC. Prod. 
III. 472. 
41 A B. Common in dry districts. 
F L. Throughout the year. 
Three to four feet in height. Prickles 4-5 in each 
cluster ; the longest an inch and a half in length, flaves- 
cent : hairs at the base of the prickles the fourth of an 
inch in length. Flowers seated on the edge of the joint, 
solitary, sessile, large, showy, yellow. Outer sepals short, 
apiculated : inner, petaloid, obovate. Stamens oo , irrita- 
ble, crowding and becoming appressed to the style when 
irritated. Style erect: stigmata 7. Fruit pear-shaped, of a 
purple colour, armed with clusters of setae towards the 
apex : seeds numerous, imbedded in a crimson-purple pulp, 
sweet to the taste. 
This is a very common plant, not confined, like its co- 
geners, to our dry arid plains; occasionally established 
on the summits of old walls, or on the roofs of dilapidated 
and neglected buildings. It is sometimes employed, for 
repairing fences,, being peculiarly well adapted for filling 
gaps, as it grows readily from cuttings. The leaf or joint, 
freed from the prickles, and roasted, is applied as a 
poultice to indolent swellings and foul sores. The young 
joints are sometimes employed as a substitute for okras to 
thicken soup. The fruit is insipid but is said to possess 
astringent properties. It is principally employed to give 
a crimson colour to liqueurs , and to the fruits used in con- 
fectionary. Like madder, it communicates when eaten 
a bloody tinge to the urine and foeces. — The name Pa- 
quette has been given to plants of this genus, from the 
resemblance of the joints in form to the racket used by 
tennis players. 
Sloane informs us that the plant sometimes sweats out 
a mucilaginous gum, recommended by the Spaniards for 
the stone, and irritability of the urinary organs. 
