OPUNTIA, a genus of plants of the order Cactacese, several species of which have been intro duced into British India, from the West Indies, Peru, and Brazil.
O. Braziliensis, D.C., from Brazil, with large greenish yellow flowers.
O. cochinellifera, Haw., syn. of Cactus cochinellifer of S. America, with the petals bright rose-coloured at several seasons of the year. It is one of the plants employed in the W. Indies for rearing the cochi neal.
O. curassavica, Haw., syn. of C. curaSsavicus, L., from Curaeoa, with large yellow flowers, li inch across. O. cylindrica, D.C., syn. of C. cylindrica, Lam., from Peru, with largish scarlet flowers.
O. Dillemi, Haw., syn. of C. Dillenii, Ker, and C. Indicus, Boxb., from S. America, is the Nagphana of Bengal, " and the prickly pear of Europeans in India ; wild cochineal insect thrives on this plant.
O. elatior, Hato., from S. America, with large purplish yellow flowers.
O. ficus Indica, Haw., from S. America, syn. of C. ficus Indica, with large sulphur-yellow flowers.
O. leucantha, Hort., Berol.
O. nigricans, Haw., D.C., C. tuna, 2 nigricans, /3.41/., from S. America.
O. syn. of C. Chinensis, Boat.
O. rubescens, Saint., from Brazil.
O. triacantha, D.C., from S. America. ' O. tuna, Haw., syn. of C. tuna major, Roxb., from S. America, with large reddish flowers. It is the favourite food of the cochineal in Mexico and Brazil, and is the only species employed in the Canaries.
O. vulgaris, Haw,, syn. of Cactus opuntia, L., Southern States of N. Xmerica, cultivated in Europe, where its fruit is called the Indian fig.
Dr. Fontana, in the Asiatic Annual Register for 1799 (reprinted in Pennant's Indian Recreations), mentions both the Manilla and Chinese opuntias, and states that the cochineal insect cultivation was extended in Bengal ; but in 1795 only 5 rupees a seer, and in 1797, 7 rupees a seer, were given for Bengal cochineal, when Mexican was selling at about 16 to 20 rupees. Dr. Fontana states the Bengal Cocus sylvestris contained only from 9 16 to 10-16 parts of the colouring matter con tained in the Mexican, and the cultivation was given up.—Roxb. ; Boyle, Ill. ; Muller Voigt ; Eng. Cyc.
ORA, a large tree of the Society Islands ; from the bark a brown cloth is made.