. Carnegie Institution of Washington publication. OPUNTIA. 135 grows as if native; on some of these hills it is the dominant and sometimes exclusive plant. In the same general region, however, one finds the plant about the houses, especially on walls, where it has undoubtedly been planted. At Oruro, Bolivia, it was seen only in the wild state, while at several stations along the railroad between Juliaca and Cuzco, Peru, especially at Combatata and Tinta, Peru, it has been planted on top of many of the mud walls about the yards. On the hills below Pampa de Arrieros, Peru, the species is extreme
. Carnegie Institution of Washington publication. OPUNTIA. 135 grows as if native; on some of these hills it is the dominant and sometimes exclusive plant. In the same general region, however, one finds the plant about the houses, especially on walls, where it has undoubtedly been planted. At Oruro, Bolivia, it was seen only in the wild state, while at several stations along the railroad between Juliaca and Cuzco, Peru, especially at Combatata and Tinta, Peru, it has been planted on top of many of the mud walls about the yards. On the hills below Pampa de Arrieros, Peru, the species is extremely common and undoubtedly native. The plant is known everywhere by the natives as ayrampo. The seeds are collected in great quantity and dried, and may be bought in the market places, especially in Arequipa. Indeed, there must have been a time when they were shipped by freight, for the name Ayrampo has always appeared on the printed freight classification of the Southern Railroad of Peru. The assistant superintendent of the road, Mr. Brown, states that, so far as he knows, there are few or no shipments made now. One of the places in Peru where Dr. Rose found the plant very abundant is named Ayrampal. The dry seeds, when placed in water, yield a red substance which is used for coloring jellies and gelatine and, according to some, for coloring wines. In former days the Indians also used this sub- stance in some of their carnival ceremonies. The coloring matter does not come from the seeds themselves, but from the red juice of the fruit which has dried on the surfaces. Figure 169 represents a joint of this species collected by Dr. Rose at Oruro, Bolivia, in 130. Opuntia microdisca Weber, Diet. Hort. Bois 896. 1898. FIG. 169.—Opuntia soehrensii. Forming small clumps, very much branched, prostrate; joints mostly obovate to oblong, 4 to 8 cm. long, usually much flattened, but sometimes nearly cylindric, grayish green; leaves minute, purple, soon dropping off; areoles n
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