TRICOCCJ:. 431 



the vegetative parts. Some are herbs, as our Spurges, others are 

 shrubs and trees ; some African Euphorbia-species even resemble 

 the habit of a Cactus. Leaf-like branches with rudimentary leaves 

 are found in Phyllantlms (sub-genus Xijloplnjlla) (Fig. 456). The 

 leaves are scattered or opposite, often stipulate ; they are nearly 

 always simple. Large, highly-branched cells containing a great 

 quantity of pungent latex are found in many, and watery juice in 

 others. Glands and glandular hairs are general. Only a few 

 genera can be considered in this book. 



As an example of the most perfect flowers (which partly 

 reproduce the Geraniaceous type) may be mentioned, Croton, 

 Manihot, and Jatropha ; 5 sepals, 5 petals, sometimes gamopeta- 

 lous, andrcecium diplqstemonous, or many-stamened, often mono- 

 delphous. 



453. 



45-1. 



FIGS. 453-155. Ricinus commurus. 



FIG. 453. (J -flower (magnified). FIG. 454. -flower in longitudinal section. 



FiG.-455. A seed entire ; B in longitudinal section. 



Picinns (Castor-oil) (Figs. 453-455) ; monoecious; the ^-flowers, 

 situated in the lower portion of the inflorescence, have 5 perianth- 

 leaves and a large number of branched stamens ; the ? -flower 

 has 3-5 perianth-leaves ; 3 bifid styles. Leaves peltate, palmately 

 lobed. The seeds (Fig. 455) contain an abundance of fatty oil 

 and large aleurone grains. Mercurialis (Mercury) : the perianth is 

 most frequently 3-merous ; in the ^-flowers 9-12 stamens; in the 

 $ -flowers most frequently a 2-locular gynoeceum. Phyllanthus : 

 Pr3 + 3, A3, united in some and forming a column in the centre of 

 the flower (Figs. 457, 458) ; Xylophylla is a section of this genus. 



