410 EUPHORBIA IPECACUANHA, 
‘though different plants possess every intermediate 
variety in the form of the leaf, from circular to 
linear. ‘Their size and colour are likewise vari- 
able. The flowers are solitary on long peduncles 
from the forks of the stem. Calyx spreading, 
divided into five obtuse segments. Inner seg- 
ments or nectaries five, small, gibbous. Stamens 
numerous, in five parcels, appearing, at different 
times, two or three together, with double anthers. 
The fertile flowers have a large, roundish, droop- 
ing, pedicelled germ, crowned with six revolute 
stigmas. Capsule three celled. | 
The dried root of the Euphorbia ididiiinn 
is of a greyish colour outside, and white within. 
{t is light and brittle and has about the hardness 
of cork. To the taste it is. ame atid not 
particularly unpleasant. phd gal Ak PM IES 
I subjected some portions of thie root to 
chemical examination and obtained the following 
results.—Sulphuric ether digested on the pow- 
dered root dissolves a part of it; and this ethereal 
solution gives a precipitate, if aleohol is added to 
it.—Alcohol alone takes up another portion of the 
root, and assumes a pearly turbidness after water 
is added. Both the ethereal and alcoholic solu- 
tions, evaporated to dryness, Jeave a residuum 
which is fusible and inflammable. The decoction 
