SPURGE FAMILY 127 



Spurge Nettle. Tread Softly (Genus Cnidoscolus) 



It is sometimes said — and believed — on the Florida 

 sandhills that, "if you look right hard at this nettle before 

 you touch it, it won^t sting." Those who are curious may 

 experiment, but those who are cautious will avoid the 

 plant, for it is armed with stinging hairs which act as 

 hypodermic needles, piercing the flesh and injecting an 

 irritant poison. 



The plants are usually low in growth, with leaves of 

 various forms, and small white flowers whose showy part 

 is the corolla-like calyx of the staminate blossoms. They 

 are, as Dr. Alphonso Wood remarked in his admirable 

 "Flora" — "painfully common." The thick root, buried 

 deep in the earth, is said to be edible when cooked. 



Cnidoscolus stimulosus (Jatropha). Flowers 5-lobed, about 

 1/2 in. across. Plants 4 in. to 4 ft. tall. Leaves roundish, 3-5- 

 lobed, stalked, 2-9 in. long. Whole plant bristly with stinging 

 hairs. Dry soil. Blooming all the year. Fla. to Va. and 

 Texas. 



Queen's Delight. Queen's-Root (Genus StilUngia) 



The common names of these plants can scarcely be due 

 to aesthetic delight, for the plants are not attractive. Cer- 

 tain species, however, have been used as "blood purifiers," 

 and also as a black dye. Three short stout prongs under 

 each capsule are characteristic of this genus. 



Stillingia spathulata. Flowers small, yellowish green, in 

 somewhat thick terminal spikes 2-5 in. long. Capsules Vs in. 

 across. Plants 10-30 in. tall, stout, somewhat branched. 

 Leaves alternate, variable, generally narrowly elliptic, shal- 

 lowly toothed, 2-6 in. long. Pinelands. Blooming chiefly 

 from spring to fall. Fla. to Ga. and Ala. 



Stillingia aquatica. Shrubby, 2-6 ft. tall, branched near 

 top. Leaves narrow, finely toothed, 2-6 in. long. Spikes 

 yellowish. Chiefly in shallow water. Blooming all the year. 

 Fla. to S. C. and Ala. 



