Euphorbia. dodecandria trigynia. 4G7 



led. Petals rouod-cordate, fringed with a finely ragged 

 margin inserted into the calyx, just under its fissures. Sta- 

 mina collected into five fascicles ; male florets of about 

 five each, which expand in succession, and are sur- 

 rounded with an uncertain number of finely divided pe- 

 tals, or scales. Anthers four-lobed. Germ pedicelled, 

 somewhat twi) lubed, iliree-ctlled, with one seed in each, 

 attached to the top of the axis. Style short. Stigma 

 three-cleft. 



This plant is sacred to Munsa, the goddess of ser- 

 pents. The root of the tree mixed up with black pepper, 

 is employed for the cure of their bites ; both internally 

 and externally. In the months of July and August, on 

 Tuesdays and Saturdays, the natives approach the tree 

 with ofi'erings, and pray to Mi/nsa to be preserved from 

 the bite of snakes. 1 suspect this and Euphorbia nerei- 

 folia, have hitherto been considered as one species, 

 both being quoted for the last by Linnasus, Burman, &c. 

 I have for these fourteen years had both growing in this 

 garden, so that I do not hesitate to pronounce them to- 

 tally distinct, and clearly marked. 



2. E. nereifolia. Willd. 2. 984. 



Arboreous. Branches round. Thorns stipulary. Leaves 

 subsessile, wedge-shaped. Peduncles three-flowered. 

 Ela-calli. Rheed. Mai. 2. t. 43. 

 Tithimalus zeylanicu,. Pluck. 2. t. 330./. 4. 



I have observed to be arboreous or shrubby., with the branches an- 

 gular, orcomered, and armed %rith stipulary spines,, namely, K.anii- 

 quorum; and three other East Indian triangtilar species, one round 

 E. nereifolia, five and one-angled ligularia of Rumphius ; and ve- 

 ry latelv from Pegu, a small, shrubby, tuberous -rooted unarmed 

 species, ^vith similar flowers, has come to my knowledge ; a drawing 

 and description thereof accompanies this under the name E. sessi- 

 lijlora. 



GgR2 



