Euphorbia. J EUPHORBIACE^. ^ 35 



Upright Mignonette. Fl. June. © or $ .—Stems growing in a 

 shrub-like manner from the root, (which is woody and tapering,) more 

 or less branched, wand-like, hollow, striated, leafy, two or three feet 

 high. Racemes terminal, erect, tapering, many-flowered. Flowers 

 somewhat scattered below, but becoming extremely dense towards the 

 top. 



Oiid. 65. EUPHORBIACE^. Juss. Spurge Family. 



Flowers sepavated, naked, or -with a three or more cleft pe- 

 rianth. Barren Fl. Stamens definite or indefinite, distinct or 

 monadelphous: anthers 2-celled. — Fertile Fl. Ovary free, 

 single, sessile, or stalked, 2 — 3- or more celled. Ovules solitary 

 or in pairs, suspended from the inner angle of the cell : styles 

 two, three, or many : stigmas simple, with many lobes or com- 

 pound. Fruit of two, three, or more dehiscent cells (or cocci), 

 separating with elasticity from their common axis. Seeds soli- 

 tary or in pairs, suspended, arillate. Embryo in the axis of a 

 fleshy albumen : radicle superior ; cotyledons flat. — Trees, 

 shrubs or he> bs, sometimes succulent and leafless, most common in 

 the tropics, rare in cold and even temperate climates ; abounding 

 in an acrid and milky juice. Leaves alternate, opposite or 

 whorled, rarely compound, often stipuled. 



This extensive and important Order affords a milky juice, 

 which is acrid, caustic, and frequently highly poisonous. Many 

 individuals belonging to it yield Caoutchouc, some are im- 

 portant articles of food. The albumen of the seeds in Eiiphor- 

 biaceas is harmless and even eatable. The embryo is acrid and 

 dangerous. 



1. Euphorbia. Linn. Spurge. 



Involucre of one piece, including several barren flowers and one 

 fertile. — Barren fl. A single stamen without calyx or co- 

 rolla. Fertile fl. A single pistil without calyx (or rarely a 

 very minute one) or corolla. Germen 3-lobed. Styles 3, 

 cleft. Capsules 3-seeded.— Named from Euphorbus, Physi- 

 cian to Juba, King of Mauritania, who brought the plant into 

 use. Moncecia. Monandria. 



* Glands of the involucre four, rounded on the outside. 



1. E. helioscopia, Linn. Sun Spurge. Umbel of five 

 principal branches ; bracteas and leaves membranaceous, obo- 

 vato-cuneate, serrated upwards ; capsule glabrous ; seeds reti- 

 culated and pitted. Br. Fl. I. p. 381. E. Fl. v. iv. 63. E. Bot. t. 

 883. 



Abundant in waste and cultivated ground. Fl. July, Aug. ®.— 

 The acrid milky juice is employed to destroy warts. 



