Mereurialis.] EMPETREjE. *°' 



©.—Four to six inches high, branched at the base. Seeds small, 

 white. 



6. E. Peplus, Linn. Petty Spurge. Umbel of about three 

 principal branches; bracteas ovate; leaves membranaceous, 

 broadly ovate, on short stalks, entire, glabrous ; glands of the 

 involucre lunate, the horns very long; germen somewhat winged 

 and scabrous; seeds dotted. Br. Fl. 1. p. 383. E. Fl. v. iv. 

 p. 60. E. Bot. t. 959. 



Cultivated and waste ground, abundant. Fl. July, Aug. ©. 



7. E. amygdaloides, Linn. Wood Spurge. Umbel of about 

 six principal branches, and several scattered peduncles below ; 

 leaves nearly membranaceous, obovato-lanceolate, hairy be- 

 neath, attenuated at the base, entire; bracteas perfoliated ; 

 glands lunate ; capsules minutely dotted ; seeds smooth. Br. Fl. 

 1 . p. 383. E. Fl. v. iv. ;;. 68. E. Bot. t. 256. 



Woods. Castle Barnard-park, near Bandon ; Miss Hutchins and 

 Mr. Drummond, also noticed in Smith's History of Cork. Fl. March, 

 April. %.— Stems red, almost shrubby. A beautiful variety with va- 

 riegated leaves is frequently met with in gardens. 



2. Mercurialis. Linn. Mercury. 



Barren fl. Perianth single, tripartite. Stamens 9—12. Anthers 

 of two, globose lobes. Fertile fl. Perianth single, tripartite. 

 Styles two. Capsules 2-celled ; cells 1-seeded.— Name ; the 

 god Mercury is said to have discovered the virtues, of what 

 kind soever they may be, of this plant. 



Dicecia. Enneandria. 



1. M. perennis, Linn. Perennial or Dogs Mercury. Stem 

 perfectly simple ; leaves rough ; root creeping, perennial. Br. 

 Fl. 1. p. 4U8. E. Fl. v. iv. p. 248. E. Bot. t. 1872. 



Woods near Bantry ; Miss Hutchins. Said to be common in the 

 woods near Parsonstown. Not found near Dublin. FL April, May. 

 1L.— About one foot high. Leaves mostly on the upper part ot the 

 stem, ovate, serrated. Flowers in axillary, short, lax spikes. The 

 plant in drying often becomes of a bluish, or blackish, green. 



2. M. annua, Linn. Annual Mercury. Stems with oppo- 

 site branches ; leaves glabrous ; root fibrous, annual. Br. Fl. 

 1. p. 438. E. Fl. v. iv. p. 248. E. Bot. t. 559. 



Waste places about towns and villages. Very common about Dub- 

 lin. Fl. Aug. ©.—One foot high. Sterile flowers in long, axillary, 

 interrupted spikes. 



Ord. 66. EMPETRE^. Nutt. Crow-berry Family. 



Flowers dioecious, separated, or polygamous. Perianth (?) 

 of many imbricated scales, of which the 2—4 inner ones are 



