ii8 THE FLORA OF THE ALPS 



Order LXXH.— EUPHORBIACE^. 



Flowers small, usually unisexual; sepals o or 2 or 

 more ; petals o ; the flower or the inflorescence usually 

 subtended by bracts which are often large and coloured ; 

 ovary a 2-3-celled capsule with 2-3 simple or bifid styles ; 

 leaves usually alternate and simple. A very large order 

 of herbs, shrubs, and trees, generally with a milky juice, 

 chiefly Tropical and Sub-Tropical, represented in Europe 

 by only a very few genera. Not alpine. 



I. Euphorbia, L. 



Inflorescence composed of many male and one female 

 flower collected into a cluster, subtended by bracts and 

 glands, which are usually yellow and crescent-shaped ; 

 ovary 3-celled, with three bifid stigmas; seed-vessel a 

 3-lobed capsule. Herbs (the European species), with 

 abundance of latex. 



The annual species of Spurge, which are common weeds 

 in cultivated land in this country, are equally common in 

 Switzerland, viz. : — E. Helioscopia, L., platyphyllos^ L., 

 PepliLs^ L., and exigua^ L. ; also, in the South and West. 

 E./alcatUy L., having a prickly point to the upper leaves; 

 and segetalisy L., with linear-lanceolate acuminate leaves. 

 E. Lathyris, L., Caper-Spurge, stem i J-3 ft., leaves oppo- 

 site, capsule very large, is occasional in cultivated land. 

 E. amygdaloides, L., stem 6-12 in., very stout and leafy, 

 leaves obovate-lanceolate, is frequent (in the spring) ; and 

 E. Cyparissias, L., stem 6-12 in., leaves acicular, very 

 crowded, very common; both woods. E. virgatayV^. K., 



