3G MEDICINAL HERBS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 



CHAPTER R 



T 



THE INCO^IPLET.E 



In this division are gronped all those flowers in which 

 the perianth is either wanting altogether or is present 

 in only a rudimentary form. It follows, therefore, that 

 the flowers of the majority of them are inconspicuous, 

 and are practically unknown except to those who have 

 made a study of botany. This fact renders the identi- 

 fication of the oxxlers included in the Incompleto3 some- 

 wliat difficult; but in spite of the defection of the flowers 

 it will be found that each order has its characteristic 

 features in regard to structure, habit, &c. If these 

 features are known there should be no difficulty in iden- 

 tifying the order to which a particular specimen of the 

 Incompletae belongs. 



Euphorbiacese. — The Spurge Family. 



DistingvJ siting characteristics: — 



1. Flowers not grouped in the pendulous collection 



called catkins. 



2. Ovary three-celled. 



In this country the order is represented by three 



genera : 



1. Euphorbia. The Spurges. All phmts exuding an 



acrid milky juice. 



2. Buxus. The Box. 



3. Mejicurialis. The Dog's ilercury. 



The whole family must be regarded with suspicion, for 

 in some form or other an acrid, biting poison permeates 

 the entire group. In tropical countries the deadliest 

 poisons are found in members of the Euphorbiacese, e.g. 



