282 A FLORA OF MANILA 
acuminate, entire, 1.5 to 5 cm long. Inflorescence from the uppermost 
axils, peduncled, forked or twice forked, each peduncle with 2 to 4 involu- 
cres, each involucre with 2, spreading, red, reniform lobes about 8 mm 
long and 10 to 12 mm wide. (FI. Filip. pl. 167, left hand figure.) 
Not uncommon in cultivation, fl. all the year. A native of Madagascar, 
now widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. 
3. E. TIRUCALLI L. Consuelda (Sp.-Fil.). 
An erect, glabrous, unarmed shrub or small tree 2 to 5 m high, ‘the 
branches green, somewhat fleshy, cylindric, clustered or scattered, the 
ultimate ones about 5 mm thick. Leaves none, or few and scattered, linear- 
oblong, 1 cm long or less. Involucres shortly pedicelled, clustered in the 
forks of the smaller branches, small, turbinate. (FI. Filip. pl. 210.) 
In thickets and hedges, Malabon; of rather wide distribution in the 
Philippines, but certainly introduced. A native of Africa, now naturalized 
in many parts of India. 
4. E. HETEROPHYLLA L. Painted Leaf. 
' An erect, branched, glabrous or nearly glabrous, suffrutescent herb or 
shrubby plant 0.5 to 1.5 m high. Leaves alternate, very variable, mostly 
oblong-ovate, acute, 3 to 10 cm long, the lower ones usually entire, the 
upper ones variously lobed, sinuate, dentate, or subentire, the uppermost 
ones often blotched with red at the base, similar to the bracts. Bracts 
leaf-like, but much smaller than the leaves, the lower part red, the upper 
part green. Involucres clustered at the ends of the branches, about 3 
mm long, green, one sinus bearing an unappendaged gland. Capsules 
nodding, about 5 mm wide. 
Frequently cultivated for ornamental purposes, also spontaneous in 
vacant lots, etc., fl. all the year. A native of temperate and tropical 
America, of comparatively recent introduction here. 
*5. E. PULCHERRIMA Willd. Pascuas (Sp.-Fil.); Poinsettia. - 
An erect, sparingly and laxly branched shrub 2 to 4 m high. Leaves 
elliptic to oblong-elliptic or the upper ones lanceolate, acute or acuminate, 
10 to 18 cm long, the lower ones all green, obscurely repand or slightly 
lobed, long-petioled, slightly pubescent beneath, the upper ones, at time of 
flowering, uniformly bright-red. Inflorescence terminal. Involucres ovoid, 
about 1 cm long, the margins toothed, each with one or two large, yellow 
glands. Flowers crowded, red. (FI. Filip. pl. 167, right hand figure.) 
Cultivated for ornamental purposes, fl. Oct.-Feb., very showy at time of 
flowering, the upper leaves then being bright-red. A native of tropical 
America, now cultivated in most tropical and subtropical countries. 
6. E. serrulata Reinw. 
A slender, erect, glabrous, simple or branched, somewhat suffrutescent 
and wiry plant 25 to 70 cm high, the stems terete. Leaves opposite, linear 
to oblong-linear, 1.5 to 6 cm long, obtuse or apiculate, base rounded, mar- 
gins remotely serrulate. Cymes small, axillary and terminal, the heads 
small, pedicelled, 5 to 9 in each cyme, the involucre purplish, ovoid, 
nearly 2 mm long, each with about 4, white, petal-like, orbicular or reniform 
appendages, 1 to 1.5 mm wide. Styles short, bifid. Capsules ovoid, about 
2 mm long. 
In open grass lands, Caloocan to San Pedro Macati, fl. Aug.—Dec.; widely 
distributed in the Philippines. Southern China and Formosa to Celebes 
and Timor. 
