368 EUPHORBIACEAE. [Vor. I. 
4. Tragia macrocarpa Willd. ‘Twining or 
Large-fruited Tragia. (Fig. 2303.) 
Tragia cordata Michx. F\. Bor. Am, 2: 176. 1803. Not 
Vahl. 1790. 
Tragia macrocarpa Willd. Sp. Pl. 4: 323. 1806. 
Perennial, twining, slightly hirsute. Stem slender, 
10/-4%4° long, branched; leaves ovate, 2’-414’ long, 
deeply cordate, coarsely dentate-serrate, long-acu- 
minate; petioles mostly shorter than the blades, sta- 
minate flowers with a 3-lobed calyx and 3 stamens; 
pistillate flowers several at the bases of the spikes, 
short-pedicelled, the calyx 5-lobed; capsule depressed, 
6/’-8’ in diameter; seeds subglobose, 214’’ long, 
smooth, variegated. 
In dry or rocky soil, Kentucky to Missouri, Florida 
and Mexico. June-Sept. 
7. RICINUS L. Sp. Pl. 1007. 1753. 
A tall stout monoecious herb, glabrous and glaucous, with alternate large peltate palmate- 
ly-lobed petioled leaves, and numerous small apetalous greenish flowers in terminal racemes, 
the pistillate above the staminate. Staminate flowers with a 3-5-parted calyx, the segments 
valvate, and numerous crowded stamens; filaments repeatedly branched. Pistillate flowers 
with a caducous calyx, a 3-celled, 3-ovuled ovary, the 3 red styles united at the base, 2-cleft. 
Capsule subglobose, or oval, smooth or spiny, separating into 3 2-valved carpels. Seeds 
ovoid or oblong, usually mottled. Embryo straight. Endosperm fleshy and oily. [The 
Latin name of the plant. ] 
A monotypic genus of the warmer parts | / 
of Africa and Asia. | A 
1. Ricinus communis I. Castor- 
oil Plant. Castor-bean. Palma 
Christi. (Fig. 2304.) 
Ricinus communis I, Sp. Pl. 1007. 1753- 
Stem erect, 3°-15° tall, more or less 
branched, becoming tree-like in warm 
regions. Jeaves nearly orbicular in out- 
line, 4/-2° broad, 6-11-palmately-lobed 
and peltate, the lobes toothed, acute or 
acuminate; capsule 6’’-8/’ in diameter, 
usually spiny; sometimes smooth; seeds 
shining, smooth, black, variegated with 
white, or mottled with gray and brown 
markings. 
In waste places, escaped from cultivation, 
New Jersey to Florida and Texas. An im- 
posing ornamental plant, and also of medi- 
cinal value. Widely naturalized in warm (Lo) 
and tropical regions. p 2 {/ 
A y 
8. JATROPHA L.. Sp. Pl. 1006. 1753. 
Monoecious or rarely dioecious perennial stinging bristly herbs, or shrubs, with entire, 
lobed or divided petioled leaves, the flowers in cymes. Staminate flowers on the upper parts 
of the cymes, with a corolla-like 5-lobed calyx, 5 petals distinct or united, or none, the sta- 
mens usually numerous (5-30) and in several series, their filaments mostly united at the base. 
Pistillate flowers in the lower forks of the cymes; ovary mostly 3-celled and 3 ovuled; styles 
united at the base; capsule ovoid or subglobose, easily separating into 2-valved carpels; seeds 
ovoid or obovoid; embryo straight; endosperm fleshy. [Greek, healing nutriment. } 
About 70 species, widely distributed in warm and temperate regions. Besides the following 
some 4 others occur in the southern States. 
