E UPHORBIA CEAl. 



277 



A very large Family, especially in tropical countries, 

 where many species are turned to useful account. 



Apart from the ovary, which is superior and usually 

 three-celled with one or two ovules in each cell, the 

 structure of the flowers is very diverse in the different 

 tribes of this Family; so that it will be convenient to 

 examine three Sub-types, comparing each of them wit\ 

 Castor-oil. '' 



Sub-type i — Indian Spurge {Euphorbia indica). 



An annual, ascending or decumbent weed, with milky 

 juice, small opposite simple leaves, and minute greenish 



Fig. 171. Involucre of Spurge, bordered by four horned "glands," and con- 

 taining numerous male flowers and one female. The pedicel of the latter is 

 curved over the side of the involucre. 



flowers, in small axillary or terminal cymose heads, 

 other common species of Euphorbia will serve. 



Any 



