598 CXV. EUPHORBIACE^. 



Trees, Bomb. ed. 2, p. 310 ; Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. Nat. v. 12 (1S99) 

 p. 371 & (iard. in Ind. ed. 5, p. U2 ; Prain, Beng. PL p. 941. 



Jatropha multijida, Linn. !Sp, P]. (1753) p. 1006. A glabrous shrub, 

 a native of America, cultivated everywhere in gardens, and known as 

 the Coral Plant. It has orbicular leaves 3-9 in. in diam., palaiately cut 

 into many narrow entire or subdivided segments. Peduncles and liowers 

 sc-arlet. PI. B. I. v. 5, p. 383; Grab. Cat. p. 183; Talb. Trees, Bomb, 

 ed. 2, p. 309; Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. Nat. v. 12 (1899) p. 371 & 

 Gai'd. in Ind. ed. 5, p. 442 ; Prain, Beng. PI. p. 941. 



Jatroi>lia podaijika. Hook. Bot. Mag. (1848) t. 4376. A small shrub 

 with a curious gouty stem, large peltate leaves and small bright red 

 tiowers, a native of New Grenada, often grown in conservatories, but 

 thriving well on a bank of rich soil fully exposed to tin- sun and regularly 

 watered. Woodr. in Jouin. Bomb. Nat. v. 12 (1899) p. 371 & Gard. in 

 Ind. ed. 5, p. 442. 



Jatropha Curcas, Linn. Sp. PI. (1753) p. 1006. A soft-wooded shrub 

 or small tree, a native of Tropical America, commonly grown as a fence 

 near villages. The cut branches sprout readily and grow ra|)idly, which 

 accounts for its being used for this purpose, as it really makes anything 

 but a good fence. The leaves are angular or 3-5-lobed, 4-6 in. long, 

 and the flowers are yellowish-green. Stamens 10, the 5 inner connate 

 into a central column. The seed is known as the Phjjsic-nut and is a 

 \dolent purgative. El. B. I. v. 5, p. 383; Grab. Cat. p. 183; Dalz. & 

 Gibs. iSuppl. p. 77 ; Talb. Trees, Bomb. ed. 2, p. 309 ; ; Woodr. in 

 Journ. Bomb. Nat. v. 12 (1899) p. 371 & Gard. in Ind. ed. 5, ]). 442 ; 

 Prain, Beng. PL p. 941 ; Watt, Diet. Eeou. Prod. v. 4, p. 545.— Veen. 

 Mogali-eranda. 



The seeds are used by the poorer classes as a purgative and yield an 

 illuminating oil. The Cliinese arc said to form a varnish by boiling the 

 oil w ith oxide of iron. — The juice from the sterns is very elastic, like 

 caoutchouc, and native boys blow bubbles with it from the end of a 

 straw. When dried it forms a brittle substance like shellac, w hich may 

 perhaps be utilized. iSee Watt, Diet. Econ. Prod. 1. c, 



Jatropha hastata, Jaeq. Enum. PL Carib. (1760) p. 32. A pretty 

 shrub with pandiu'iform leaves and crimson flowers in terminal corym- 

 bose cymes, a native of Cuba. 



Jatropha imndurcefoiia, Andr. Bot. Eep. t. 267 ; Woodr. Gard. in Ind. 

 ed. 5, p. 442. 



19. CROTON, Linn. 



Trees or shrubs (rarely herbs). Leaves usually alternate, usually 2- 

 glandular at the base. Flowers monoecious (in the Indian species), 

 solitary or clustered on the rhachis of a terminal raceme; bracts small. 

 Male klowkks : Calyx 5 (rarely 4-6)-partite ; segments imbricate or 

 subvalvate. Petals 5 (rarely 4-6), never exceeding but sometimes 

 shorter than the calyx. Disk of 4-6 glands ojjposite the sepals. 8tameus 

 many, inserted on a hairy receptacle ; filaments free, intlexcd in bud, 

 at length straight ; anthers aduatc, with parallel cells. Pistillode 0. 



