CLASSIFICATION. 



Order V,— Eupkorbiales (probably allied to Malvales 

 and Geraniales). 



Habit very various. Juice often milky. Hairs some- 

 times stellate. L. simple, sometimes palmate or basal-nerved 

 alternate, usually stipulate. Fls. 1-sexual small or minute, 

 often trimerous, sometimes much reduced, (even to a single 

 pedicelled stamen or ovary in Euphorbia, in which case the 

 flowers are always arranged in an involucrate inflorescence 

 resembling single flowers, and this may be surrounded by 

 brilliantly coloured bracts, as in the Poinsettia). Perianth 

 usually B-5-merous. dichlamydeous, monochlamydeous or ; 

 inner whorl (petals) when present rarely conspicuous (e.g. 

 Jatropha). Stamens numerous, or often only 3 or 5, fre- 

 quently connate in a central column. Anthers usually 2- 

 celled. Ovary of 3 carpels and 3-locular, or sometimes 

 carpels several. Ovules J or 2 in each cell, axile. Fruit 

 often splitting into 2-valved cocci, or pyrenes, or fruit capsular 

 more rarely drupaceous with a 3-(l)-celled stone, or 

 didynious. Embryo typically large and straight with flat 

 foliaceous cotyledons (as in many Tiliaceas) and copious 

 endosperm. 



22. The Croton and Castor-oil Family. 



22. Euphorbiaceae (p. 209), 



Exceptions :— 



L. 3-foliolate in Bischofia, opposite in Trewia. 



Stamens 1-3, in Tragia, which has stinging hairs. 



St. 2-5 in. spp. of Antidesma, 2-3 in Sapinm, Anthers cells some- 

 times confluent in Phyllanthus and others, cells 3-4 in Macaranga. l<rait 

 sub-baccate in Kirganelia, Flueggia, Bischofia and others, but even in 

 these not truly so, as there is a thin endocarp which may be dehiscent, or 

 the pericarp finally hardens. 



Order VI. — Geraniales (allied to Gnttiferales through 

 Ochnace®.) 



Trees, shrubs or herbs frequently with resin passages or 

 secretory cells, with alt. or opp., simple or compound leaves 



65 b 



