116 



ORDER CLI. EUPHORBIACEiE. 



A large family containing many plants with highly poisonous 

 properties, others medicinal and some of economic value. Probably 

 one of the best known is the Castor Oil plant (Bicmus communis) from 

 whose seeds the Castor Oil of commerce is obtained ; the speeds of 

 Croton tigiinm yield a still more drastic purgative. Many species of 

 the genus Euphorbia yield a milky sap, which is a strong vesicant, and 

 highly poisonous, and this is especially the case with the arborescent 

 species, several of which are found in Natal ; the sap of some of the 

 herbaceous species with normal leaves has been prescribed medici- 

 nally, but all are dangerous and should be used with caution. Some 

 exotic species of the Order such as Excnecaoia agaJlocha and Hippomane 

 mancinella are highly dangerous, even the smoke of the burning wood 

 is said to be so, though probably its effects have been somewhat 

 exaggerated. It is, however, certain that the sap of some of our 

 indigenous species causes intense pain if it should accidentally get 

 into the eye even in small quantity, but whether blindness ensues from 

 this cause is uncertain. Several of the exotic species yield India- 

 rubber, and it has been extracted from some of our native species, but 

 not I think in payable quantities. Several species yield eatable fruits, 

 such as Aleurites triloba from the Moluccas, and Cicca disticha from 

 India. The Manioc or Cassava is the root of at least two species of 

 Manihot, of which one species, M. utilissima is in common uf^e in mo>t 

 tropical countries; the juice is poisonous, but this property is destroyed 

 by heat; the grated roots are pressed to extract the juice and then made 

 into cakes, biscuits, &c ; the juice is used in the West Indies in the 

 preparation of what is called " Pepper pot " Tapioca is the starch of 

 the Cassava root dried on hot plates. Of our indigenous species 

 Exccecaria africana yields a handsome wood, but is not obtainabh^ in 

 large quantities, nor could the supply be kept up if it were introduced 

 in commerce as it is a tree of slow growth. Euphorbia pilulifera is 

 fairly common in the coast districts, but has most likely been intro- 

 duced, it is in use at Home as a remedy for Asthma ; and finalh the 

 sap of Synadenium arborescens is very virulent. 



Number of species more than 3,000. 



Ovules 1 in each cell of ovary. A. 



Ovules 2 in each cell of ovary. R. 



A. UNIOVULATE. 



Several monandrous and a single fema'e flower in a 



fleshy 4-5-lobed involucre Bracteoles linear. Euphorbia, 



Several monandrous and a single female flower in a 

 hyaline 5-lobed involucre. Stamens in 5 

 fascicles. Bracteoles linear, lacerate. Synaoenium. 



Staminate and pistillate flowers separate. 1 



1 Staminate (and sometimes pistillate) flowers with 



petals. 2 



