NAT. ORDER. 



Eupliorhiace(£. 



EUPHORBIA ATRO-PURPUREA. BLOOD-FLOWERED SPURGE. 



Class XXL MoNOECiA. Order I. Monandria. 



Gen. Char. Tnvolucrum resembling a calyx, ventricose, the alter- 

 nate segments petaloid. Filaments twelve or more, simple, each 

 consisting of an anther. Calij.v and Corolla very rarely present. 

 Sli/lcs three, two-cleft. Capsules three-lobed. 



Spe. Char. Stem simple, erect, smooth, round. Leaves oblong-cu- 

 nate, obtuse, umbel-form. Capsules smooth. 



The stem in this plant is between three and four feet in height, 

 frutesccnt, rather larger than the human finger, dichotomously 

 branched above, bare of foliage (but copiously marked with the 

 scars of the fallen leaves,) except at the summit of the branches — 

 there the leaves are numerous, from three to five inches long, lanceo- 

 late, tapering at the base, obtuse, pale glauceous-green, patent or 

 drooping, nerves obsolete ; umbel of from eight to ten rays, each of 

 which is quadrifid or four rayed, these lesser rays having each an 

 oblong, colored bractea at its base, forming a four leaved involucre ; 

 two other bractcas immediately surround the proper involucre — 

 these are large, deep, red-purple or blood-colored, broadly oblong, 

 obtuse, combined at the base ; proper involucre small, cup-shaped, 

 red, with four retuse, fleshy, yellow-green glands at the margin ; 

 male Jlowers, about four are excluded at the same time ; cells of the 

 anthers globose, distinct ; female Jloicers, germen, globose, shortly 

 pedicellate ; style with three bifid segments. 



Vol. iv— 123. 



