Nat. order. — euphorbiaceje. 125 



strong contrast to the pale glauceous hue of the rest of the foliage. 

 This plant is a native of TcncrilTe, where it was discovered by Mr. 

 Broussonet. The species most worthy of cultivation are the follow- 

 ing, althougii tliere are, perhaps, many others equally deserving, yet 

 they have not been brought into common use. 



Euplwrhia antiquorum. Triangular Spurge. This has a trian- 

 gular, compressed, succulent stem, rising to the height of eight or 

 ten feet, and sending out many irregular, spreading, twisting 

 branches, for the most part three-cornered, but some having two, 

 and others four angles ; at their extremities are a few short, round- 

 ish leaves, which soon fall off — and near these come out occasionally 

 a few flowers, which have five thick, whitish petals, with a large 

 three-cornered germ in the centre — the flowers soon dropping off 

 without producing seeds. It grows naturally in the East Indies. 



It has generally been taken for the true Euphorbium ; btit Martyn 

 observes that it is from the next species following that the drug now 

 imported under that name is taken. 



There is a variety with a naked, three-cornered, compressed stfilk, 

 sending out a great number of erect branches, which are also gen- 

 erally three-cornered, but sometimes four-cornered, armed with 

 short, crooked spines, having no leaves. The plants have not pro- 

 duced flowers here. This is also a native of India. 



Euphorbia Canariensis. Canary Spurge. This species, in its 

 native country, grows to the height of twenty feet or more, but in 

 this climate it is rarely seen more tiian six or seven ; the stem is 

 very thick, green and succulent, having four or five large angles, 

 closely armed with black looking and crooked spines, which come 

 out by pairs at every indenture ; it sends out from every side large 

 succulent branches of the same form, which extend to the distance 

 of two or throe feet, then turning their ends upwards, so that the 

 plants when well grown have some resemblance to a chandelier; 

 they have no leaves, but are closely armed with black spines, like 

 the stem ; at the ends of the branches the flowers make their appear- 



