128 



BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS 



Sea Spurge — Euphorbia Paralias 



(Plate LXXXVIII) 



Several species of Spurge are found in Britain, 

 some on waste ground, others in woods, and 

 others, like the plant figured, on sand-hills near the 

 sea. It has a strong root, and a stem about a foot 

 high, forking towards the top, and bearing heads of 

 green and yellow flowers. The leaves are narrow 

 towards the root of the plant, and broad towards 

 the summit. All the species of Spurge contain a 

 highly acrid milky juice, and are dangerous poisons. 

 Nevertheless many interesting insects feed upon 

 them, the most beautiful being the caterpillar of 

 the Spurge Hawk-moth (Deilephila euphorbia). 

 It is black, with red head, legs, tail, and horn, 

 and red and yellow spots and lines. The moth 

 is olive-green, the forewings being rosy-grey, 

 obliquely banded with olive-green, and the 

 hindwings red and black. It is a very rare 

 species in Britain, but about a century ago it 

 seems to have been common on Sea Spurge 

 at Braunton Burrows, in Devonshire, for a few 



seasons, and then, for some unexplained reason, 

 disappeared entirely. 



Order LXXXIII. Ceratopliyllacece (i genus) 



The Hornworts (Ceratophyllum demersum and 

 C. submersum) are small plants found in standing 

 water. They have greenish flowers, with a 

 cluster of small bracts in place of a perianth, 

 surrounding numerous stamens, and a rough 

 fruit, which in the first species is spined on 

 each side. 



Order LXXXIV. Cailitrichaceaz (i genus) 



This is another small Order, including a few 

 species known as Water Starworts (genus Callitriche), 

 found floating in stagnant or slowly running 

 water. The lower leaves are linear, with three 

 nervures ; the upper ones are broader, and form 

 a floating rosette. The flowers are generally 

 accompanied by two sickle-shaped bracts. 



