EUPHORBIACEA. 673 
Calyx absent, or present and inferior. Petals rarely present. 
Male flowers with one or more stamens, distinct or united, and 
2-celled anthers. Female flowers with a superior, sessile or 
stalked, 1- or more celled ovary, and with 1 or 2 suspended 
ovules in each cell. Fruit of 1, 2, 3, or many dry carpels, 
which separate from the axis and from each other, and usually 
open with elasticity; or fleshy and indehiscent. Seeds sus- 
pended; embryo in fleshy albumen, Straight, with flattened 
cotyledons, and a superior radicle. 
Distribution and Numbers.—They are more or less distri- 
buted over the globe, and are especially abundant in equinoctial 
America. Illustrative Genera :—Kuphorbia, Linn.; Mercurialis, 
Tinn.; Ricinus, Tourn.; Buxus, Tourn. There are above 
2,500 species. 
Properties and Uses. —These plants generally contain an 
acrid poisonous principle or principles, which is found more or 
less in all their parts. Some are very deadly poisons. But in 
proper doses many are used medicinally as emetics, purgatives, 
diuretics, or rubefacients. A pure starch, which is largely em- 
ployed for food, may be obtained from some plants of the order ; 
while India-rubber may be procured from the milky juice of 
others. A few are entirely devoid of any acrid or poisonous 
principle, and are used medicinally as aromatic tonics. Some 
have edible roots ; others yield dyeing agents ; and several are 
valuable on account of their wood. 
Acalypha indica.—The expressed juice of the leaves pos Sesses emetic and 
expectorant properties. The root is purgative. 
Aleurites triloba, the Candle-nut tree.—This plant is a native of the 
Moluccas, Cochin China, New Caledonia, &c.; it yields a fruit called the 
Bancoul Nut or Candle fut. The seeds yield by expression an oil called 
Kekui or Kekune ; this is largely employed in some parts of the world, and 
has been imported into London. It is usedas an artist’s oil, and has also ‘been 
recommended as a purgative. It is said to resemble castor oil in its action. 
Corewinder states that its illuminating power is superior to that of Colza 
oil ; but other observers say that its purgative power is very feeble, and that 
it is useless for illuminating purposes.—A. Jlactifera, a native of Ceylon, 
vields Gum-lac. 
Anda brasiliensis—The seeds yield by expression a fixed oil. Both the 
oil and seeds possess active cathartic properties. The oil is also said to 
possess drying qualities superior to even that of boiled linseed oil. The juice 
of the bark is used in Brazil for stupefying fish. 
Buxus.—B., sempervirens, the Box-tree, i is valuable for its timber, which 
is much used by wood engravers. Its leaves are purgative.—B, bulearica, 
the Turkey Box, also y ields valuable timber. The best is known as Turkey 
Boxwood, and is obtained from regions round the Black and Caspian Seas. 
Croton. —The seeds of C. Tiglium constitute the croton aes of the 
Materia Medica; these yield by expression the official croton oil of the 
British Pharmacopeeia, which is a powerful hydragogue carthartic in doses 
of from one-third to one minim. It is also employ ed externally as a rube- 
facient and counter-irritant. The seeds are used in India as purgative pills, 
under the name of Jamalgata pills. The seeds of C. Roxburghii, C. Pavana, 
and C. oblongifolius have also purgative properties.— C. Eluteria of Bennett, 
a native of the Bahama Islands, vields the aromatic, bitter, and tonic bark 
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