642 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Fig. 1012. 



Fig. ion. AlonoDcious head of flowers of a species of Euphorbia, j. Involucre, 

 a portion of whicli lias been removed in front, y, jr. Glands on the divisions of 

 the involucre. b,b. Scales or bracts at the base of the flowers. fm,jm. Male 

 flowers, euch consisting of a stamen supported on a pedicel, to which it is 



articulated, ff. Femaie flower, sui)ported on a stalk. From Jussieu 



Fig. 1012. Vertical section of a coccus of the fruit of a species of Euphorbia. 



are either distinct or united. Male flowers consisting of 1 {figs. 

 511 and 1011, fin) or more stamens {fig. 539, e\ distinct or 

 united, and 2-celled anthers. Female fluuers with a superior 

 ovary {figs. 627 and 628), which is either elevated upon a 

 stalk {fig. \Q\\,ff), or sessile upon the thalamus {figs. 627 

 and 628), 1- 2- 3- or many-celled ; 6(?//e5 either absent, or corre- 

 sponding in number to the cells of the ovary, entire, or divided 

 {figs. 612, 627 and 628), stigmas equal in number to the cellsof the 

 ovary, or when the styles are divided corresponding in number 

 to their divisions {figs. 612, 627 and 628); ovules 1 or 2 in 

 each cell, suspended from the inner angles {fig. 1012). Fruit 

 either dry, and its parts then separating from each other and 

 from the axis {figs. 660 and 693, 2), and usually opening with 

 elasticity, or succulent and indehiscent. Seeds I or 2 in each 

 cell, suspended {fig. 1012), often arillate or carunculatc; embryo 

 {fig. 1012) in flesliy albumen, with flattened cotyledons, and a 

 superior radicle. 



Diagnosis. — Herbs, shrubs, or trees, commonly with an acrid, 

 milky juice. Elowers unisexual, monoecious or dioecious. Calyx 

 absent or present, and then inferior. INIale flowers with 1 or 

 more stamens, and 2-celled anthers. Female flowers with a 

 superior ovary, 1 or more celled, with 1 or 2 suspended ovules in 

 etch cell. Fruit of 1,2, 3, or many dry carpels, which separate 

 from the axis and from each other, and open with elasticity; or 

 fleshy and iiidehit^cent. Seeds suspended. Embryo in fleshy 

 albniiieii, with a superior radicle. 



Distribution, ^t. — The jjlants of this order are more or less 

 distributed over the globe, and are esj)ecially abundant in Equi- 

 noctial America. Examples : — Euphorbia, llura, Hippomaue, 



