224 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



Euphorbiaceae. 



The Spurge Family. 



Distribution. — A large and interesting family of plants, with about 4000 

 species, but poorly represented in New Zealand. In some respects this family is 

 allied to the Geraniaceae, but, from the absence of petals in many genera, it is 

 placed amongst the Incompletae by Hooker. Xylophylla has flattened branches, 

 which bear flowers on their margins. The milky juice contained in the stems of 

 many of the species is usually highly poisonous. Some species produce resin, 

 caoutchouc, or oil, while others yield a valuable food-starch, from which cassa^va, 

 arrow-root, and tapioca are made. The Croton-oil, and Castor-oil plants are 

 members of this family, while the Common Box is well-known as a garden 

 edging. Some euphorbiaceous plants, such as Poinsettia, are cultivated in 

 gardens and greenhouses for their brilliantly coloured bracts. 



Genus Euphorbia. 



Herbs with milky juice, rarely shrubs. Flowers cymose, terminal, enclosed 

 in a perianth-like 4-5-lobed involucre, with yellowish or purple glands between 

 the lobes. Stamens unequal, jointed in the middle. Each separate stamen of 

 the inflorescence is regarded as a male flower. Often it is provided with a scale- 

 like bract at its base. In the centre of this cluster of male flowers, is a single 

 female flower, consisting of a stalked 3-celled ovary. Cells 1-ovuled. Capsule 

 3-lobed. Some of the African and Canary Island species closely resemble Cacti, 

 and sometimes attain a height of .30 ft. The common weed known as the 

 Spurge, is a European Euphorbia. 1 sp. 



Euphorbia glauca {The Glaucous Euphorbia). 



A shining, glaucous herb, 1 ft. -2 ft. high. Rootstock woody, thick. Stem 

 branched at the top, leafy. Leaves 1 in. -4 in. long, broadly oblong or narrow. 

 Floral leaves broad, whorled. Involucres bell-shaped, ^ in. across, fleshy, with 

 4 or 5 purple glands. Capsule the size of a pea, smooth. Both islands : sea- 

 beaches. Common. Fl. Oct. -Feb. 



Sapindaceae. 



The Maple and Horse-Chestnut Family. 



Distribution. — A large, chiefly tropical, family, including many plants with 

 poisonous properties. Some species yield a pleasant fruit, while their leaves are 

 highly poisonous. The nut-like fruits of the Sapindaceae lather freely in water, 

 and are used in the West Indies for washing purposes. The Maples and 



