122. EüPHORBIACKAE 313 



palmately nerved. Flowers in spikes. — Species i. Madagascar and 



Comoro Islands. (Including Nicdenzua Pax) . Adenochlaena Baill. 



Stamens 8 — 30, inserted upon an elevated receptacle. Rudimentary 



pistil none. Shrubs or undershrubs, usually climbing 30 



30. Flowers in cymes surrounded by two large, brightl}- coloured bracts. 



Anther-halves parallel. Style columnar. — Species 15. Tropical and 

 South Africa. Some are used for dyeing, in medicine, or as ornamental 



plants Dalechampia L. 



Flowers in racemes, without conspicuous bracts. Anther-halves spreading. 

 Climbing plants. Leaves undivided. — Species 5. Central and South 

 Alrica Plukenetia L. 



31. Stem herbaceous or woody at the base only, usually climbing, often with 



stinging hairs. Stamens 3, rarely more. — Species 45. Tropical and 

 South Africa. Some are used medicinally. (Including Ctenomeria 



Harv.) Tragia L. 



Stem woody throughout. Stamens numerous, free. — Species 20. Tropics. 

 The fruits of some species are used for tanning. . . Pycnocoma Benth. 



32. (24.) Filaments repeatedly branched. Anther-halves numerous, separate, 



globose. Tall herbs or shrubs. Leaves palmately lobed. Flowers 

 monoecious. — Species i [R. communis L., castor-oil-plant). Spon- 

 taneous in the tropics, naturalized in other parts of Africa. An orna- 

 mental plant yielding fibre, fodder, and poisonous oily seeds used in 



medicine Ricinus L. 



Filaments not branched 33 



33. Anther-halves plainly separate, oblong or linear, often twisted. Filaments 



6 — 20, free. Styles free, usually divided. Trees or shrubs. ... 34 

 Anther-halves contiguous or nearly so, oblong to globular 35 



34. Bracts of the female flowers leaf-like. Sepals of the female flowers 3 — 5, 



small. Stamens usually 8. Disc none. Male flowers spicate, female 

 spicate, paniculate, or solitary. — Species 80. Tropical and South Africa. 

 Some are used as ornamental or medicinal plants. . . Aealypha L. 

 Bracts of the female flowers small. Sepals of the female flowers 4 — 6, 

 broad. Disc absent in the male flowers, flat and lobed in the female. 

 Flowers spicate. — Species 4. West Africa Mareya Baill. 



35. Anthers 2-celled, at least after opening 36 



Anthers 3 — 4-celled, even after opening. Trees or shrubs 57 



36. Anther-halves oblong, attached lengthwise or above the middle. . . 37 

 Anther-halves ovoid or globose, attached by the base or the tip, rarely in 



the middle 50 



37. Stamens 3 — 10. Trees or shrubs 38 



Stamens numerous 43 



38. Calyx valvate in bud. Stamens 5 — 10 ; filaments united throughout. 



Rudimentary pistil exceeding the staminal tube. Styles very short, 

 2-lobed. Trees. Leaves 3-foliolate. Flowers in panicles, monoecious. 



