EUPHORBIACEiE. 101 



Northampton, and Worcester, and ajjpcaring again as a corn-field weed 

 in Yorkshire. 



Enghmd. Annual. Summer, Autumn. 



Stem 6 inches to 3 feet high, sometimes with a pair of opposite secon- 

 dary stems close to the ground, and commonly with a few short branches 

 from the axils of the upper leaves. Leaves spreading or reflexed, f to 

 1^- inch long; the upper ones larger and narrower than the others, and 

 more or less cordate. Leaves at the base of the umbel ^ to 1 inch 

 long. Umbel-rays varying in number — in starved specimens such as are 

 figured as E. stricta, in the first edition of " English Botany," with only 

 8 or 4 rays, but, when well developed, with 5 ; these rays are usually 

 three or four times as long as the reflexed leaves at their base. Bracts 

 at the base of the forks of the rays rhombic-ovate ; those near the apex 

 of the rays widest at the base, so as to be deltoid. Capsule ^ inch long, 

 dotted over with minute warts whose height is no greater than their 

 breadth. Seeds broader and more shining than in P]. Helioscopia, and 

 not at all honeycombed. Plant pale green, slightly glaucous ; the 

 bracts more or less tinged with yellow, and in autumn the whole plant 

 often stained with brio-ht red. 



o 



Broad-leaved Warted Spurge. 



Frencli, Etqyhorhe a larges feidlles. German, Breithldttnge Wolfsmllch. 



SPECIES IV.— EUPHORBIA STRICTA. Koch. 



Plate MCCLVI. 



Belch. Ic. El. Germ, et Helv. Vol. V. Tab. CXXXIII. Fig. 4757. 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 1322. 



E. platypliylla, var. fl, Houh. & Am. Brit. Fl. ed. viii. p. 383. Bcnth. Handk. Brit. Fl. 

 ed. ii. p. 406. 



Annual or biennial. Stems solitary or more rarely 3 from the 

 crown of the root, simple below, usually with numerous short flowering 

 branches in the upper part beneath the umbel. Leaves scattered, the 

 lowest ones abruptly narrowed immediately below the cordate base, 

 but not distinctly stalked, oblanceolate, subobtuse; the upper ones 

 sessile and semi-amplexicaul, oblong-acute ; all finely serrulate in the 

 apical half or two-thirds. Umbel-rays usually five, but varying from 

 3 to 7, 3-furcate, or 2- or 4- or 5-furcate, with the branches once or 

 twice 2-furcate. Bracts roundish-deltoid, subcordate at the base, 

 apiculate, not connate. Involucral glands rounded, entire. Capsule 

 subglobular, 3-lobed, the cocca rounded on the back, thickly clothed 

 with small cylindrical tubercles. Seeds oval-ovoid, smooth, shining, 

 reddish-brown, with a small reniform caruncle. Plant glabrous or 



