lOG ENGLISH BOTANY. 



the Ainsty of Yorkshire, and at Linden near Ahiwick, in North- 

 umberland. Very rare in Ireland, where it grows by the river in the 

 pai'k of Castle Ijernarcl, near Bandon, co. Cork. 



England, Ireland. Perennial. Spring and early Summer. 



Stems of two kinds, barren and fertile ; barren ones rarely above a 

 foot high, with the leaves increasing in size nearly to the apex, the 

 largest leaves 3 or 4 inches long. These upper leaves remain through 

 the winter, while the lower ones drop off and leave scars. In the 

 succeeding year these barren stems elongate at the apex, leaving the 

 spreading rosette of the previous year's leaves at the base of the new 

 shoot, which lengthens till the whole is 2 to 3 feet high : the leaves on 

 the new portion are rarely above 1 or 1^ inch long. Leaves at the 

 base of the umbel-rays oval. Flowers in a long narrow panicle formed 

 by the numerous short axillary branches in the upper part of the stem. 

 J^^acli pair of bracts more or less completely united, the two usually 

 about 1 inch across, and more or less tinged with bright yellow. 

 Capsule I inch long, yellow. Plant pale green, except the leaves of 

 the rosette, which are usually deep green, but in autumn the whole is 

 sometimes tinged with red. 



A form of this species grows on stony slopes in the Isle of Portland. 

 The whole plant is not above 9 inches to 1 foot high ; the barren 

 shoots about 6 inches ; the leaves of the rosettes densely pilose on the 

 under sides and at the margins with white hairs. On the flowering 

 stem the large leaves of the rosette soon decay, and the part above it 

 is very densely clothed with fulvous hairs ; the branches below the 

 umbel are few in number or absent, so that the paniculate form of 

 inflorescence is not developed. 



Woody Spurge. 



French, EiqoJiorhe des hois. German, Manclelhldttrige Wolfsmilcli. 



The milky juice of this and other species of spurge is very acrid, and though not 

 highly poisonous, corrodes and ulcerates the flesh wherever it is applied. Warts and 

 corns anointed with it are said soon to disappear, but gi'eat caution is needed in using 

 it, or injury is likely to result to the surrounding skin. It is said to be a remedy for 

 toothache, but it is of so very acrid a nature that we do not recommend it. We have 

 several cases related in works on jurisprudence of poisoning with the juice of the 

 different species of spurge. Dr. Christison and Dr. Taylor both relate instances of 

 death following its administration in a very short time. 



SPECIES IX.— EUPHORBIA ESULA. Linn. 



Plate MCCLXI. 



Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Hclv. Vol. V. Tab. CXLVI. Fig. 4791. 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. ExsicQ, No. 1325. 



Perennial. Rootstock creeping. Stems rather stout, erect, simple 

 at the base, with numerous short barren leafy branches in the middle, 



