148 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OPJ'LANTS 



EUP 



root, is the most valuable as a flowering plant. 

 The flowers are pure white, borne in terminal 

 clusters or heads. The plant grows about 

 four feet high, is very brcinching, and prefers 

 a thick shade. It flowers late in August, and 

 is very showy for nearly a month. E. perfo- 

 liatum. Bone-set, has, outside of the " regular 

 practice," considerable reputation as a tonic 

 stimulant, and is often administei'ed in the 

 form of a tea, made from the leaves, in cases 

 of intermittent fevers. They are readily 

 increased by root division or from seeds. 



Eupho'rbia. Milk-wort or Spurge. Named 

 after Eicjihorlms, physician to the King of 

 Mauritania. Nat. Ord Euphorbiace(B. 



This is an extensive and variable genus, 

 including species with the aspect of trees or 

 large shrubs, and through every gradation, 

 downward to the humblest annual weeds, all 

 of them remarkable for an acrid milky juice. 

 Notwithstanding the extent and variety of 

 the genus, there are comparatively few of its 

 members in cultivation ; the principal of them 

 being E. Kplendenn, E. jacquiniflora (fulgens or 

 prunifolia) and E. Bojeri. These do best in 

 the hot-iiouse, and are well deserving atten- 

 tion for their rich red or crimson flowers, and 

 amply repay the little trouble occasioned. 

 These species are all much improved by 

 frequent stopping, as it induces a more dense 

 habit, and consequently a greater display 

 of llowei's. It is worthy of remark that 

 the first flowers that expand in each 

 season on E. aplendens are in pairs, but those 

 which follow are each time increased in 

 duplicate ratio, so that those which open last 

 are coiumonly as many as eight together. 

 The other perennial species require to be 

 treated in the manner of Cacti, and the 

 remainder respectively as they belong to the 

 hai'dy or tender classes of the annual, biennial, 

 or perennial plants. E. corollata, a native 

 species, is a free-flowering plant, and valuable 

 for florist's use, or for cut-flowers. They are 

 small, greenish white, in general appearance 

 like the Forget-me-not. This species is readily 

 propagated by root division. The French sub- 

 stitute the seeds of E. lathyrus for the English 

 capers, which, if taken in quantity, prove 

 highly deleterious. For E. Poinsettei, see 

 Poitmettia pulcherrima. 



Euphorbia'ceae. A very large order of trees, 

 shrubs, or herbs, usually abounding in milkj' 

 juice. The species are found in all, except 

 Arctic climates. They are generally acrid and 

 poisonous. Some yield starch, and others oils 

 and Caoutchouc. Castor Oil is obtained from 

 the seeds of Ricinus communis and Croton Oil 

 from Croton Tiglium. The seeds of Jalropha 

 Curcas, the Physic Nut, are purgative. Stil- 

 lingia Sebifera, is the Tallow Tree of China, 

 the fatty matter being procured from the 

 fruit. Dyes ax'e supplied by Crozophora tinc- 

 toria and Rottlera tinctoria. African Oak or 

 Teak is j-ielded by Oldfieldia Africana. Caout- 

 chouc by Siphonia elastica, S. lutea, S. brevi- 

 folia, S. Bfaziliensls, and S. Spruceana ; and 

 the poisonous Miinchineel by Hippumane Man- 

 cinella. Jani2)ha Manihot or Manihot utilissima 

 furnishes Cassava and Tapioca, which consist 

 of starchy matter from its root. Colliguaja 

 odorifera has peculiar jumping seeds, owing to 

 their becoming the habitation of the larva of 

 an insect. Box-wood is the product of Buxus 



EUR 



aempervirens. There are other useful and 

 curious species, some of which are cultivated 

 for their beautiful flowers. There are 230 

 known genera and about 2, GOO species. Euphor- 

 bia, PhyllanihuH, Croton, Jatropha, Siphonia 

 Ricinus, and Poinsettia are examples of the 

 order. 



Euphra'sia. Eyebright. From euphraino, to de- 

 light ; fabled to cure blindness. Nat Ord. 

 ScrophulariacecB. 



E. officinalis, Eyebright, is a little annual 

 common in dry pastures and roadsides in this 

 country and Europe. It seldom grows more 

 than three or four inches in height, and often 

 not more than one or two. From the frequent 

 mention of the Euphrasia by the poets, it 

 would appear to have been formerly held in 

 high repute for its medical virtues, a view 

 which is confirmed by all the old herbalists, 

 who recommend its use both outwardly and 

 inwardly for complaints of the eyes. It has 

 no value as a flowering plant. 



Eu'rya. From eurys, large ; erroneously applied 

 to the flow ers, which are comparatively small. 

 Nat. Ord. Temstromiacem. 



A genus of very ornamental half-hardy ever- 

 green shrubs or low-growing trees, with white 

 flowers borne in axillary clusters. They are 

 natives of Japan. India, China and the Indian 

 Archipelago. The variegated variety of E. 

 Japonica latifolia is a most useful plant for 

 decorative purposes, as it stands the dry heat 

 of rooms or halls well, and its glossy varie- 

 gated leaves contrast well with Palms or other 

 fine -foliage plants. 



Eu'ryale. Euryale, one of the Gorgons, repre- 

 sented with fierce, thorny locks ; in allusion 

 to the thorny nature of the plant. Nat. Ord. 

 Nymjjhacece. 



An annual stove aquatic. Before the intro- 

 duction of the Victoria regia this was the 

 noblest aquatic plant in cultivation. Its leaves 

 are circular, about two feet in diameter, with 

 prominent spiny veins. Flowers deep violet, 

 opening in September. Introduced from the 

 East Indies in 1809. 

 Eury'bia. From euribies, wide-spreading; re- 

 ferring to the roots. Nat. Oi'd. CompositCB. 



A genus of evergreen trees and shrubs and 

 a few herbaceous perennials. They ai'e mostly 

 tropical, natives of Tasmania, and New Zea- 

 land. E. argophylla, sjn. Aster urgophyllus, a 

 Tasmanian species, is called by the natives 

 the silver-leaved Musk tree. It is occasion- 

 ally seen in green-houses, where it is culti- 

 vated for the iuusky odor of its leaves. Most 

 of the species are noted for their ornamental 

 foliage ; they would be valuable for lawn 

 planting in the Southern States. 

 Eury'cles. From eurys, broad, and Mas, a 

 branch ; referring to the broad leaves or 

 branch-like foot-stalks. Nat. Ord. Amaryl- 

 lidaceoB. 



A genus of strong-growing bulbs, found in 

 the Eastern Archipelago and in I^ew Holland. 

 This genus was formerly included in Pancra- 

 tium, from which it is distinguished by its 

 broad, nearly heart-shaped leaves, and its 

 flowers with a long cylindrical tube, with 

 equal and regular petals. The flowers are 

 borne in umbels, and are pure white. They 

 are generally grown in the green-house, and 

 must have complete rest during wanter. 



