EUPHORBIACE^E. 311 



P. carolinlensts Walt. : stem erect ; branches distichous ; leaves al- 

 ternate, oval, obtuse, smooth, somewhat distichous ; flowers few, 

 (2 4) axillary, on pedicels, nodding. P. obotatus mild. Pursh. Torr. 

 HAB. Banks of streams. Penn. to Geor. July, Aug. ^. 

 Stem 12 inches high, with distichous branches. Flowers on short 

 pedicels, axillary, nodding. Stamens 6, united at base. 



3. RICINUS. Linn. 



Monoecious. STERILE FL. Perianth 5-partecL Stamens 

 numerous ; filaments united, branching. FERTILE FL. Pe- 

 rianth 3-parted. Styles 3, 2-parted. Capsule mostly echi- 

 nate, 3-celled, 3-seeded. Monoecia. Monadelphia. 



R. communis Linn. : stem herbaceous, glaucous-pruinose ; leaves 

 peltate palmate ; lobes lanceolate, serrate ; capsule echinate. 



HAB. Around plantations at the South. Aug., Sept. @. In- 

 troduced. Cultivated extensively in various parts of the U. S. 

 for the purpose of obtaining oil from the seed. Castor-oil Bean. 



4. ACALYPHA. Linn. 



Monoecious. STERILE FL. Perianth 3 4-parted. Sta- 

 mens 8 16, united. FERTILE FL. Styles 3, 2-parted. 

 Capsule 3-celled ; cells 1-seeded. Monoecia. Monadelphia. 



1. A. virginica Linn. : pubescent ; leaves on short petioles, lanceo- 

 late-oblong, remotely and obtusely serrate ; involucre cordate, ovate, 

 acuminate, toothed ; fertile flowers at the base of the sterile spike. 



HAB. Road sides, &c. Can. to Car. June Aug. 0. Stem 

 12 18 inches high, erect, pubescent. Involucre on a short pe- 

 duncle, shorter than the leaves. Sterile floicers very small. Cap- 

 sule hispid. Three-seeded Mercury. 



2. A. caroliniana Walt. : leaves on long petioles, rhombic-ovate, 

 acuminate, serrate, entire at base ; involucre cordate, toothed ; fertile 

 flowers at the base of the sterile spike. t V*.*;^ 



HAB. Fields. Penn. to Car. July, Aug. ^.Stem 918 

 inches high. The A. carolinana of Elliott is apparently a dis- 

 tinct species. 



5. EUPHORBIA. Linn. 



Monoecious. Rarely furnished with a perianth. Involucre 

 monophyllous, campanulate, 8 10 toothed, the inner seg- 

 ments membranaceous and erect. STERILE FL. 12 or more. 

 Stamen 1 ; filament articulated in the middle. FERTILE FL. 

 solitary, stipulate, naked. Stigmas 3, 2-cleft. Capsule 3- 

 lobed. Monoecia. Monandria. 



* Flowers in terminal fascicles, 



1. E. dcntata Mich. : hairy ; leaves opposite, oval, dentate ; flowers 

 crowded at the summit of the stem. 



