202 THYMELACE.E. [CLASS 



papyracea of the Himalaya a coarse, but very tough, 

 paper is made. Lagetta lintearia is the Jamaica Lace- 

 bark tree, the liber of which may be separated into many 



FIG. 136. Vertical section of fruit 

 FIG. 135. Vertical section of flower of same, showing a solitary sus- 



of Spurge Laurel. pended seed. 



thin layers resembling lace, by maceration. It is made 

 up into various ornamental articles. 



55. Natural Order Euphorbiaceae. The Spurge 

 Family. 



DISTRIBUTION. A very large Natural Order, widely 

 dispersed in both hemispheres ; most numerous in tropi- 

 cal and subtropical regions. British genera 3, species 15. 



Herbs, usually with milky juice, or an evergreen shrub. Ovary 

 3-celled (2-celled in Mercury). 



Type Perennial Mercury {Mercuiialis perennis). 

 An herbaceous perennial, with opposite simple leaves, 

 and dioacious axillary loosely spicate flowers. 



