258 MONOCHLAMYDE/E 



I. Euphorbia (Spurge) 



1. E. peplis (Purple Spurge). Grows quite flat to the ground, 

 sending out several branches at right angles to the root, in a circular 

 manner, about 6 inches across. Smooth and glaucous, and of a 

 beautiful glaucous hue ; flower-heads small. Peculiar to the 

 sandy sea-shore in South Wales and south of England. Fl. August, 

 September. Annual. 



2. E. helioscopia (Sun Spurge). Umbel, of 5 rays, which are 

 often repeatedly forked ; leaves oblong, tapering towards the base, 

 serrated above ; capsule smooth. Varying in size from 6-12 

 inches in height, but easily distinguished by the golden-green hue 

 of its spreading umbel, which is large in proportion to the size of 

 the plant, and has several serrated leaves at its base. Cultivated 

 ground ; abundant. Fl. July, August. Annual. 



3. E. peplus (Petty Spurge). A very common garden weed, 

 3-9 inches high, distinguished by its pale hue, its 3-rayed and forked 

 umbel of numerous flowers, the involucres of which are crescent- 

 shaped, with long horns. Fl. summer. Cultivated ground. 

 Annual. 



4. E. exigua (Dwarf Spurge). A slender species, from 1 or 

 2-8 inches high, with ascending stems and narrow, glaucous leaves. 

 Cultivated land ; common. Fl. June to September. Annual. 



5. E. Lathyris (Caper Spurge). A tall, herbaceous species, 2-4 

 feet high, remarkable for the glaucous hue of its foliage, its heart- 

 shaped, taper-pointed bracts, and very large capsules, which abound 

 to a great degree, as well as the rest of the plant, in the milky, acrid 

 fluid found throughout the family. The leaves also, unlike those 

 of other Euphorbias, are all opposite. Common in cottage gardens ; 

 not unfrequent as an escape, and perhaps truly wild in one or two 

 localities. Fl. June, July. Biennial. 



6. E. paralias (Sea Spurge). A stout, shrubby plant, 6-12 feet 

 high ; stems leafless below, and with numerous glaucous, leathery, 

 imbricated leaves above. Sandy sea-shores; uncommon. Fl. August 

 to October. Perennial. 



7. E. segetalis (Portland Spurge). Distinguished from the last 

 by its less robust habit and the red fringe of its stems and leaves, 

 and by its leaves being thinner. South and west coasts ; un- 

 common. Fl. June to September. Perennial. 



8. E. amygdaloides (Wood Spurge.) Stem branched above in 

 an umbellate manner into about 5 rays ; rays 2-forked ; bracts 

 perfoliate ; leaves narrow, egg-shaped, hairy beneath ; glands of 

 the involucre crescent-shaped. A common plant, with somewhat 

 shrubby stems, 1-2 feet high, conspicuous in spring and summer 



