SPURGE TRIBE 



-59 



with its golden-green leaves and flowers, and in autumn with the 

 red tinge of its stems and leaves. Woods ; abundant. Fl. March, 

 April. Perennial. 



9. E. piatyphyllos (Broad-leaved Spurge). An erect, slender, 

 slightly-branched plant, 6-18 inches high, smooth or hairy, with 

 the upper leaves broad and heart-shaped, and 3-5 rayed umbels, 

 which are again forked. Capsules small and warted. Cultivated 

 ground in the south ; rare. Fl. July to September. Annual or 

 biennial. 



10. E. Hiberna (Irish Spurge). A smooth, or sometimes downy 

 species, 12-18 inches high, with oblong leaves, 2-4 inches in length ; 

 umbel 5-rayed ; capsules large and warted. In Ireland and in 

 Devonshire. Fl. May, June. Perennial. 



Two other species are found in Britain, viz. E. pilosa (Hairy 

 Spurge). A tall, leafy, slightly hairy perennial, with glandular 

 capsules. Found established in woods near Bath and one or two 

 other places, but probably not indigenous ; very rare. And 



E. esula (Leafy Spurge). A very rare species, found only in 

 Scotland, and not indigenous. It grows 12-18 inches high, and 

 is best distinguished by its many-rayed umbel. 



2. Mercurialis (Mercury) 



1. M.perennis (Dog's Mercury). A com- 

 mon woodland, herbaceous plant, sending 

 up from its creeping roots numerous 

 simple stems, 6-12 inches high. Each 

 stem bears in the upper part several pairs 

 of stalked, rather large, roughish leaves, 

 ovate-lanceolate and serrated, and among 

 the uppermost of these grow the small 

 green flowers, the barren on long stalks, 

 the fertile sessile. Woods and shady 

 places ; abundant. Fl. April, May. Per- 

 ennial. 



2. M. annua (Annual Mercury). Taller mercurialis Perennis 

 than the last, and distinguished by its {Dog's Mercury) 

 branched stems, and smaller, smooth, leaves, 



which are of a light green hue. Barren and fertile flowers are some- 

 times found on the same plant. Waste places ; not common. 

 Fl. August. Annual. Two forms are found, one with stalked 

 leaves, the other with sessile. 



