EUPHORBIAS. 95 



spurge is supposed to preserve from injurious insects 

 the roots of all other plants within a radius of four 

 yards ! They may occasionally be seen planted 

 among tomatoes, potatoes, and even roses. E. lathyris 

 is not truly indigenous. 



There is a small Euphorbia very easily recognised, 

 and worth searching for ; I mean E. Chamcesyce. It 

 lies as close to the ground as the Knot Grass 

 (Polygonum Amculare) or the Herniaria, and spreads 

 after the manner of a chickweed (Ccrastium) in two- 

 branched cymes. In order that one leaf on each 

 alternate node may not be forced against the ground, 

 the axis twists through a right angle. We see the 

 same thing in other prostrate plants with opposite 

 and crossed (decussate) leaves, for instance, in the 

 common British Ground Ivy (Glechomd). This pretty 

 little Euphorbia grew in the gravel walks of my 

 garden when I lived on the Cimiez hill ; I have not 

 seen it since. 



The Box (Buxus) covers large tracts in the moun- 

 tains north of Nice, mixed with Vincetoxicum (Fig. 

 55), Savory (Satureia), Calamint, and various other 

 Labiates. It is remarkable that this covering of 

 stunted Box is seen on the south side of the range, 

 whereas the northern slope is clothed with conifers. 

 This gives the mountains a quite different aspect when 

 viewed from opposite sides. Either the mountain 

 Pines and Larches are unable to endure the full force 

 of the sun on the south side ; or growing more slowly 

 on the drier ground, they have gradually succumbed 

 to the wood-cutter, and made way for the hardy Box 

 bushes, which appear able to put up with any extremes 

 of damp or drought, of heat or cold. 



