260 APETALOUS EXOGENS 



Ptrennial. Stem 1 to 3 feet high, slender, smooth, nearly simple. Leaves 1 to 

 2% inches long, varying from ovate-oblong to linear and spatulate-oblong, the 

 longer ones often narrow; petioles scarcely a line in length. Umbel 5- or 6-rayed, 

 the rays di-and-tri-chotomous ; involucres with minute incurved true lobes, and 

 conspicuous accessory lobes, or white appendages, each with a greenish oval gland 

 at base. 

 Nab. Sandy banks ; fence-rows, &c. : frequent. Fl. Aug. Fr. Sept. 



2. Leaves opposite, without stipules; involucres nearly sessile. 



3. E. Ldthyris, L. Leaves linear-lanceolate, rather acute, entire, 

 decussate; floral leaves lance-ovate and subcordate, nmcronate; 

 fruit smooth, rather large. 



Mole-tree. Caper Spurge. 



Biennial. Smooth. Stem 2 to 3 feet high, stout, mostly simple. Leaves 2 to 4 

 inches long, sessile, numerous, pointing 4 ways. Umbel 3- or 4-rayed, the rays 

 dichotomous ; a single involucre subsessile in the centre or bosom of the rays. 

 Glands of the involucre lunate, 2-horned, the horns dilated and obtuse. 

 Hob. Gardens, &c. Nat. of Europe. Fl. July. Fr. Octo. 



Obs. This foreigner has become naturalized about many gardens, 

 having been introduced under a notion (imported with it,) that it 

 protected them from the incursions of Moles. 



3. Leaves opposite, with stipules; involucres dichotomal, or axiUary. 



4. E. macillata, L. Flatly prostrate, and diffusely branched; 

 hairy; leaves obliquely oval, serrulate, often spotted; fruit hairy; 

 seeds reddish-grey. 



SPOTTED EUPHORBIA. Milk Purslane. 



Annual. Stem 6 to 12 inches long, much branched from the base, and lying 

 close to the ground. Leaves ^ to % an inch long, often with a dark purple spot above ; 

 petioles scarcely a line in length; stipules minute, subulate. Involucres small } 

 axillary, on short lateral branches, crowded so as to form leafy clusters; glands on 

 very small petal-like appendages, which are white, or often purplish. 

 Hob. Cultivated grounds; Indian Corn fields: frequent. Fl. July. Fr. Octo. 



5. E. hypericif olia, L. Stem rather oblique or leaning, with 

 divergent branches; smoothish; leaves obliquely oblong, or sub- 

 falcate, serrate ; fruit smooth ; seeds blackish. 

 HYPERICUM-LEAVED EUPHORBIA. 



Annual: often purplish. Stem 9 to 18 inches high, slender; branches somewhat 

 dichotomous, mostly pubescent on one side. Leaves % an inch to 1% inches 

 long, linear-dotted, often stained with blotches along the midrib ; petioles about a 

 line in length ; stipules scale-like. Involucres axillary and dichotomal, pedicellate, 

 forming small corymbose clusters at the extremities of the branches ; glands on 

 small roundish subsessile petal-like appendages, which are white, or purple edged 

 with white. 

 Hab. Thin pastures; roadsides, Ac: frequent. FL July. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. My friend Dr. ENGELMANN remarks (in Litt.), that "the 

 Seeds, of these stipulated Euphorbiae, appear to be amongst the best 

 characteristics ; and E. hypericifolia is the only one amongst them 

 with blackish seeds. All the others have reddish-grey seeds, of 

 different sizes, shapes, and covering." 



