EUPHORBIACEJE. 



HURA. 



Flowers monoecious, amentaceous. # . Calyx truncate. Sta- 

 mens numerous, united into a solid colnmn. $ . Style 1. Stigma 

 with 12-18 rays. Capsule with 12-18 cocci. 



390. H. crepitans Linn, sp.pl. 14-31. Willd. xiv. 592. 

 (Hart, cliff*, t. 34. Trew. tt. 34 35.) West India Islands, 

 Mexico and Guayana. (Sandbox.) 



A tree abounding in milky juice. Leaves cordate, acuminate, entire, 

 or very slightly toothed, stalked, smooth, coriaceous, with simple veins 

 passing from the midrib to the margin, in a curved direction within a 

 \ of an inch or so of each' other, and connected by numerous oblique 

 veinlets; stipules large, ovate, leafy, deciduous; petioles as long or 

 rather longer than the leaves, with 2 glands at the apex. Male flowers 

 arranged in an erect long-stalked axillary conical catkin, composed of 

 imbricated 1 -flowered scales. Calyx short, urceolate, truncate. 

 Column of stamens surrounded in the middle by 2 or 3 rows of tuber- 

 cles, each of which bears an anther on its under side. Female flower 

 solitary, at the base of the male peduncle or near it. Calyx urceolate, 

 entire, or dividing eventually into 3 parts. Stigma very large, discoidal, 

 peltate. Fruit a depressed umbilicated woody capsule, about the size 

 of a middling apple, with from 12-18 furrows, which separate into as 

 many cocci, which fly asunder, each opening into 2 valves, with great 

 elasticity when dry and fully ripe. Milk so venomous as to produce 

 blindness a few days after touching the eye. Seeds a violent drastic 

 dangerous purgative. Aublet states that negro slaves to whom 1 or 2 

 seeds had been administered in the form of an emulsion were nearly 

 killed by them. Martius reckons the plant an emetic. 



EXO&CARIA. 



Flowers monoecious or dioecious, amentaceous. $ . Nothing 

 but staminiferous bracts. Stamens 7-9, united into about 3 

 parcels, all connected at the base. 5 . Calyx 3-fid, or 0. 

 Style 3-parted. Capsule 3-coccous. A. de J. in part. 



391. E. Agallocha Linn, sp.pl. 1451. Swartz fl. ind. occ. 

 ii. 1121. Roxb.Jl. ind. iii. 756. Arbor excaecans Humph. 

 ii. tt 79, 80. Common in various parts of the continent and 

 islands of India, especially on the coast. 



A small, crooked, stunted tree. Leaves alternate, about the ex- 

 tremities of the branchlets, stalked, ovate or cordate, but usually acute 

 at the base, smooth on both sides, remotely and slightly serrate, 

 pointed, with 2 glands at the base, and about 2 inches long. Petioles 

 about an inch long, smooth, channelled. Stipules small, fine pointed. 

 cJ. Aments axillary, often crowded, cylindric, while young im- 

 bricated with five spiral rows of 1-flowered, reniform bracts, which 

 lengthen by age, when the flowers become distinct. Calyx 0. Five 

 small scales round the base of the filaments. Anthers with 2 large 

 lobes. $ . Aments solitary, axillary, the lower half containing 



190 



