EUPHORBIA. 



bruised, is applied to wounds among the Arabs. Fortk. Leaves and 

 seeds given by the Taniool doctors of India in worm cases, and cer- 

 tain bowel affections of children. 



406. E. Ipecacuanha Linn. sp. pi. 653. Sot. mag. t. 1494. 

 Bigelow. med. bot. iii. t. 52. Sandy soils in the middle and 

 northern states of North America. 



Root irregular and fleshy, very large in proportion to the plant it 

 bears, running deep into the sand, sometimes extending to the depth of 

 6 feet. The stems from 1 root, are numerous, erect, or procumbent, 

 forming large branches on the surface of the ground. They are smooth, 

 regularly dichotomous, and jointed at the forks. The leaves are in- 

 serted at the joints, opposite, sessile, smooth, having most frequently 

 an oblong shape, though different plants possess every intermediate 

 variety in the form of the leaf, from circular to linear. Their size and 

 colour are likewise variable. Flowers solitary, on long peduncles from 

 the forks of the stem. Calyx spreading, divided into 5 obtuse seg- 

 ments. Inner segments or nectaries 5, small, gibbous. Stamens 

 numerous, in 5 parcels, appearing at different times 2 or 3 together, 

 with double anthers. The fertile flowers have a large, roundish, 

 drooping, pedicelled germ, crowned with 6 revolute stigmas. Capsule 

 3-celled. Root acts powerfully as an emetic ; in doses of from 10 to 

 20 grains it is both an emetic and cathartic; it is more active than 

 Ipecacuanha in proportion to the number of grains administered. 

 It wants, however, the peculiar mildness of that drug. 



407. E. Peplis Linn. sp. pi. 652. E. Bot. t. 2002. nrX, 



Dioscorides Sea coast of the south of Europe, and even of the 



south-west of England. 



Branches firm. Leaves oblong, deeply cordate on one side at the 

 base, entire or slightly toothed towards the base, between fleshy and 

 membranous, very smooth. Lobes of the involucre externally sup- 

 ported by membranous processes. Fruit ovate, 8-cornered, polished 

 and quite smooth. Seeds obovate, somewhat 4-cornered, smooth, 

 whitish. Properties the same as in E. falcata. 



408. E. Peplus Linn, sp.pl. 653. E. Bot. t. 959. A com- 

 mon weed in cultivated ground. 



Leaves membranous, roundish, tapering into the petiole, very blunt, 

 entire, smooth. Whorl trifid, very seldom 5-fid. Glands lunate, with 

 very long horns. Ovaria with a double-winged keel at the back, 

 wrinkled and scabrous, smooth. Seeds obovate cylindrical, bluntly 

 6-cornered ; 4 of the sides dotted in rows, 2 with a longitudinal furrow, 

 greyish white, not shining. Qualities the same as in E. falcata. 



409. E. falcata Linn, sp. pi. 654. Jacq. austr. 1. 121. Roper 

 euph. 67. E. acuminata and mucronata Lam. E. arvensis 

 Schleich. mirXo; Dioscorides. Fields and cultivated places in 

 the middle and south of Europe. 



An annual. Leaves membranous, rigid, lanceolate, sessile, acute or 

 mucronate, with rough toothings at the edge, smooth. Whorl 3-4-5- 

 fid. Lobes of the involucre lunate. Ovaries convex at the back, 

 smooth, naked. Seeds obovate-cylindrical somewhat 4-cornered ; 

 their sides wrinkled transversely, opaque, whitish, cinereous or brown, 

 195 o 2 



