956 



CXXII. EUPHORBIACEiE (pRAIN). 



[Pyc 



ovules in each cell solitary ; cells each with two dorsal protuberances ; 

 styles 3, usually considerably connate in a column below ; stigmas ter- 

 minal, capitate or subcapitate, very slightly dilated. Capsule JJ-dymoiis, 

 rarely indehiscent, usually breaking up into three 2-valved cocci, each 

 valve with a horn or wing on the back. Seeds without a caruncle, 

 globose ; albumen fleshy ; cotyledons broad, flat. — Stemless or short- 

 .stemmed shrubs, rarely small trees. Leaves large or very large, usually 

 in terminal clusters, much narrowed to the base and sessile or shortly 

 petioled, penninerved. Flowers in axillary racemes from the upper 

 axils; pedicels !-'> to a bract, usually very long ; racemes rarely spike- 

 like, with short-pedicelled flowers; flowers male except the terminal 

 which is female. 



Species 11, all endemic. 

 Bracts concave, ovjite, acending. 



Kacemes dense, spike-like ; male pedicels shorter 



than the calyx ; fruit where known indehiscent. 



Female sfepals like male bracts; stales free 



almost to the base . . . . .LP. deniaia. 



Female sepals unlike male bracts; styles united 



in their lower half 2. JP. lUtoralis. 



liaccmes oi)en, lax ; male jjedicels slender, much 



lonfrer than the bracts ; fruit 3-coccous, cocci 



2-valved. 



liincts obtuse, densely adpressed-silky without. 



Khacliis of racemes bractente and tloriferous 



to the base ; leaves trapeziforni, taintly to 



distinctly 3-iobed 3. P. Thonneri. 



lilmchis of racemes with a distinct naked 

 ijeduncle ; leaves oblanceolate-ohlonp^. 

 Ithachis and peduncle rather densely pubes- 

 cent. 

 Kacemes 6 in. long or longer ; horns of 



fruit falcate, much longer than deep 4. P. cornuta. 

 Kacenies 4 in. long or less . . . 5. P. hrachystachya. 



IJhachis and j)eduncle glabrescent or glab- 

 rous ; racemes 6 in. long or longer ; horns 

 of fruit triangular not longer than deep 

 liracts acute, loosely patently villous without 

 Bracts flat, spreading or reflexed. 



Bracts trapezoid-spathulate, margins ciliate, but 

 elsewhere glabrous, even without ; leaves ob- 

 lanceolate-oblong ...... 



Bracts lanceolate, pubescent without. 



Styles united for more than halt their extent. 

 Leaves oblanceolate, narrowed from far beyond 



the middle to the base or to a short petiole 9. P. angusiifoUa. 

 Leaves ovate-oblong, contracted from the 



middle only to a distinct or long petiole . 10. P. minor. 

 Styles united for less than half their length; 



leaves oblanceolate-obloug . . . .11. P. macrantha. 



1. P. dentata, Iliei-n in Cat. Afr. PL Wehc. i. 983. Shrub or 

 small tree, 10-15 ft. high; branches slender, virgate, woody. Leaves 



C. p. macrophyUa. 

 7. P. Chevalieri. 



8. P. Thollonii. 



