THE FLORA 165 



white robe, with a golden sickle, and a sacrifice of two 

 white bulls offered on the spot. 



EUPHORBIACE.E (the Spurge family) 



An important tropical order, most of the species containing 

 lactiferous vessels with a milky fluid, often dangerously 

 poisonous (Manchineel, etc.), sometimes valuable as rubber. 

 The seeds of exotic species contain oil Castor oil, Croton 

 oil. Other species are valued for their timber, edible fruits, 

 and nuts. A large Brazilian tree yields the Para rubber. 

 Tapioca is obtained from the roots of the Bitter Cassava, 

 a plant so highly poisonous that animals which drink of 

 the water where the roots have been washed and scraped 

 often die. The poison (prussic acid) is dispelled by heat. 

 In China, candles are made from solid oil contained in the 

 seeds of the Tallow tree. The seeds of the Candle-nut tree 

 are strung on pieces of bamboo by natives of the South Sea 

 Islands and burned like candles. Dwarf forms of the 

 Common Box (Bocsa) (which differs from most plants of 

 the order in the absence of milky juice) are used for edging 

 garden walks. Brilliant flowered and beautifully variegated 

 foliaged species (Poinsettias, Crotons) are grown in hot- 

 houses. 



Euphorbia, L. 



E, Helioscopia, L. Sun Spurge. Cranntachan-an-Deamh- 

 ain. Foinne-lus, C. Cultivated fields. The milky juice was 

 applied to warts. Ann., August. 



E. Peplus, L. Petty Spurge. (Lus Leigheis.) Garden 

 weed, Kiloran. Ann., September. 



MercuriaUs, L. 



M. perennis, L. Perennial Mercury. (Lus-Ghlinn-Bhraca- 

 dail.) Recorded by Messrs Grieve and Miller. It was 

 formerly much used for the cure of wounds. C. 



