No. 14.] FLOWERING PLANTS AND FERNS. 265 



EUPHORBIACEAE. SPURGE FAMILY. 



CROTONOPSIS Michx. 



Crotonopsis linearis Michx. (very narrow ; referring to the 

 leaves). 



Local. Sandy fields and wastes : Milford, plentiful in one 

 locality (Eames). July — Sept. 



ACALYPHA L. Three-seeded Mercury. 



Acal}^ha virginica L. 



Frequent or common. Open woods, fields and meadows. 

 July — Sept. 



Sometimes a weed in lawns and cultivated ground. 



Acalypha gracilens Gray (slender). 



Acalypha virginica L., var. gracilens Muell. Arg. 

 Frequent. Dry fields and roadsides. July — Sept. 



RICINUS L. Castor-oil Plant. 



Ricinus communis L. (growing in colonies). 

 Castor-oil Plant. 



Rare. A fugitive in waste grounds in Bridgeport and 

 Fairfield (Eames). Sept. — Oct. Native of India or Africa. 



Cultivated for ornament. The oil expressed from the 

 seeds is medicinal and is ofHcinal. 



EUPHORBIA L. Spurge. 



Euphorbia polygonifolia L. (having leaves like Polygonum, 

 the Knotweed). 

 Seaside Spurge. 



Frequent along the coast on sea beaches and sand dunes. 

 July — Sept. 



Euphorbia Preslii Guss. 



Euphorbia nutans of Britton's Manual. 



Occasional or frequent. Fields and roadsides, especially 

 in sandy soil. July — Sept. 



The plant has medicinal properties and is locally known as 

 Fluxweed. All species of the genus are more or less medi- 

 cinal and some are strong irritants. 



