EUPHORBIA EUPATORIUM. 119 



EUPHORBIA 



Spurge. 



Euphorbia corollata. Great-flowered Euphorbia. This is 

 one of the most elegant species peculiar to the United States ; 

 a perennial, with subdivided umbels of conspicuous white 

 flowers, and narrowish, oblong obtuse leaves. This plant is 

 not uncommon in the sandy fields of the Middle States, and is 

 in flower in June and July. Propagated by divisions of the 

 root. 



Euphorbia lathyris. Common Caper. A half-hardy bien- 

 nial. A plant of handsome appearance, with inferior flowers 

 from May to September, from England. From three to four 

 feet high. The plants will stand the winter without protection, 

 but are oftentimes entirely destroyed. A few plants should be 

 taken up and placed in a dry cellar, and planted out in the 

 spring. 



ECJPATORIUM. 



Thoroughwort. 



Eupatorium purpureum. Purple Thoroughwort. Purple 

 flowers in August ; perennial ; four to six feet high ; indige- 

 nous ; leaves in fours and fives. This plant cannot be said to 

 be elegant, yet it is not destitute of beauty, and will be a val- 

 uable acquisition to the shrubbery. Its tall stem terminates in 

 large corymbs of small shining purple flowers. 



Eupatorium ccelestinum. Sky-blue Eupatorium. A peren- 

 nial ; two feet high. This is the most beautiful species in exist- 

 ence. It grows wiy, from the Potomac to the Mississippi. Its 

 flowers, produced very late in autumn, are of a beautiful smalt 

 or sky-blue. The roots of this species are creeping, from which 

 it is easily propagated. 



Eupatorium perfoliatum, Bone-set, or Medicinal Thorough 

 wort, is a plant whose medicinal virtues are held in high 

 estimation ; but it has no claim to beauty. 



