Spurge Family 233 



2. C. Californicus tenuis (Wats.) Ferguson. Stems erect, 

 3-7 dm. high, with very slender branches, densely scaly-stellate; 

 leaves narrowly oblong to lanceolate, 2-4.5 cm. long, 0.5-1 cm. 

 wide, entire; petioles 5-10 mm. long, less than half the length of 

 the leaves ; staminate flowers about 2mm. broad ; stamens 10-12 ; 

 seeds 3-4 mm. long. 



Same range as the type, and perhaps best considered only a form of it. 



2. EREMOCARPUS Benth. 



Stellate-pubescent glandular and heavy-scented an- 

 nual herbs, with alternate entire 3-nerved petiolate 

 exstipulate leaves, and monoecious apetalous flowers in 

 axillary cymes. Calyx 5-6-parted, slightly imbricate in 

 the staminate flowers, wanting in the pistillate. Sta- 

 mens 6-7, central on the hairy receptacle ; filaments 

 exserted. Ovary with 4-5 small glands at the base, 

 1-celled, 1-ovuled ; style simple, filiform, stigmatic at the 

 apex. Capsule obovate-oblong, 2-valved. Seed smooth 

 and shining ; endosperm fleshy. 



1. E. setigerus Benth. Low spreading heavy-scented annual, 

 hoary pubescent with a dense stellate and spreading hispid 

 pubescence; leaves ovoid or rhomboid, 2-5 cm. long, on slender 

 petioles, the upper crowded and appearing opposite or verticil- 

 late; staminate flowers few, long-pedicelled ; calyx with oblong, 

 obtuse segments, 2 mm. long; pistillate 1-3 in the axils; ovary 

 and style densely pubescent; capsule and seed 4 mm. long. 

 A common autumnal weed in all our valleys. Known as turkey weed. 



3. RICINUS L. CASTOR-BEAN. 



A tall monoecious herb, often persisting for several 

 years and becoming a small tree. Leaves alternate, 

 large, peltate, palmately lobed and toothed. Flowers 

 numerous, small, apetalous, greenish, in terminal racemes, 

 the pistillate above the staminate. Staminate flowers 

 with a 3-5-parted calyx and numerous crowded stamens ; 

 filaments branched. Pistillate flowers with a caducous 



