234 Euphorbiaceae 



calyx. Ovary 3-celled, 3-ovuled ; styles 3, united at the 

 base, 2-cleft. Capsule subglobose or oval, smooth or 

 spiny, separating into 3 2-valved carpels. Seeds ovoid 

 or oblong, mottled. 



1. R. communis L. An introduced plant which is becoming 

 well established. In protected places it often becomes woody 

 and tree-like. 



4. STILLINGIA L. 



Glabrous herbs or shrubs with alternate or rarely 

 opposite, entire or toothed leaves, often with 2 glands at 

 the base, and monoecious bracteolate apetalous flowers 

 in terminal spikes ; bractlets 2-glandular. Staminate 

 flowers several together in the axils of the bractlets ; 

 calyx slightly 2-3-lobed ; stamens 2-3, exserted. Pistil- 

 late flowers solitary in the axils of the lower bractlets ; 

 calyx 3-lobed ; ovary 2-3-celled ; ovules 1 in each cell ; 

 styles short, somewhat united at the base. Capsule 

 2-3-lobed, separating into 2-3 2-valved carpels. Seeds 

 ovoid or subglobose. 



1. S. linearifolia Wats. Herbaceous, branching from the 

 somewhat woody base; the stems and branches slender, terete, 

 ascending, 3 dm. high or more ; leaves linear, entire or rarely ob- 

 scurely glandular-toothed, acute, 1.5-2.5 cm. long; spikes slender, 

 open, 2.5-4 mm. long, with 2-7 scattered pistillate flowers below; 

 bracts very small, ovate, acute, minutely glandular on both sides, 

 1-flowered ; staminate flowers minute ; calyx turbinate ; stamens 

 2; pistillate calyx none ; capsule 3 mm. broad; seed round-ovate, 

 acute, 2 mm. long, smooth, somewhat viscid. 



Occasional about San Bernardino and eastward in dry barren places, and 

 in similar places about San Diego. 



5. EUPHORBIA L. 



Monoecious herbs or shrubs with alternate, opposite or 

 verticillate leaves, and cymose flowers borne in sessile or 

 peduncled, turbinate or campanulate involucres, sub- 



