-lfti.] cxxxv. EUPHORBIACE.E. (J. D. Hooker.) 245 



a pedicelled stamen without floral envelopes of any kind; anther-cells 

 usually globose. FEM. fl. a solitary pedicelled 3-celled 3-ovuled ovary, in 

 the centre of the involucre, also without envelopes ; styles 3, free or com- 

 bined, simple or 2-fid. Capsule of 3 2-valved cocci separating elastically 

 from a columella and dehiscing ventrally or both ventrally and dorsally. 

 Cotyledons broad, flat. Species about 600, in all climates but the very cold . 



The species of the Anisopliyllum section of this genus have been indefinitely multi- 

 plied, and require revision with the view of testing the constancy of the characters 

 by which so many of the New World species which to the eye are undistinguishable 

 from Old World ones are distinguished. Important differences do occur in the sculptur- 

 ing of their seeds and in the size and form of the limb of the involucral glands, but I 

 suspect that these have been much exaggerated, for in 'so far as the Indian species 

 show, they are variable. Several species founded by Boissier on solitary unnamed 

 specimens of Heyne's seen in the Herbaria of Vienna, St. Petersburg, &c. , and not 

 compared with those of other Herbaria, are little likely to be good. Various ( specific 

 names usually attributed to Roth, because the species which bear them were de- 

 scribed by him in his "Novas Plantarum Species," are really to be attributed to Heyne, 

 as stated by Roth himself under each. Heyne was not a mere collector, but au 

 excellent botanist. 



The section Eupfiorbium again must be carefully revised with living specimens ; it 

 is impossible to frame specific characters of succulent plants from dried ones, or even 

 to determine what are species and what varieties. *- 



It is unfortunate that Boissier omitted to consult the Wallichian Herbarium at 

 the Linnaean Society when monographing the genus for De Candolle's Prodromus ; 

 and still more so that several species of the Anisophyllum section have been so mixed in 

 that fine Herbarium that it is difficult to quote their numbers with accuracy* 



There are very few Euphorbiaceae in Wight's own Herbarium which he presented 

 to Kew. They were probably lent elsewhere for description and never returned. 



SECT. I. ANISOPHYLLUM. Herbs, rarely shrubby below, prostrate or 

 ascending. Leaves all opposite, oblique or unequal at the base, stipulate or 

 connected by a stipnlar line. Involucres solitary or cymose ; glands 4-5, 

 usually furnished with a membranous petaloid limb. 



1. ELEGANTKS. Usually erect dichotomously branching herbs, with leaves $ to 

 2 in. long. Involucres axillary, solitary, or 2-3 together; limb of gland conspicuous, 

 often large. Sp. 3-8. 



2. HYPEBICIFOLI;E. Erect or decumbenf branching herbs or shrubs, with leaves 

 -f in. long or thereabouts. Involucres in axillary and subterminal cymes or crowded 

 in the uppermost leaves, rarely of only 2-3 flowers; limb of gland usually conspicuous 

 though small. Sp. 9-16. 



3. CHAMJJSYCE^:. Prostrate, rarely erect plants, with leaves - in. long, rarely 

 more. Involucres solitary, or in very short subsessile cymes, usually crowded along 

 one side of the stem, or of short lateral branches ; limb of glaud of involucre 

 obscure or 0, except E. lurmanica. Sp. 17-21. 



SECT. II. EUPHOBBITTM. Shrubs or trees (except 6. Rhizanthium) with 

 fleshy terete ribbed angled or flattened stems and branches. Leaves 0, or 

 alternate, or the upper opposite ; stipules 0, or glandular or of prickles. 

 Involucre* axillary or terminal; or in the forks, often sessile, rarely cymose, 

 glands without a petaloid limb. 



4. TIRTJCALLI. Erect shrubs or trees, with unarmed angled compressed or terete 

 branches, leafless or with opposite alternate or fascicled leaves. Sp. 22-23. 



5. DIACANTHIUM. Erect shrubs or trees, with stout angled ribbed or winged 

 branches that are crenate or nodose at the angles or wings, and there provided with 

 2 or 3 stipular prickles. Sp, 24-29. 



6. RHIZANTHIUM. Stem reduced to a fleshy tuber with short unarmed branches, 

 and cymose rarely solitary involucres. Sp. 30 ?,l. 



