EUPHORBIA.! EUPHOKBIACEM. 81 



above, pale beneath ; base narrow, obliquely cordate ; main nerves 

 few, distinct ; stipules pectinate, soon falling. Involucres many, 

 stalked, less than ~ in. long, crowded in small axillary shortly stalked 

 cymes ; glands minute, globose, limb very small or obsolete. Cap- 

 sule .1$ in. in diam., appressedly hairy. Seeds fo in. long, ovoid, 

 trigonous, minutely rugose, reddish-brown. 



An abundant weed within the area of this flora, flowering during the 

 greater part of the year. DISTRIB. : Throughout the hotter parts 

 of India ; also in Ceylon and in nearly all tropical and subtropical 

 regions. The plant has medicinal properties similar to those of E. 

 thy mi folia. 



13. E. thymifolia, Linn. Sp. PL 454 ; Eoxb. Fl. Ind. ii, 473 ; 

 F. B. I. v, 252 ; Watt E. D.; Collett Fl. Siml 446 ; Prain Beng. 

 PL 925; Cooke FL Bomb, ii, 569. 



A small annual herb, more or less hispidly pubescent, the whole plant 

 often with a pale coppery tinge. Steins prostrate, and usually closely 

 flattened on the ground, 4-12 in. long, divaricately branched, slender, 

 cylindric. Leaves very small, opposite, petioled, J-|- in. long, obli- 

 quely oblong, obtuse, crenulate, glabrous above, glaucous and usually 

 slightly pubescent beneath ; stipules elongate, fimbriate. Involu- 

 cres minute, axillary, solitary or 2-3 together in the axils, cainpanu- 

 late, very shortly stalked ; glands very minu;<^ or none, limb none- 

 Capsules erect, shortly stalked, T \j- in. broad, obtusely keeled, pubes- 

 cent. Seeds in. long, quadrangular, bluntly pointed and with 

 5-6 shallow transverse furrows. 



Very common within the area, and often a conspicuous garden weed 

 especially on gravel -walks, flowering during the greater portion of 

 the year. DISTRIB. : Throughout the greater part of India and in 

 Ceylon, ascending to over 5,000 ft. on the Himalaya. It is found 

 also in all hot countries except Australia. The leaves and seeds 

 are said to be aromatic and astringent and the juice acts as a violent 

 purgative. Trimen remarks that the severed end of a branch made 

 to touch lightly the surface of water has the singular effect of violently 

 repelling all floating particles in the neighbourhood. 



14. I. granulata, Forsk. Mgypt.-Arab. 94 ; F. B. I. v, 252 ; 

 Watt E. D.; Prain Beng. PL 925 ; Cooke FL Bomb, ii, 569. 



A small hispidly hairy prostrate perennial herb. Branches many, 3-6 

 in. long, very brittle. Leaves opposite, shortly petioled, coriaceous, 

 _i_.i. i n . long, obliquely oblong or obovate-oblong, rounded or retuse 



