3-seeded : Endosperm stores oil, and the seeds show a ' caruncle ' as a cap over the 

 micropyle. 



A vast order (208/4500) with many forest-trees, though not of first-class timber 

 production, ranging to desert-succulents (leafless and with spiny stipular thorns) and 

 herbaceous forms of N. Temp, woodland {J\ItrcuriaUs). The genus Etiphorbia (600) 

 as the extreme case (with Cyathium) affords little idea of the entire series. The 

 structure of the gynoecium is most constant : cf. i\/cniirialis with 2 carpels ; 5 carpels, 

 antipet., in Widandia of Seychelles ; more indefinite in Hura. Though predominantly 

 apetalous, many genera retain petals ; as a series typically fly-pollinated. As special 

 feature note stipules and their relation to extrafloral nectaries. For more elementary 

 stage of flower, cf. first: — 



Jatropha Curcas, herbaceous form of Trop. Amer., cult. ; Flowers in axillary 

 panicles, small, of Discilloral habit : staminate flower 5 sep., 5 pet., 5-I-5 stamens and 

 5 extrastaminal disc-lobes : carpellary flower 5 Sep., 5 pet., disc-lobes and staminode 

 rudiments, ovary with 3 branched stigmatic lobes and 3 loculi each i-seeded : fruit 

 a capsule, \\ in. 



Manihot Glaziovii, Ceara Rubber, of drier tracts of Brazil, cult, in less humid 

 stations than Hcvea. Leaves palmately cut in 5-7 deep segments ; flowers monoecious 

 in terminal panicles, i in. ; staminate flower apetalous, 5 sep. as gamophyllous bell, 

 purplish inside, 5 -f- 3 stamens and 10 yellow disc-lobes; carpellary flower gamosep. 

 of 5 segments. Fruit i in. diam. with polished mottled seeds. 

 y)/. ii/ilissiiiia, Manioc (Tapioca). 



Hevea brasiliensis, Para rubber, a large evergreen tree of Amazon swamp- 

 forest, l&aves trifoliate ; flowers, small (5 mm.) in large panicles ; staminate flower 

 5 sep. and 5 -I- 5 stamens as anthers sessile on central 'column'; nectary as lo-lobed 

 disc : carpellary flower of gamosep. calyx and ovary with bilobed stigmas and 3 ovules. 

 Fruit a large tricoccus-capsule, 2 in., seeds large (i in.) mottled as in Ricinus. 



Ricinus communis, soft-wooded tree of Trop. Africa, cult, as annual for Castor 

 Oil. Leaves large, palmately lobed ; inflorescences axillary, reduced to few-flowered 

 panicles : staminate flower of ,5 sep. and a multibranched androecial region (15 mm.) 

 with anthers on all end-ramuli (one of the most aberrant staminate constructions) : 

 carpellary flower a conspicuous tricoccus-ovary with shaggy or spinous emergences. 

 Capsule explosive, seeds mottled, with distinct caruncle, well-defined embryo, endo- 

 sperm with oil and aleurone. 



Cp. Hiua crepitans, %zxidi-hoyi tree of W. Indies ; carpels 15-20, capsule explosive, 

 3 in. diam. 



Bischofia javanica {■= trifoliatd), deciduous tree of damp forest of Sub- 

 Himalya. Flowers dioecious, apetalous ; staminate flower of 5 sepals and 5 super- 

 posed stamens, no disc-lobes, but a rudimentary central column : carpellary flower 

 with ovary 3-locular and linear styles. Capsule a globose, succulent berry, \ in. 

 diam., with parchment-like sclerocarp. 



Bridelia retusa, a large tree of deciduous forest, leaves coriaceous, elliptical ; 

 Flowers yellow, clustered on slender spikes ; staminate flower with 5 stamens on 

 slight column, and conspicuous disc : carpellary with 2-locuL\r ovary and bifid styles. 

 Fruit a drupe, \ in., sweet, purple-black, edible, and taken by birds. 



Mallotus philippinensis, a small evergreen tree of Sub-Himalya, common in 

 Sal forest ; Flowers dioecious, 5 mm., in panicled spikes ; staminate flower with 

 20-30 stamens ; carpellary with conspicuous papillose sessile stigmas. Capsule 

 3-lobed, covered with glandular hairs secreting a red resin (Kamela-powder giving an 

 orange dye). 



Sapium sebiferum, Chinese Tallow tree, cult, in NW. ; flowers in spicate 

 racemes, monoecious, with the carpellary flower at the base of the spike ; style with 

 3 long spreading stigmas ; staminate flower of 2 stamens only and perianth rudi- 

 mentary. Capsule with 3 seeds, a thick layer of fatty material surrounding them. 



Putranjiva Roxburghii, evergreen tree of river-banks, cult., leaves coriaceous. 



