438 LX1X. EUPHORBIACEyE. [Euphorbia. 



are commonly distinguished. They demand, however, farther study on the spot, 

 and it is not impossible that their number will eventually be reduced. The 

 geographical distribution of some of them in India is as yet imperfectly known. 



Armed with pairs of stipular spines. 



Branches with 5 sharp prominent angles . . . . \. E. Roylcana. 



Branches round, with 5 more or less spirally-twisted ribs . 2. E. neriifolia. 



Brandies round, not ribbed or angled .... 3. E. Nivulia. 

 Unarmed ; stems and branches cylindric ; leaves linear-lan- 

 ceolate 4. E. Tirucalli. 



1. E. Royleana, Boissier in DC. Prodr. xv. ii. 83. Syn. E.pentagona, 

 Eoyle 111. t. 82 (not of Haworth). Vern. Thor, North India. Local 

 names in Panjab : Suli, Jhelam ; Chula, Chenab ; Chun, Eavi ; Chu, 

 chiu, cliunga, surs, Bias ; Sura, tsui, Sutlej ; Sihund, Kamaon. 



Branches angular, generally pentagonous, angles sharp, undulate. 

 Spines twin, short. Flower-heads yellow, in sessile clusters. 



Common on the dry hills of the Siwalik tract from Kamaon to the Jhelam, 

 entering some distance into the valleys, and ascending to 4000, occasionally to 

 6000 ft. According to Aitchison (Cat. 132), not on Mount Tilla or the Salt range, 

 but Stewart (Pb. PL 194), gives Tordanda, danda, tor as the Salt range names. 

 This is probably the species on the dry hills near Jeypur, which furnishes a great 

 part of the fuel for that city. Attains 15-16 ft. ; the stems have generally a girth 

 of 2-3, but sometimes of 5-6 ft. In the outer hills it is often planted as a hedge ; 

 grows readily from cuttings, even in the driest soil. The wood is soft and use- 

 less. It is cultivated at places near the foot of the hills e. g., at Sealkot, Jal- 

 andar, but does not thrive far out in the Panjab plains. 



Besides E. Royleana, the following Indian species with angular branches 

 have been described : 



a. E. antiquorum, Linn. ; Roxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 468 ; Wight Ic. t. 897. Sans. 

 Sihunda. Vern. Nara sij, tekata sij, Beng. ; Tidlmra, tidhdra sehnd, Hindi. 

 Branches with 3, rarety 5 angles, leaves minute or wanting. Peduncles solitary 

 or in pairs, a little above the spines, usually with 3 flower-heads, the centre head 

 fertile. Common on dry hills in Bengal and the peninsula. Wood white, light, 

 soft, but even-grained. 



b. E. Cattimandoo, Elliot in Wight Ic. 1. 1993, Katti mandu (knife medicine), 

 Tel. Branches with 5 sharp prominent angles which are deeply sinuate between 

 the nodes, the furrows between the angles forming deep channels. The leaves 

 are cuneate, mucronate. This species grows in great abundance in the Vizaga- 

 patam district ; it flowers from March to the beginning of June, after the leaves 

 fall ; the fresh leaves appear in July and August. Attains 8-14 ft., with a stem 

 3-4 ft. high. The milk flows freely when branches are cut ; it is collected, 

 boiled, formed into cakes or cylinders, and used as a cement for fixing knives 

 into handles and for similar purposes. When dry it is resinous and brittle, 

 and its properties are essentially different from those of Caoutchouc or Gutta- 

 percha. 



c. E. trigona, Roxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 468 j Wight Ic. t. 1863. Branches with 3 

 prominent angles, deeply sinuate between the nodes, and hollowed out between 

 the angles ; 2, sometimes 4 stout stipular spines, and large, deciduous, shining, 

 cuneate leaves at the ends of branches. Peduncles from the sinuses on the 

 angles of the branches, short, thick, generally with 3 flower-heads, the centre 

 one sessile, with male flowers only, the lateral ones pedicelled, fertile. Fl. Feb.- 

 April, after the leaves have fallen. Brought from the Molucca Islands to Cal- 



