Exccecaria.] LXIX. EUPHOKBIACE^:. 441 



Male and female flowers in distinct spikes ; calyx of male flowers 

 of 2 broad, nearly distinct, thinly membranous segments ; 

 leaves large, oblong-lanceolate, dentate . . . . 3. E. insignis. 



I. E. sebifera, Mull. Arg. ; DC. Prodr. xv. ii. 1210. Syn. Croton 

 sebiferum, Linn. Stillingia sebifera, A. de Juss. ; Benth. Fl. Hongk. 

 302. Sapium sebiferum, Eoxb. Fl. Ind. iii. 693. The Cliinese Tallow- 

 tree. 



A small and glabrous tree. Leaves rhomboid or broad-ovate, entire, 

 long - acuminate, blade 2 - 3, petiole 1-2 in. long, main lateral nerves 

 6-8 pair. Flowers greenish-yellow, in terminal drooping spikes 3-5 in. 

 long, with a few female flowers at the base of the spike. Male flowers 

 unequally pedicellate, in bracteate fascicles, 2 - 3 - androus ; calyx 3-fid. 

 Female flowers solitary, short-pedicellate ; calyx 4-partite. Capsule dry, 

 smooth, subglobose, acute, J in. long. Seeds 3, enclosed in a thick layer 

 of white fatty substance, attached to a central column which splits into 

 3 slender divisions. 



Indigenous and cultivated in China and Japan. Introduced into Bengal and 

 the sub-Himalayan tract of North- West India, where it thrives luxuriantly. Fl. 

 June ; the seeds ripen in autumn. Bark grey. In Japan and China the tallow 

 is separated from the seeds by boiling in water ; it is harder than animal tallow, 

 and candles are made of it, which are coloured, and generally used in Chinese 

 temples. The seeds (after the tallow is removed) yield oil, and a black dye is 

 made of the leaves. The wood is light and soft but even-grained. 



E. baccata, Mull. Arg. Syn. Sapium baccatzim, Eoxb. 1. c. 694 ; S. populi- 

 folium, Wight Ic. t. 1950 is a large glabrous tree with ovate, entire, acuminate 

 leaves, main lateral nerves 8-12 pair, flowers in paniculate spikes, male and 

 female flowers generally on distinct branches (dioicous, Roxb.) Male flowers 

 in bracteate fascicles, calyx 4-dentate. Fruit a 2-celled more or less 2-lobed 

 berry, purple when ripe. East Bengal {Billa, Silhet), Burma (Linhlun), Indian 

 Archipelago. 



2. E. acerifolia, F. Didrichs. Syn. Stillingia Himalayensh, Klotzsch 

 in Reise des Prinzen Waldemar, t. 21. Vern. Putkia, phutkia, N.W.P. 



A large glabrous milky shrub, with deep-green foliage. Leaves mem- 

 branous, elliptic -lanceolate, serrate, short -petiolate, main lateral nerves 

 prominent, 6-8 pair. Flowers monoicous, a few female flowers at the base 

 of the spikes. Male flowers sessile, in bracteate fascicles ; calyx of 3, some- 

 times 2 or 4, almost distinct linear segments. Stamens 3. Fruit a dry 

 coriaceous, 2-3-lobed capsule, in. across. 



Kasia hills, Nepal, Kamaon, abundant in a few places. Fl. May ; fr. Oct.- 

 Nov. Attains 20 ft., bark brownish-grey, longitudinally wrinkled. The root 

 when crushed has a disagreeable smell, and is used occasionally as a carthartic. 



Nearly allied is E. indica, Mull. Arg. Syn. Sapium indicum, Roxb. 1. c. 

 692 ; Wight Ic. t. 1950 {Hurua, Beng.) a small tree with coriaceous oblong- 

 lanceolate, serrulate leaves on short petioles. Spikes solitary, with a few female 

 flowers at the base. Male flowers in short, bracteolate spikelets ; calyx 3-cleft 

 to near the base, segments broad-ovate. Fruit a large globose 3-seeded capsule, 

 with thick woody valves. Bengal, Burma (evergreen forests), Ceylon. The 

 seeds are used to intoxicate fish. 



