358 EUPRORBIACE^. [Euphorbia. 



connate into an orbicular limb f-1 in. diam., yellow. Involucres broad, 

 pedicels slender, cusps of glands converging. Capsule with rounded valves. 

 Seed subglobose, acute. — Distrib. From Holland southd., "W. Asia. 



tt Bracts free at the base. All glabrous. 



6. E. Pep'lus, L. ; annual, leaves orbicular- obovate quite entire, bracts 

 ovate, capsules small, valves keeled, seeds pitted whitish. 



Waste places, N. to Orkney ; ascends to 1,200 ft. in Derby ; Ireland ; Channel 

 Islands ; fl. July-Nov. — Stems 6-10 in., simple or 3-chotomous below. Leaves 

 §-£ in., thin, petiole short slender. Rays 3, repeatedly forked. Involucres 

 small ; cusps of glands slender, curved. Capsule-valves with 2 keels on the 

 back. Seeds 3-gonous, dorsally deeply pitted and keeled, ventrally 2-sulcate. 

 — Distrib. Europe, N. Africa, N. and W. Asia, N.W. India ; introd. in 

 N. America. 



7. E. exig'ua, L. ; annual, leaves linear-lanceolate quite entire obtuse 

 or acute, bracts cordate at the base, capsules rough on the back of the 

 valves, seeds pale deeply pitted. 



Fields, &c, from Banff and the Clyde southd. ; Scotland, rare ; Ireland, local ; 

 Channel Islands ; (a colonist, Wats.) ; fl. July-Oct.— Very variable. Usually 

 excessively branched from the base ; branches 6-15 in., erect and strict, or 

 prostrate and ascending. Leaves £-1 in., broadest above or below the 

 middle, sometimes truncate and apiculate. Rays 3-5, often forked ; bracts 

 often toothed at the base. Involucres small, subsessile ; tips of glands 

 obtuse. Capsules small. Seeds obtusely 3-gonous, keeled, grey. — Distrib. 

 Europe, N. Africa, W. Asia, N.W. India. 



8. E. portland'ica, L. ; perennial, leaves coriaceous obovate or oblong- 

 obovate quite entire, bracts deltoid- or reniform-cordate, capsules slightly 

 rough on the back of the valves, seeds opaque brown pitted. 

 Sea-shore, from "Wigton southd. to Hants, rare (absent on the E. coast) ; 



Ireland ; Channel Islands ; fl. May- Aug. — Rootstock cylindric, woody, tor- 

 tuous. Stems 6-18 in., very many, tufted, erect or ascending, naked and 

 scarred below, branched, leafy above. Leaves §-§ in., spreading, acute 

 or apiculate. Rays 3-5 ; bracts f-| in. diam., broader than long, often 

 keeled and cuspidate. Capsule-valves faintly keeled, granulate. Seeds 

 with shallow pits, 'cuticle brown, caruncle large. — Distrib. W. France, 

 Spain, Portugal. 



9. E. Para'lias, L. ; perennial, leaves imbricate coriaceous quite entire, 

 lower linear- obovate or -oblong, upper ovate, bracts broadly cordate, cap- 

 sules leathery wrinkled, seeds minutely dotted whitish. 



Sandy shores, from Cumberland and Suffolk southd. ; local in Ireland ; Chan- 

 nel Islands ; fl. July-Oct. — Bushy, glaucous, often reddish. Rootstock woody . 

 Stems 6-18 in., many, stout, erect or ascending, naked and tubercled below. 

 Leaves ^-1 in., very thick, sessile, obtuse, concave, nerveless. Rays 5-8, 

 short, stout, forked once or twice ; bracts variable, ^-f in. diam., sometimes 

 broader than long. Involucres sessile or pedicelled, cusps of glands short. 

 Capsules deeply lobed, valves very rugose, with a dorsal furrow. Seeds 

 ovoid, caruncle minute. — Distrib. From Belgium southd. and eastd. 



