EUPHORBIACE.E. URTICE^E. 205 



43. EUPHORBIACEJE. 



Flowers monoecious or dioecious. Perianth single, 

 with scaly appendages, inferior, or wanting. 



MALE FLOWERS. Stamens definite or indefinite, the 

 filaments free or monadelphous. Anthers 2-celled, with 

 a longitudinal dehiscence. 



FEMALE FLOWERS. Ovarium superior, sometimes 

 pedicilate, 3 -celled. Styles 3 ; stigma distinct or lobed. 

 Fruit of 2-3 or more, dry cocca, dehiscing elastically, 

 and separating from their common axis, each cell 1-2 

 seeded, the seeds pendulous. Albumen oily or fleshy, 

 the radicle superior, and the cotyledons flat and folia- 

 ceous. 



Trees, shrubs, or herbs with lactescent juices ; alter- 

 nate, mostly exstipulate, simple leaves, and the flowers 

 sometimes within a general involucrum. 



Geographical Relations. In greatest perfection in 

 intertropical America ; but more than 100 species are to 

 be found in Europe. 



Properties. Stimulating and acrid, and sometimes 

 highly poisonous. 



Officinal Plants. 



Croton cascarilla 



tiglium. 



Euphorbia officinarum, canariensis ? 

 Ricinus communis (Palma christi.) 



44. URTICE^E. 



Flowers monoecious or dioecious. Perianth single, 

 membranous, lobed, persistent. Stamens definite, pery- 



