356 



PRACTICAL BOTANY 



325. The Spurge family (Euphorbiacea*). The Spurge family 

 comprises about 4000 species, many of them tropical. The 

 flowers (Fig. 292) are hypogynous, mostly unisexual; peri- 

 anth usually simple 

 or wanting; stamens 

 one to many; ovary 

 of three carpels and 

 three locules, with 

 one or two ovules in 

 each locule. Often 

 the inflorescence is 

 so small and com- 

 pact as to be easily 



mistaken for a flower (Fig. 292). The 

 plants of the Spurge family are herbs, 

 shrubs, or trees, often succulent and cactus- 

 like, usually with a milky juice, which in 

 many species is poisonous. 



326. Useful plants of the Spurge family. 

 Several species of this family yield highly 

 valuable products. 



FIG. 292. I, Euphorbia splendens ; II, Euphorbia corollata 



.A, flower cluster with involucre, the whole appearing like a single flower. 7?, a 

 single staminate flower: a, anther. C, fertile flower, as seen after the removal 

 of the sterile flowers. D, partly matured fruit, i, involucre ; s, stigmas ; c, capsule 



The cassava plant is a native of Brazil but is now cultivated 

 in many of the warmer parts of the world, including our own 

 Gulf States. Tapioca is made from the clustered roots, which 



