URTICACE^: 379 



and POINSETTIA are quite peculiar in their compli- 

 cated inflorescence, and must not therefore be taken 

 as types of the family. The genus EUPHORBIA is 

 interesting in containing a number of species of a very 

 zerophytic character with thick fleshy axis, stout 

 thorns and no leaves ; sometimes confounded for that 

 reason with the Cactus but in reality quite distinct, 

 for there are no cushions of barbed hairs. The plant 

 has very sticky latex which contains an acrid sub- 

 stance that will raise blisters on the skin. Common 

 species of this genus are : 



E. TIRUCALLI, L., a shrub or small tree, with cylin- 

 drical green branches the thickness of a lead-pencil, 

 which is often to be seen round villages in the drier 

 parts of South India and Ceylon though not really 

 a native ; 



E. TORTILIS, Rot., a succulent with angular green 

 twisted branches set with short stout paired thorns,, 

 whose position shows them to be modified stipules ; 



E. ANTIQUORUM, L., similar to it but larger, and 

 * E. ROTHIANA, Spr., the common ' Spurge ' of the hills. 



URTICACE^E 



Examples : 



ARTOCARPUS INTEGRIFOLIA, L. the Jak, a tall tree 

 with thick branches and dense white sticky juice (often 

 used as bird-lime). 



Leaves alternate, petioled, obovate, cuspidate, entire, 

 coraceous and glabrous. Stipules large, forming a 

 complete hood over the next internode and leaving a 

 prominent scar right round the branch. 



