VOL. II.] 



SPURGE FAMILY 



i. Jatropha stimulosa Michx. 



Spurge Nettle. Tread-softly. 



(Fig. 2305.) 



Jatropha stimulosa Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 2: 216. 



1803. 

 Jatropha iirensvar. stimulosa Muell. Arg. in DC. 



Prodr. 15: Part 2, 1101. 1862. 



Perennial by a stout root, herbaceous, bright 

 green, armed with stinging hairs. Stem 

 rather slender, erect, simple or branched, 4'- 

 3^ tall; leaves nearly orbicular in outline, 

 2^ / -i2 / broad, truncate or cordate at the base, 

 deeply 3-5-lobed, the lobes entire, toothed or 

 pinnatifid; calyx of the staminate flowers sal- 

 verform, white or pink, io // -2o // broad; cap- 

 sule oblong, 5 // -8 // long, papillose, wrinkled; 

 seeds oblong-obovoid, 5 // -6 // long, smooth, 

 mottled. 



In dry sandy soil, Virginia to Florida and 

 Texas. March-Aug. 



9. STILLINGIA L. Mant. i: 19. 1767. 



Monoecious glabrous herbs or shrubs, with simple or branched stems, alternate or rarely 

 opposite, entire or toothed leaves, often with 2 glands at the base, the flowers bracteolate, in 

 terminal spikes, apetalous, the bractlets 2-glandular. Staminate flowers several together in 

 the axils of the bractlets, the calyx slightly 2-3-lobed; stamens 2-3, exserted. Pistillate flowers 

 solitary in the axils of the lower bractlets; calyx 3-lobed, ovary 2-celled or 3-celled with a soli- 

 tary ovule in each cavity; styles stout, somewhat united at the base. Capsule 2-lobed or 3- 

 lobed, separating into 2 or 3 two-valved carpels. Seeds ovoid or subglobose. Embryo straight 

 in the fleshy endosperm. [In honor of Dr. B. Stellingfleet, an English botanist.] 



About 15 species, mostly of tropical America and the islands of the Pacific Ocean. 



i. Stillingia sylvatica L. Queen's 

 Delight. Queen-root. (Fig. 2306.) 



Slillingia sylvatica I,. Mant. i: 126. 1767. 



A bright green slightly fleshy perennial herb. 

 Stem rather stout, erect or assurgent, usually 

 branched from the base, i-3> tall. Leaves 

 obovate, oblong or elliptic, $"-4? long, obtuse, 

 or subacute, serrate with appressed teeth, often 

 narrowed at the 2-glandular base, sessile; flow- 

 ers in terminal spikes, lemon-colored, subtended 

 by small bracts furnished with saucer-shaped 

 glands; calyx cup-shaped; petals and glandular 

 disk none; capsule depressed, 5" -7" in diameter, 

 3-lobed; seeds ovoid, 3" long, light gray, mi- 

 nutely pitted and papillose, the base flattened. 



In dry soil, Virginia to Florida, Kansas and Texas. 

 Called also Silver-leaf; the root, known as Queen's- 

 root, an alterative. March-Oct. 



10. EUPHORBIA L. Sp. PI. 450. 1753. 



Monoecious herbs (many tropical species shrubs), with alternate, opposite or verticillate 

 leaves, the inflorescence cymose. Flowers borne in sessile or peduncled, top-shaped or 

 campanulate involucres subtended by bracts, which are often brightly colored. Sinuses of 

 the involucres usually bearing glands, naked or appendaged. Staminate flowers scattered 



24 



