474 OX SEEDLINGS 



stems and large seeds are notable for the great size and 

 foliaceous character of their cotyledons. Those of Eicinus 

 communis (fig. 644) are five-nerved, ovate-oblong or oblong, 

 the shape varying even in the same plant. The first two 

 leaves are ovate, palmately seven-nerved and lobed at the base, 

 with a longer terminal lobe and acuminate. Every division 

 is finely serrated. Jatropha podagrica (fig. 643) is notable 

 for its long and succulent hypocotyl. The cotyledons are 

 broadly oblong, trinerved, and slightly auricled at the base. 

 As in other cases the auricles take their origin in the seed, 

 when they occupy the space on each side of the radicle. 

 The first leaf is roundly ovate, peltate, seven-nerved, very 

 blunt and entire. The cotyledons of Jatropha Curcas (fig. 642) 

 are rotund-oblong, entire or emarginate, subauricled at the 

 base, and seven- to nine-nerved. The first leaf is cordate- 

 ovate, and coarsely dentate. The second and third are 

 cordate, acuminate, seven-nerved and incipiently palmately 

 lobed. 



A type distinct from any of the above is met with in 

 Jatropha multifida. The cotyledons are large, obovate, fleshy, 

 and remain in the seed which is carried up by the robust and 

 greatly elongated hypocotyl. When dry they are seen to be 

 three- to five-nerved. The first leaf is digitately seven-lobed ; 

 the second nine-lobed ; and the third and fourth seven-lobed. 

 The divisions of all are pinnatifid, with the ultimate seg- 

 ments subulate, lanceolate or linear. The hypocotyl of Hevea 

 Spruceana (fig. 641) is undeveloped and the cotyledons are sub- 

 terranean, remaining in the seed till they decay. Both the seeds 

 and the cotyledons are large, and the latter are petiolate as was 

 the case in Jatropha multifida, in order to facilitate their exit 

 and that of the plumule. The primary internode of the stem 

 varies from 12-20 cm. in length ; but the second one is only 

 about 3 mm. long. The first two leaves are opposite, and 

 digitately trifoliolate, with oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, en- 

 tire, and finely penninerved leaflets. The third leaf is alter- 

 nate, similar in form but smaller. 



Euphorbia Lathyris, L. 



Capsule trilobed, glabrous, glaucous when fresh, three-celled, 

 three-seeded, dehiscing with elasticity and force septicidally and 



