Euphorbia, j EUPHORBIACE^E. 235 



Upright Mignonette. Fl. June. or $ . Stems growing in a 

 shrub-like manner from the root, (which is woody and tapering,) more 

 or less branched, wand-like, hollow, striated, leafy, two or three feet 

 high. Racemes terminal, erect, tapering, many-flowered. Flowers 

 somewhat scattered below, but becoming extremely dense towards the 

 top. 



ORD. 65. EUPHORBIACE^E. Juss. Spurge Family. 



Flowers separated, naked, or with a three or more cleft pe- 

 rianth. BARKEN FL. Stamens definite or indefinite, distinct or 

 monad elphous : anthers 2-celled. FERTILE FL. Ovary free, 

 single, sessile, or stalked, 2 3- or more celled. Ovules solitary 

 or in pairs, suspended from the inner angle of the cell : styles 

 two, three, or many : stigmas simple, with many lobes or com- 

 pound. Fruit of two, three, or more dehiscent cells (or cocci), 

 separating with elasticity from their common axis. Seeds soli- 

 tary or in pairs, suspended, arillate. Embryo in the axis of a 

 fleshy albumen : radicle superior ; cotyledons flat. Trees, 

 shrubs or herbs, sometimes succulent and leafless, most common in 

 the tropics, rare in cold and even temperate climates ; abounding 

 in an acrid and milky juice. Leaves alternate, opposite or 

 whorled, rarely compound, often stipuled. 



This extensive and important Order affords a milky juice, 

 which is acrid, caustic, and frequently highly poisonous. Many 

 individuals belonging to it yield Caoutchouc, some are im- 

 portant articles of food. The albumen of the seeds in Euphor- 

 biacece is harmless and even eatable. The embryo is acrid and 

 dangerous. 



1. EUPHORBIA. Linn. Spurge. 



Involucre of one piece, including several barren flowers and one 

 fertile. Barren fl, A single stamen without calyx or co- 

 rolla. Fertile fl. A single pistil without calyx (or rarely a 

 very minute one) or corolla. Germen 3-lobed. Styles 3, 

 cleft. Capsules 3-seeded. Named from Euphorbus, Physi- 

 cian to Juba, King of Mauritania, who brought the plant into 

 use. Moncecia. Monandria. 



* Glands of the involucre four, rounded on the outside. 



1. E. helioscopia, Linn. Sun Spurge. Umbel of five 

 principal branches ; bracteas and leaves membranaceous, obo- 

 vato-cuneate, serrated upwards ; capsule glabrous ; seeds reti- 

 culated and pitted. Br. Fl. I. p. 381. E. FL v. iv. 63. E. Bot. t. 



883. 



Abundant in waste and cultivated ground. Fl. July, Aug. 0. 

 The acrid milky juice is employed to clestroy warts. 



