INCOMPLETE. 339 



ta.vis (fig. 430), where the cup-like involucre is replaced by scales, and, 

 instead of the jointed filaments, we find several stalked male flowers, 

 with perianth and stamens, surrounding one female flower. Warming 

 adopts Brown's view of the nature of the " cyathiuni," and further 

 considers the stamens either as buds or as caulomes, each stamen repre- 

 senting a distinct flower, and each of the five bundles of stamens in 

 Euphorbia being a sympode. 



Three is the ordinary number of carpels ; but Mercurialis has but two, 

 and some exotic genera but one ; on the other hand, 9 or even 15 (Hura) 

 are occasionally present. The fruit is usually dry and dehiscent, but in 

 Sarcococca succulent. Ricinus has much divided stamens. Considerable 

 variety of habit occurs ; some of the foreign Euphorbia have fleshy, spiny 

 stems, somewhat resembling those of the Oactaceag, Xylophylla and Phyl- 

 lanthus having leaf-like flowering branches ; and a number of large tropical 

 trees belong to this Order. 



These plants approach very closely to Malvaceae and specially to Ster- 

 culiaceas, the composition of the ovary being analogous, and the stamens 

 often monadelphous ; Aleurites, Jatropha, and other genera have a corolla 

 much resembling Malvaceae ; and there is a further affinity to Rhamnaceae. 

 On the other hand, looking to their diclinous character and frequently 

 incomplete flowers, they approach the Urticaceae, from which they are, as 

 a whole, distinguished by their compound ovaries : such genera as Ere- 

 mocarpus, having but one carpel, connect the two groups. Some of the 

 genera have stinging-hairs like Urticaceae (Jatropha). 



Distribution. A very large Order, generally diffused over the globe ; 

 especially abundant in "Equinoctial America. A few species are indige- 

 nous to this country. 



Qualities and Uses. These plants mostly produce a lactescent juice, 

 which contains caoutchouc ; the watery part of this sap is generally more 

 or less acrid, purgative, emetic, or powerfully poisonous, from the presence 

 of a principle dissipated by heat ; starch abounds in the roots of some 

 kinds, while oil of a purgative character is common in the seeds ; the bark 

 of some of the trees has tonic properties; the wood of several is very 

 valuable for its hard close texture; and several of the plants furnish 

 dyes. The lactescent juice of Hevea (Siphonia) elastica is the source of 

 the " bottle " Caoutchouc of Brazil and Guiana, and various other species 

 of Hevea also furnish it ; Aleurites lactifera yields Gum-lac in Ceylon ; 

 Euphorbia antiquorum and E. canariensis are believed to yield the gum- 

 resin called Euphorbium. The common Spurges (Euphorbia) have pur- 

 gative properties ; the root of E. Ipecacuanha is used as an emetic in North 

 America ; and the species of Mercurialis have similar properties, especially 

 M. perennis, which is unsafe to use, since it produces violent purging, and 

 even sometimes convulsions and death. The most deadly member of the 

 Order seems to be the Manchineel (Hippomane Mancinella), a Panama 

 plant, the juice of which is so acrid as to cause ulceration when dropped 

 on the skin, and its apple-like fruit has a vesicating juice; the juice of 

 Excoscaria Aaallochum and of Hura crepitans has similar properties. The 

 glandular hairs of Mallotus philippinensis furnish the drug known as Ka- 

 mfila, used for tape-worm and for dyeing purposes. 



The oily seeds are mostly purgative : Croton oil is expressed from those 

 of Crolon Tiylium and Parana (East Indies) ; Castor-oil from those of 



