EUPHORBIACE^E. 



thartic and emetic ; it is said by Loiseleur Deslongchamps, to be the 

 best of the European Euphorbias, and to vomit easily in doses of 

 18-20 grains. 



402. E. Lathyris Linn, sp.pl 655. E. Bot.t. 2255. Wittd. 

 ii. 506. Roper, euph. 67. Common in cottage gardens, and 

 occasionally as if wild ; its native country is not exactly known. 



Biennial, very glaucous. Stem strong, erect, 2-4 feet high, smooth 

 and round. Leaves somewhat coriaceous, linear-oblong, sessile, rather 

 acute, or obtuse, mucronate, entire, smooth, of a dark glaucous green. 

 Whorl 4-cleft, rarely bifid, still more rarely 5-cleft. Bracts heart- 

 shaped, entire, tapering. Lobes of the involucre lunate, 2-horned ; the 

 horns dilated and obtuse. Ovaries convex at the back, with a deep 

 longitudinal furrow, even, smooth. Seeds obovate, truncate at the 

 base, rough, brown, not shining. This plant, the Cataputia minor of old 

 Pharmacopoeias, has drastic seeds ; country labourers are said to take 1 

 as a purge, and women several to procure abortion. Bark of the root 

 and stems reduced to powder are cathartic and emetic. It was one of 

 the plants directed by Charlemagne, in his Capitularies, to be grown in 

 every garden; no doubt as the most ready purge then to be procured. 



403. E. EsulaLinn. sp.pl 660. E. Bot. t. 1399. Roper, 

 euph. 64. Various parts of Europe, in woods. 



Perennial. Leaves membranous, lanceolate, sessile, bluntish, muri- 

 cate, entire, or with a few roughish teeth towards the point, smooth. 

 Flowering branches either arranged under the whorl, in a sort of mul- 

 tifid false umbel, or occasionally in a 5-cleft whorl. Lobes of the 

 involucre lunate, somewhat 2-horned. Ovaria convex, smooth, and 

 round, with dots at the back. Seeds obovate, smooth, greyish brown, 

 not shining. A dangerous poison. A woman is stated by Scopoli to 

 have died half an hour after swallowing 30 grains of the root. 



404. E. Cyparissias Linn. sp. pi 661. E. Bot. t. 840. 

 Various parts of Europe in thickets and barren places. 



Perennial. Leaves membranous, stiff, linear, sessile, obtuse, or rather 

 pointed, entire, smooth. Flowering branches either arranged under the 

 whorl, in a sort of multifid false umbel, or occasionally in a 5-cleft whorl. 

 Lobes of the involucre lunate, somewhat 2-horned. Ovaria smooth, 

 convex at the back, roughish, with dots. Seeds obovate, smooth, 

 greyish-brown or whitish, not shining. A virulent poison. A woman 

 is said to have died in half an hour after taking a dose of the root ; 

 and in other cases the skin of the face has peeled off in consequence 

 of its use. Nevertheless, the powder of the root in doses of 6-20 

 grains, or even from a scruple to a drachm, has been given without bad 

 consequences. 



405. E. thymifolia Linn, sp.pl 651. Forsk. p. 94. Willd. 

 ii. 898. (Pluk. t. 113. f. 2. Burm. Zeyl t. 105. f. 3.) 

 Gravelly places all over India. 



A little annual plant. Branches quite prostrate, hairy, coloured red. 

 Leaves small, opposite, oblique, ovate, serrate. Flowers axillary, 

 crowded, on short stalks. Lobes of the involucre white and red, 

 crenulated. Juice made into a paste with wheat-flour, and formed 

 into pills, is a violent purgative in doses of 5 pills. The fresh plant 



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