124 EUPHORBIACEAE 



calyx and 8-16 stamens. Fertile flowers of a 3-5-parted calyx and a 

 3-celled, 3-ovuled capsule. 



Sterile spike shorter than fruiting bract. 1. A. Virginica. 



Sterile spike surpassing fruiting bract. 2. A. gracilens. 



1. A. Virginica L. l-2 high, not glandular : leaves ovate-oblong, 

 lonaj-petioled, serrate. Common in rich woods throughout. August- 

 October. 



2. A. gracilens A. Gray. Rather smaller, often very glandular: leaves 

 lanceolate to linear-oblong, short-petioled, sparingly toothed. Common 

 in dry ground. August-October. 



3. TRAGIA L. 



Herbs with monoecious spicate-racemose flowers. Staminate flowers 

 with a 3-5-parted calyx and 2-5 stamens. Pistillate flowers with a usu- 

 ally 5-parted calyx. Capsule 3-seeded. 



1. T. ramosa Torr. STINGING SPURGE. Erect spreading, 1 high 

 leaves ovate-lanceolate, sharply serrate, cordate at base : calyx of stami- 

 nate flowers 4-5-parted and stamens 4-5. Locally abundant in a barren 

 east of Martin City. June-September. 



4. RICINUS L. 



Glabrous annuals with peltate, palmately many-cleft leaves and mon- 

 oecious flowers in terminal clusters. Staminate flowers with a 3-5-parted 

 calyx and many branching stamens. Pistillate calyx 3-5-parted, the 

 ovary 3-celled and 3-ovuled. 



1. R. communis L. CASTOR BEAN. G'-IS high : leaves 3'-2 

 broad. Rarely escaped along railroads at Kansas City and occasionally 

 found around old -houses near Independence in a depauperate form. 

 July-October. 



5. EUPHORBIA L. SPURGE. 



Flowers borne in a cup-shaped, 4-5-lobed involucre with glands in the 

 sinuses. Sterile flowers numerous, lining the inside of the involucre and 

 composed of one stamen with a small bract at base. Fertile flower soli- 

 tary, consisting of a three-lobed, at length long-stalked 3-ovuled ovary. 

 Styles three, 2-cleft. 



Glands of involucre with petal-like appendages. 

 Leaves opposite and entire. 



Leaves linear. 1. E. NuttallU. 



Leaves orbicular-ovate. 2. 'E. serpens. 



Leaves opposite and serrulate. 



Plants densely hairy. 3. E. maculata. 



Plants glabrous or nearly so. 



Leaves 1 -nerved. 4. E. glyptosperma. 



Leaves strongly 3-nerved. 5. E. nutans. 



Lower leaves alternate ; upper verticillate. 



Bracts green. 6. E. corollata. 



Bracts white, large. 7. E. marginata. 



