E UniORBIA CE2E. 



107 



Eiiphnrhia fidgcns. 



Fijj. 1.31. Flower. (=). 



bundles of tongues, having no other connection with the filaments. 

 The gyu;Bceum,i supported by the central column of the receptacle, 

 generally recurved outwardly at a certain age, is formed of an ovary 

 with three cells (two of which are posterior), surmounted by 

 a style Avith three branches, the summit, 

 generally bifid, being furnished within or 

 laterally with stigmatic papilla?. In the 

 inner angle of each cell is seen an axile pla- 

 centa, supporting an anatropous descen- 

 dent ovule, with ventral raphe, and superior 

 exterior micropyle,* the exostome thickening 

 more or less, and being capped by an obtura- 

 tor, a mass of variable form springing from the 

 placenta like a second ovule superposed to the 



first. Under the ovary is pretty frequently produced a hypogynous 

 disk, entire or more or less distinctly 3-C lobed. The fruit is a three- 

 • shelled capsule, whose pericarp, of variable thickness, sometimes more 

 or less fleshy at fij'st in the interior layers, finally becomes dry and 

 opens elastieally, at the same time separating 



,. ,1 til 11 ii I'l i 1 Eitphorhia rluhosa. 



irom the central columella, on the dilated sum- 

 mit of Avhieh the seeds are inserted. The 

 dehiscence is generally septicidal then loculi- 

 cidal ; and the seeds, furnished outwardly 

 with a fleshy arillate tunic through their 

 M'hole length, or ofteucr only in the neigh- 

 boiu'hoodof the micropyle,'' contain under their 

 coats "■ an abundant albumen, fleshy and oily, 

 surrdundiiig an embryo with superior radicle 

 and linear cotyledons more or less oval. 



The genus Euphorhki, which belongs to all parts of the globe, and 

 which, according to the most recent calculations, contains about 

 seven hundred species,^ woody or herbaceous, sometimes fleshy and 



].32. Flower (^). 



' It sometimes aliovts. 



- W'itli double coat. 



' It comes from a thickening of the super- 

 ficial coat situated more or less near to the 

 micropylc. 



■" As in most of the F.uphi.rhiric-<e, three arc 

 di.-tinguishcd ; Iho interior placed immediately 

 round thC albumen white and membranou.i ; the 

 middle one testaceous, hard,thiek,often breakini^, 

 dusky in colour, uniform f>r spotted with colour ; 



the exterior, generally thin, soft, then often dry 

 at maturity, ea.sily removed, formed of cellules 

 and bundles of tracheae. These latter penetrating 

 into the interior of the seed by a peculiar chala- 

 zic orifice pierced in the testa, are carried to a 

 more or less elevated ehalazic cup, forming 

 there an interior ch.annel which extends to a 

 vnr}' variable height. 



■' Kl. et Gkckk. Trinicc. — Boiss. rnrli-. lie. 



