EUPHORBIACEX. 161 



Moreover, if we take account of the number of species proper to 

 America for the genera it has in common with the okl world, we 

 calculate that it possesses altogether eighteen hundred and twenty- 

 two species of Enphorhiacece^ the four hundi'ed and fifty others 

 belonging to the old world. Everywhere, moreover, we find the 

 species are not in great number except in the warmest regions, 

 there being no exception but the genus EupJwrbia. The family of 

 Euphorbiacece represents very nearly, according to most calculations, 

 the fortieth part of the Plianerogamia^ distributed over the globe. 

 Eiu'ope is the poorest in genera of the five parts of the world, only 

 possessing five (besides the CalUtriche), and even three of these, 

 Tournesoliuj JndracJme, and Securinega, are only represented by a 

 single species, and the genus Mercurialk by four or five. The Aus- 

 tralian genera are fi-equently remarkable for a peculiar aspect and 

 foliage ; by their linear ericoid leaves, answering to the embryo with 

 narrow and semi-cylindrical cotyledons ; to this country belong all 

 the genera with " stenolobate " embryos. There are besides in this 

 group, as in many others, a certain number of ubiquitous plants 

 which have followed man in his migrations, either on account of their 

 utility, or because the seeds are mixed with those of the crops. Such 

 are Euphorbia Latliyris^ Peplus^ HeUoscopia, oiu* annual Mei'curialis, 

 and, in warm countries only, for they cannot support a rigorous 

 climate, several species of PlniUanthm and Acalgpha, Avhich, like 

 certain species of Urtica, have become what are called, not without 

 reason, " the bad herbs of tropical regions ".' 



The most active Euphorbiacete owe their properties " to the latex 

 or to the oily and resinous substances contained in the seeds.^ 

 Amongst these last, must princi2:)ally be mentioned Euphorbia, 

 Ricinus, Jatropha, and Piijnon cV Inde (Fr.) The ancients fre- 

 quently employed, as evacuants, the seeds of Euphorbia Lafhgris'^ 



' On the questions of detail touching the PI. Diaphur. 807-841, 1154. 



geographical distribution, sec Endl. Enclnrid. ^ These seeds are, in the useful species, pro- 



689. — LiNDi,. T%. Kinijd. 276. — H. Bn. Et. vided with albumen and an embryo. The 



Gill. Euphorbiac. 242. — A. DC. Geogr. Bot. opinion (which must be abandoned), was for- 



iiaw. 328, 685, 700, 707, 753, 759, 1045, 1281, merly everywhere professed that the principles 



etc. contained in the latter are completely difterent 



* Endl. Enchirid. 590. — LiXDL. Vrj. Kiiigd. from those of the others, more acrid, more veno. 



276. — A. Ji'SS. Euiihnrb. 73. — Glib. Drog. mous. 



Simpl. ed. 6, ii. 336-368.— Peheira, Ehm. * EuphorhUt Lalliijris L. Spec. 655.— DC. 



Mat. Med. ed. 4, ii. p. i. 399.— Rosenth. Sgii. F(. Fr. iii. 333.— Gben. et Godk. Fl. de Fr 



VOL. v. T 



