400 Euphorbiacece Euphorbia. 



smooth. A native of the South of Europe, and naturalised in 

 some parts of Britain. 



2. E. Cyparissias. This is a dwarfer denser perennial 

 species with sessile glaucous linear entire leaves and many- 

 rayed terminal umbels. Bracts cordate, obtuse. Capsule 

 granulate. A European species occurring as an introduced 

 plant in Britain. . V ; 



E. amygdaloides is the tall perennial species so abundant in 

 copses in the South of England ; and E. Helioscopia is the 

 common annual species. 



2. RlCINUS. 



Small trees or herbs with stout succulent jointed stems 

 and alternate palmately-lobed dentate leaves on long petioles, 

 bearing a saucer-shaped gland at the junction of the petiole 

 and blade. Flowers monoecious, in terminal spikes. Perianth 

 3- to 5-parted. Male flowers having numerous stamens in 

 separated bundles. Fruit capsular, prickly, 3-celled, 3-seeded. 

 Seeds oval -oblong, having a spongy excrescence at one end, 

 mottled grey and brown. The species are natives of India and 

 Africa, though they are now widely dispersed in warm countries. 

 The name is the Latin ricitt,us, a tick, from the resemblance of 

 the seeds to that insect. 



1. R. communis. Palma-Christi, Castor-oil Plant. Though 

 perennial, and attaining the dimensions of a small tree in warm 

 climates, this is treated as an annual with us. As such it 

 grows from 4 to 6 feet or more high, bearing large handsome 

 peltate palmately-lobed leaves. There are several varieties, 

 differing in the colour of the stems, leaves, and flowers. 

 R. c. major is a tall variety 6 to 8 feet high with glaucous 

 fistular stems slightly tinged with purple, and very large 

 acutely lobed leaves. R. c. minor is about half the stature of 

 the last, with similar but smaller foliage. R. c. sanguineus is a 

 handsome tall variety with brownish red stems, petioles, and 

 flowers. The immense leaves are otherwise green, not glau- 

 cous. 



R. Africanus is a distinct species with a branching head and 

 much smaller usually 5-lobed leaves, and 6 distinct stigmas 

 instead of 3 forked ones. 



These are very showy and handsome foliage plants either 

 singly or in groups. 



