EUPHORBIACEj;. 



107 



Eiiphnrbia fidgc, 



Fig. 1.51. Flower, (j). 



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

 The gynœceum,! 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 with three branches, the summit, 

 generally bifid, being furnished within or 

 laterally with stigmatic papillte. In the 

 inner angle of each cell is seen an axilc pla- 

 centa, supporting an auatropous 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-f« lobed. The fruit is a thi-ce- 

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

 or less fleshy at first in the interior layers, finally becomes dry and 

 opens elastically, at the same time separating 

 from the central columella, on the dilated sum- 

 mit of which the seeds are inserted. 'J'he 

 dehiscence is generally septicidal then locnli- 

 cidal ; and the seeds, furnished outwardly 

 with a fleshy arillate tunic through their 

 whole length, or oftener only in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the micropyle,'^ contain under their 

 coats ■• an abundant albumen, fleshy and oily, 

 surrounding an embryo with superior radicle 

 and linear cotyledons more or less oval. 



The genus Euphorbia, 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 



2. Hower [\). 



1 It sometimes aborts. 



' With double coat. 



3 It comes from a thickening of the super- 

 ficial coat situated more or less near to the 

 micropyle. 



■* As in most of the Euphoyliaet-œ, three are 

 di.-tinguished : the interior placed immediately 

 round the albumen white and membranous ; the 

 middle one testaceous, hard,thiclc,often breaking, 

 dusky in colour, uniform or spotted with colour ; 



the exterior, generally thin, soft, then often dry 

 at maturity, easily 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 earned to a 

 more or less elevated chalazic cup, forming 

 there an interior channel which extends to a 

 very variable height. 



" Kl. et Grcke. Tricitec. — Bniss. PrurJr. he. 



