E UPHOHBIA OEM. 



Plii/llaiiihm {Xylopliylla) uiignstifoliua. 



or four shells, is eaj)Siilar, with a siiberovis mesocarp. The leaves 

 are opposite or verticillate. lu the species of Daj)hinphyUum, 

 trees and shrubs from the warm regions of Asia, Oceania, and Africa, 

 doubtfully ascribed to this family, the stamens are inserted close to 

 the centre of the flower, where, in an indefinite number, they form 

 an uinbelliform verticil. Their fruit is fleshy and indéhiscent, and 

 the seed encloses an embryo shorter than is usual in the Eiiphorbi- 

 acece. 



The species of PJuillanthm (fig. 248-253), which give their 

 name to this series constitute the 

 oldest and most completely studied 

 genus. Formerly nearly the 

 whole of the biovular Euphorhiaceœ 

 observed in tropical countries were 

 ascribed to it. The flowers, gene- 

 rally monoecious, more rarely 

 dioecious, and always small in size, 

 have usuallj^ only three stamens, 

 more rarely four or five, and but 

 very rarely a larger number, al- 

 ways with central insertion. The 

 lierianth has generally from four 

 to six imbricated sepals, with a 

 like number of alternate glands. 

 The fruit is capsular, rarely more 

 or less fleshy, with ex-carunculate 

 seeds, anatropous or descendent, 

 or sometimes almost completely 

 orthotropous and ascendent, but 

 always directing theii" microj^yle, 

 which in the ovule was capped by 



a cellular obturator, towards the ^^'°- ^^^^ Floriferous branch. Kg. 250. Female 

 ' flower (i). 



orgamc summit of the cell. The 



exterior seminal coat may be thickened for the whole of its length. 

 Nothing is so variable as the organization of the audi-oceum, the 

 extrorse anthers having the base directed downwards, and the fila- 

 ments being incertain cases completely free (fig. 251). They may 

 be short, oblique, or nearly transverse, or well straightened, elon- 



