EDPHORBTACE^. 175 



of Jclcjjhila yraudi/olia ^ and J\[oicanar Ou all the tropical shores of 

 Asia and Oceania grows Exccvcaiia Agallvcha (fig. 204-20G), this 

 tree is most i)oisonoiis, it yields the false Aloe-wood or Calambac of 

 commerce. It is reddish brown, marbled grey or black, hard, heavy, 

 fragile, unctuous or resinous, very bitter, aromatic, with the odour 

 of myrrh or anime. It burns easily, giving out an agreeable perfume ; 

 it was formerly often sent to Europe as true Eagle-wood or Jf/alloclium. 

 The Mauchineel has a moderately hard wood, taking a beautiful 

 polish; it makes handsome furniture. That of Htira crepitans^ 

 softer, is used to form joists. That of Jairopha Curcas is soft, easily 

 decaying ; palisades are however made of it in the Indies. The 

 plant is vised for hedge rows in the Antilles. The eactiform species 

 of Eiqjlioihia are often excellent for this purpose, on account of theii- 

 numerous thorns,. E. nerii folia is thus employed in Cochin- China ; 

 in India, E. Tirucalli. Hedges of E. myriiUifolia^ a species from 

 the Antilles, are difficult to break through on account of the caustic 

 juice it exudes. I^e apetalous species of Jatroplia of the section 

 Cnidoscolus '^ are terrible for another reason. The burning haii's 

 that cover them enter the skin and cause terrible pain. Plafjjyync 

 îwwïs^ and Traf/ia volubilis,^ pimgcns^ and inroliicrafa,^ also have lu-ticate 

 hairs, which render them formidable. There are few ornamental 

 Euphorbiaceœ. The eactiform species are sought for by admirers of 

 fleshy plants, and a large number are cultivated in our greenhouses. 

 The variegated species of CW/ceuui, used in Cochin- China to decorate 

 buildings on holidays, have produced in Europe a multitude of 

 varieties, the leaves spotted with yellow or red, which adorn om- 

 hothouses.^ The species of Euphorbia, with coloured bracts, are 



so,iia,vm. 263 ; Coiifgm:... Veg. Heeul. p. ii. G3, eniata P. Beauv. Fl. Ow. et Ben. i. 90, t. 54.— 



t. 11. [Cam-lla ikvmdo.): jn. ^/,j„s„ Vellos. Fl. Flmn. x. t. 10.— 7. mo- 



1 H. B.v. in Adansonia, vi. 330, 360, t. 10.- ,,„„ara H. B.v. {Liane brûlante). Its juice, with 



Ufhoxiihi, grandifoUum M. Arc. Prodi: 232. mariDe salt, is used in America to treat ulcers 



■^ H. Bn. loc. cit. 330, 366. tie jaw, etc. 



» L. S./xt. ii. n. 38.-BOISS. Prod,: n. 116.- 7 M. Arg. Prodr. 941.-T. cordata Vahl, 



E. mijrtifoha. L. Spec. n. 30.— £. emargimta gymi, j. 176,— W. Spec. iv. 322.—J„/rop/w 



Lamk. Diet. ii. 426. pwiffeiis Forsk. ^i/.-Ar. 163. 



< Particularly J. wens L. (/. stimulosa 8 j^^q. Ic. Par. t. 198.— Boj. Rnrt Matir 



MiCHX.), hamosa M. Arg. {Cmdoscolus hmnoms 2S6.-Sc/iorigeram Eheede, Sort. Malab. ii. 72, 



Pohl), vitifoUa Mill, horrida M. Arg. whose t. 39. In India this species is often given as 



fruits also bristle with very formidable hairs. a remedy to these affected with syphiUtic 



Many have, however, napiform and edible cachexy 



*"s^q'^^^^' ' Certain species of Euphorbia and Acalypha, 



■ , °^^ p. 215, note 4. ^.^^ variegated foliage are also sought for. 



6 L. Spec. 980.— Sw. Obs. 3Ô3.—T. pedu»- o e, 6 



