1142 EUPHORBIA. [CLASS XXI. ORDER E 
smooth; umbel of about three principal branches, bifid; glands 
lunate, with very long horns; bracteas ovate; capsules sub globose, 
three lobed, each lobe with a double winged keel, and roughish ; 
seeds obovate, cylindrical, longitudinally furrowed and pitted, greyish 
white. 
English Botany, t. 959.—English Flora, vol. iv. p. 60.—Hooker, 
fioot fibrous, the whole plant smooth, light green. Stem erect, 
about a foot high, simple, or mostly branched at the base. Leaves 
scattered, few, cutire, of a membranous texture, obovate, petiolated, 
smooth, the lower ones more orbicular, often notched at the apex. 
Umbel of three principal branches, spreading, bifid, and often from 
the axis of the upper leaves are slender peduncles. Bractea ovate, 
heart-shaped, acute, sessile. Involucre bell-shaped, smooth, with four 
lunate glands, with long awl-shaped horns. Capsule sub-globose, 
three lobed, with a double winged membranous keel, somewhat 
warted, smooth, each cell with a single seed, of a greyish white 
eolour, marked with two longitudinal furrows, and deeply pitted. 
Habitat—W aste and cultivated grounds; very common. 
Annual; flowering in July and August. 
The seeds of this plant are said to be occasionally used when other 
cathartics have failed, to produce the effect. The dose is from twelve 
to fifteen grains. It requires, however, great caution in its use, the 
effects of ten being so drastic, as to produce a continued fluid discharge 
from the bowels, greatly weakening, and often troublesome to stop. 
d. Seeds rugose, leaves apposite. 
14. H. Lathy'ris, Linn. (Fig. 1373) Caper Spurge. Leaves some- 
what leathery, opposite, linear oblong, sessile, entire, or cordate at 
the base ; umbel of three or four principal branches, repeatedly bifid ; 
glands lunate, two horned; bracteas oblong, ovate, acute ; capsules 
with a longitudinal furrow, smooth ; seeds obovate, truncate, rugose, 
brown. 
English Botany, t. 2255.—English Flora, vol. iv. p. 61.—Hooker, 
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 828.—Lindley, Synopsis, p. 222. 
Root of strong fibres. Stem erect, solitary, hollow, stout, purplish, 
with a glaucous hue, from two to three feet high, leafy. Leaves of a 
dark glaucous green, paler beneath, and quite smooth, opposite, from 
three to four inches long, linear, oblong, with a stout mid-ib, all 
sessile, the upper ones lobed in a heart-shaped manner at the base. 
Umbel of about four principal branches, repeatedly forked, and from 
the axis of the upper leaves arise branches, bearing small umbels. 
Bractea oblong, ovate, acutely pointed, and similar in texture and 
colour to the leaves. Jnvolucre obtusely bell-shaped, with four 
lanate glands, more or less obtusely horned, elevated on broad stalks 
Capsule sub-globose, three lobed, each lobe with a longitudina 
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