EUPHORBIACEZ. 109 
SPECIES X1I—EUPHORBIA PARALIAS. Lin. 
Pirate MCCLXIMII. 
Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ. et Helv. Vol. V. Tab. CXLY. Fig. 4789. 
Billot, Fl. Gall. et Germ. Exsice. No. 845. 
Tithymalus maritimus, Lam. Fl. Fr. Vol. II. p. 90. 
Rootstock woody, branched at the top, not creeping. Stems erect 
or ascending, some short and barren, others longer and flowering ; the 
latter simple or with short barren branches below, and sometimes a few 
very short flowering ones below the umbel. Leaves scattered, crowded, 
imbricated at the base of the flowering stems, sessile, oblong or lanceo- 
late-oblong, entire, subobtuse; the upper ones broader. Umbel-rays 5, 
rarely 3, 4, 6, or 7, once or twice 2-furcate. Bracts roundish-deltoid, 
subcordate, obtuse, apiculate, not connate. Involucral glands lunate, 
with short diverging cusps. Capsule globular, 3-lobed; cocca rounded 
on the back, with 2 broad bands of wrinkles, one of which is on each 
side of the faint dorsal furrow. Seeds broadly ovate-ovoid, slightly 
roughened with minute points, dim ashy-white, with a very minute 
roundish-reniform caruncule. Plant glabrous; leaves thick, leathery- 
fleshy, very glaucous. 
On sands by the sea. Rather common in the south and west of 
England, extending from Hants to Cumberland and the Isle of Man. 
Rare on the east coast, where it does not occur north of Suffolk. Local 
in Ireland, but widely distributed round the coast of that island. 
England, Ireland. Perennial. Summer, Autumn. 
Rootstock woody, buried among the loose sand; in old plants pro- 
ducing a number of stems from the point where it emerges from the 
ground; many of these stems are barren, and do not flower until the 
succeeding season. Fertile stems 9 to 18 inches long, rather thick, 
very densely leafy. Leaves } to 1 inch long, concave above, convex 
beneath, spreading on the barren branches and upper part of the fertile 
stems, but adpressed at the base of the latter, and on the whole plant 
when it has been gathered for a short time; upper leaves, especially 
those at the base of the umbel-rays, broader than the others. Umbel- 
rays short, thick, usually not above 1 or 2 inches long, but in very 
luxuriant plants sometimes as much as 4 inches. Bracts } to 3 inch 
across the pair. Involucral glands often denticulate between the cusps. 
Capsule } inch long. Seeds very minutely dotted all over; caruncule 
small and very deciduous. Plant pale glaucous green, becoming 
whitish when dry; the lower part of the stem and leaves frequently 
tinged with red. 
Sea Spurge. 
French, Huphorbe maritime. 
