282 A FLORA OF MANILA 



acuminate, entire, 1.5 to 5 cm long. Inflorescence from the uppermost 

 axils, peduncled, forked or twice forked, each peduncle with 2 to 4 involu- 

 cres, each involucre with 2, spreading, red, reniform lobes about 8 mm 

 long and 10 to 12 mm wide. (Fl. Filip. pi. 167, left hand figure.) 



Not uncommon in cultivation, fl. all the year. A native of Madagascar, 

 now widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. 



3.^E. TIRUCALLI L. Consuelda (Sp.-Fil.). 



An erect, glabrous, unarmed shrub or small tree 2 to 5 m high, the 

 branches green, somewhat fleshy, cylindric, clustered or scattered, tho 

 ultimate ones about 5 mm thick. Leaves none, or few and scattered, linear- 

 oblong, 1 cm long or less. Involucres shortly pedicelled, clustered in the 

 forks of the smaller branches, small, turbinate. (Fl. Filip. pi. ZIO.) 



In thickets and hedges, Malabon; of rather wide distribution in the 

 Philippines, but certainly introduced. A native of Africa, now naturalized 

 in many parts of India. 



4. E. HETEROPHYLLA L. Painted Leaf. 



An erect, branched, glabrous or nearly glabrous, suffrutescent herb or 

 shrubby plant 0.5 to 1.5 m high. Leaves alternate, very variable, mostly 

 oblong-ovate, acute, 3 to 10 cm long, the lower ones usually entire, the 

 upper ones variously lobed, sinuate, dentate, or subentire, the uppermost 

 ones often blotched with red at the base, similar to the bracts. Bracts 

 leaf-like, but much smaller than the leaves, the lower part red, the upper 

 part green. Involucres clustered at the ends of the branches, about 3 

 mm long, green, one sinus bearing an unappendaged gland. Capsules 

 nodding, about 5 mm wide. 



Frequently cultivated for ornamental purposes, also spontaneous in 

 vacant lots, etc., fl. all the year. A native of temperate and tropical 

 America, of comparatively recent introduction here. 



*5. E. puiCHERRiMA Willd. Pascuas (Sp.-Fil.) ; Poinsettia. 



An erect, sparingly and laxly branched shrub 2 to 4 m high.' Leaves 

 elliptic to oblong-elliptic or the upper ones lanceolate, acute or acuminate, 

 10 to 18 cm long, the lower ones all green, obscurely repand or slightly 

 lobed, long-petioled, slightly pubescent beneath, the upper ones, at time of 

 flowering, uniformly bright-red. Inflorescence terminal. Involucres ovoid, 

 about 1 cm long, the margins toothed, each with one or two large, yellow 

 glands. Flowers crowded, red. (Fl. Filip. pi. 167, right hand figure.) 



Cultivated for ornamental purposes, fl. Oct.-Feb., very showy at time of 

 flowering, the upper leaves then being bright-red. A native of tropical 

 America, now cultivated in most tropical and subtropical countries. 



6. E. serrulata Reinw. 



A slender, erect, glabrous, simple or branched, somewhat suffrutescent 

 and wiry plant 25 to 70 cm high, the stems terete. Leaves opposite, linear 

 to oblong-linear, 1.5 to 6 cm long, obtuse or apiculate, base rounded, mar- 

 gins remotely serrulate. Cymes small, axillary and terminal, the heads 

 small, pedicelled, 5 to 9 in each cyme, the involucre purplish, ovoid, 

 nearly 2 mm long, each with about 4, white, petal-like, orbicular or reniform 

 appendages, 1 to 1.5 mm wide. Styles short, bifid. Capsules ovoid, about 

 2 mm long. 



In open grass lands, Calooean to San Pedro Macati, fl. Aug.-Dec; widely 

 distributed in the Philippines. Southern China and Formosa to 'celebes 

 and Timor. 



