460 



EUPHORBIACEAE. 



Vol. II. 



4. Tragia macrocarpa Willd. Twining or 

 Large-fruited Tragia. Fig. 2727. 



Tragia cordata Michx. FI. Bor. Am. 2: 176. 1803. Not 

 Vahl. 1790. 



Tragia macrocarpa Willd. Sp. PI. 4: 323. 1806. 



Perennial, twining, slightly hirsute. Stem slender, 

 io'-4J° long, branched ; leaves ovate, 2'-4i' long, deeply 

 cordate, coarsely dentate-serrate, long-acuminate; pe- 

 tioles mostly shorter than the blades, staminate flowers 

 with a 3-lobed calyx and 3 stamens ; pistillate flowers 

 several at the bases of the spikes, short-pedicelled, the 

 calyx 5-lobed ; capsule depressed, 6"-8" in diameter; 

 seeds subglobose, 2!" long, smooth, variegated. 



In dry or rocky soil, Kentucky to Missouri, Florida and 

 Texas. lune-Sept. 



8. MERCURIALIS [Tourn.] L. Sp. PI. 1035. 1752. 



Annual or perennial herbs or shrubby plants, with firm or siicculent tissues. Leaves 

 opposite, entire or often toothed. Flowers mostly dioecious, apetalous. Staminate flowers 

 in more or less elongated spikes or racemes, the calyx membranous, of 3 valvate sepals; 

 stamens 8-20; filaments distinct; anthers opening lengthwise. Pistillate flowers with a calyx 

 of 3 sepals, the ovary 2-celled ; styles 2, distinct or nearly so ; stigmas entire ; ovules solitary 

 in each caA'ity. Capsule usually 2-lobed. Seed solitary in each cavity, with a smooth or tuber- 

 culate crustaceous testa. [Latin, belonging to the god Mercury.] 



About 7 species, mostly natives of the Mediterranean region. Type species : Mercnrialis 

 perennis L. 



I. Mercurialis annua L. Herb jMercury. 

 Fig. 2728. 



Mercurialis annua L. Sp. i^i. lOjo. 17.^3. 



Annual, glabrous. Stems 8'-2° tall, more or less 

 widely branched; leaves thinnish, ovate to lanceo- 

 late, acute or slightly acuminate, serrate with rounded 

 teeth, or crenate; petioles 2\"-yV long; staminate 

 flowers in interrupted spikes which surpass the 

 leaves; pistillate flowers clustered in the axils; cap- 

 sules 2-lobed, 2"-2V' broad, hispid; seeds subglobose, 

 i" in diameter, pitted. 



In waste places, Nova Scotia to Florida, Ohio and 

 Texas ; Bermuda. Native of Europe and Africa. 



9. RICINUS [Tourn.] L. Sp. PI. 1007. 1753. 



A tall stout monoecious herb, glabrous and glaucous, with alternate large peltate pal- 

 mately-lobed petioled leaves, and numerous small apetalous greenish flowers in terminal 

 racemes, the pistillate above the staminate. Staminate flovi'ers with a 3-5-parted calyx, the 

 segments valvate, and numerous crowded stamens; filaments repeatedly branched. Pistillate 

 flowers' with a caducous calyx, a 3-celled, 3-ovuled ovary, the 3 red styles united at the base, 

 2-cleft. Capsule subglobose, or oval, smooth or spiny, separating into 3 2-valved carpels. 

 Seeds ovoid or oblong, usually mottled. Embryo straight. Endosperm fleshy and oily. [The 

 Latin name of the plant.] 



A monotypic genus of the warmer parts of Africa and Asia, 



