ETJPHORBIAOEJE. - 175 



of Actephila grandi/olia ^ and Moreana.^ On all the tropical shores of 

 Asia and Oceania grows Excceearia Agallocha (fig. 204-206), this 

 tree is most poisonous, 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 odoTjr 

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

 it was formerly often sent to Europe as true Eagle-wood or Jgallochum. 

 The Manchineel has a moderately hard wood, taking a beautiful 

 polish; it makes handsome furniture. That of Hura crepitans, 

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

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

 plant is used for hedge rows in the Antilles. ^ The cactiform species 

 of Euphorbia are often excellent for this purpose, on account of their 

 numerous thorns. E. neriifolia is thus employed in Cochin-China ; 

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

 the AntiUeSj are difficult to break through on account of the caustic 

 juice it exudes. The apetalous species oi Jatropha of the section 

 Cnidoscolus^ are terrible for another reason. The burning hairs 

 that cover them enter the skin and cause terrible pain, Platygyne 

 urens ^ and Tragia volubilis,^ pungens^ and involucrata^ also have urticate 

 hairs, which render them formidable. There are few ornamental 

 Euphorhiacece. The cactiform species are sought for by admirers of 

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

 The variegated species of Codimum, 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 our 

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



sonia,ym. 263 ; Configw.... Veg. Semi. p. ii. 63, culata P. Beatjt. Fl. Ow. etBen. i. 90, t. 54.— 



t. 11. {Canella devecido.).- T. difusa Ysh-LOB. Fl. Flum. x. t. 10.— T. mo- 



1 H. Bsr. in Adansonia, vi. 330, 360, t. 10.— nmdra H. Bn. [Liane brulante). Its juice, with 

 Lithoxyhn grtmdifoUum M. Arg. Prodr. 232. marine Bait, is used in America to treat ulcers, 



2 H. Bn. loo. cit. 330, 366. tte yaw, etc. 



•■ L. 8i/st. ii. n. 38.— Boiss. Prodr. n. 116.— 7 M. Aug. Prodr. 941.— T. eordata Vahl, 



E. myrtifolla. L. Spec. n. iO.—E. emarginata Symb. i. 176.— W. Spec. iv. Zi^i.— Jatropha 



Lamk. Diet. ii. 426. pungens Eorsk. Jlg.-Ar. 163. 



* Particularly J. wrens L. (7. stimulosa s'j^cq. Ic. Sar. t. 198.— Boj. Sort. Maur. 



MiOHx.), hamosa M. Arq. {Cnidoscolus hamosus 286.~Schorigeram Eheedb, Bort. Malab. ii. 72, 



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



fruits also bristle with very formidahle hairs. a remedy to these affected with syphilitic 



Many have, however, napiform and edible cachexy. 



tubercles. . 9 Certain species of EuphorUa and Acalypha, 



See p. 215, note 4. ^ith variegated foliage are also sought for. 



« L. ^ec. 980.— Sw. Oil. 363.— 2*. peikm- 



