SPURGE FAMILY 



into at least three smaller clusters of white-margined leaves, these 

 surrounding a group of inconspicuous white flowers. The books 

 call this inflorescence a three-rayed umbel; often there are several 

 of these at the top of the stem. At the point where the three 

 umbel rays come together rises an erect 

 stem about an inch high bearing a single 

 flower group quite destitute of leafy bracts. 

 The involucral group looks like a four 

 or five petaled white corolla with four or 

 more stamens. A minute green cup is at- 

 tached at the base of each apparent petal 

 and the stamens come out from among a 

 cluster of greenish-white threads. These 

 Involucral Group of represent bracts and each stamen is re- 



Flowers; enlarged. , ,, j- i- i j , n 



Euphbrbia margifiiia garded as a distmct and separate flower. 

 There is one pistillate flower in the cen- 

 tre of each involucral group; this, likewise, is regarded as a 

 distinct and separate individual. 



It is rather curious that a plant native to the dry plains of the 

 West should in cultivation obtain the name of Snow-on-the- 

 Mountain. 



WHITE-FLOWERING SPURGE 



Euphdrbia coroUdta. 



A native Spurge, sparingly found in gardens, whose involucre cups 

 bear five conspicuous appendages imitating a five-cleft corolla. Grows 

 in gravelly and sandy soil from Massachusetts west and south. Peren- 

 nial by a long, stout rootstock. May-October. 



Stem. — Erect, two to three feet high, diffusely branching; juice milky. 

 Leaves. — Scattered, whorled or opposite, ovate, oblong to lanceolate, 

 varying greatly in size. 



Flowers. — White, each group closely imitating a perfect flower, but 

 really consisting of a single ovary on a long stem; three-celled and three- 

 seeded, crowned with three styles; and several staminate flowers consist- 

 ing each of a single stamen. Pistil and stamens are surrounded by a 

 cup-shaped involucre with five lobes each bearing a white appendage. 



272 



