A ristolochiacee. 399 
reniform leaves and small solitary pedunculate lurid-purple 
flowers. Perianth regular, campanulate, trilobate. Stamens 12. 
Capsule bursting irregularly. 
The Piperacee or- Pepper Order contains upwards of 500 
species, but, with the exception of a Japanese species, none 
will flourish in the open air in this country. They are erect 
shrubs, or trees, or herbs with jointed stems, usually alternate 
simple-nerved leaves, and spicate inconspicuous flowers and 
l1-seeded berries. 
Piper Futokadsivra is the Japanese species alluded to above. 
It is a deciduous shrub or tree with slender branches, ovate- 
lanceolate acuminate entire glabrous leaves, and bright red 
fruits. 
Orvrr C.—KUPHORBIACE. 
Taken in its entirety this is a very large order, and many of 
the tropical genera have a distinct calyx and corolla; but the 
following diagnosis includes only those genera coming within 
our province. Herbs with a milky juice, or shrubs, or trees. 
Leaves alternate or opposite, simple. Flowers inconspicuous, 
unisexual, often involucrate. Perianth none, or 2- to 5-lobed. 
Stamens 1 or more, sometimes very numerous. Fruit capsular, 
2- or 3-celled; cells 1- or 2-seeded; seeds pendulous, albu- 
minous. i 
1. BUPHORBIA. 
The hardy species are annual or perennial herbs, often 
woody at the base. Leaves opposite or scattered. Inflorescence 
terminal, umbellate or panicled. Flowers involucrate, several 
male and one female in each head. Perianth none, but re- 
presented by the involucral lobes, the latter having thick often 
viscid glands in the sinuses. Male flower consisting of a 
solitary stamen on a jointed stalk. Female flower naked, on 
an elongating stalk; capsule 3-lobed, 3-celled, each cell 
containing a solitary pendulous seed. This is a vast genus, 
comprising 700 species of widely different habit and aspect, 
occurring in all regions except the coldest. The name is the 
game applied by the ancient Greeks to some of the species. 
1. E. Lathyris. Caper Spurge-—A biennial 3 to 4 feet 
high with opposite glabrous and glaucous sessile lanceolate- 
oblong acute leaves rounded or cordate at the base. Umbels 
3- or 4-rayed; involucral bracts large, cordate. Capsule 
