400 Euphorbraccw—Luphoroia. 
smooth. A native of the South of Europe, and naturalised in 
some parts of Britain. 
2. &. Cyparissias.—This is a dwarfer denser perennial 
species with sessile glaucous linear entire leaves and many- 
rayed terminal umbels. Bracts cordate, obtuse. Capsule 
granulate. A European species occurring as an introduced 
plant in Britain. 
E. amygdaloides is the tall perennial species so abundant in 
copses in the South of England; and L. Helioscépia is the 
common annual species. 
2. RICINUS. 
Small trees or herbs with stout succulent jointed stems 
and alternate palmately-lobed dentate leaves on long petioles, 
bearing a saucer-shaped gland at the junction of the petiole 
and blade. Flowers monecious, in terminal spikes. Perianth 
3- to 5-parted. Male flowers having numerous stamens in 
separated bundles. Fruit capsular, prickly, 3-celled, 3-seeded. 
Seeds oval-oblong, having a spongy excrescence at one end, 
mottled grey and brown. The species are natives of India and 
Africa, though they are now widely dispersed in warm countries. 
The name is the Latin riciwus, a tick, from the resemblance of 
the seeds to that insect. 
1. 2. commiimis. Palma-Christi, Castor-oil Plant.—Though 
perennial, and attaining the dimensions of a small tree in warm 
climates, this is treated as an annual with us. As such it 
grows from 4 to 6 feet or more high, bearing large handsome 
peltate palmately-lobed leaves. There are several varieties, 
differing in the colour of the stems, leaves, and flowers. 
R. c. major is a tall variety 6 to 8 feet high with glaucous 
fistular stems slightly tinged with purple, and very large 
acutcly lobed leaves. R. ¢. minor is about half the stature of 
the last, with similar but smaller foliage. R. c. sanguineus isa 
handsome tall variety with brownish red stems, petioles, and 
flowers. The immense leaves are otherwise green, not glau- 
cous. 
R. Africtnus is a distinct species with a branching head and 
much smaller usually 5-lobed leaves, and 6 distinct stigmas 
instead of 3 forked ones. 
These are very showy and handsome foliage plants either 
singly or in groups. 
