258 MONOCHLAMYDE^ 



I. Euphorbia (Spurge) 



1. E. peplis (Purple Spurge).— Grows quite flat to the ground, 

 sending out several branches at right angles to the root, in a circular 

 manner, about 6 inches across. Smooth and glaucous, and of a 

 beautiful glaucous hue ; flower-heads small. Peculiar to the 

 sandy sea-shore in South Wales and south of England. — Fl. August, 

 September. Annual. 



2. E. helioscopia (Sun Spurge). — Umbel, of 5 rays, which are 

 often repeatedly forked ; leaves oblong, tapering towards the base, 

 serrated above ; capsule smooth. Varying in size from 6-12 

 inches in height, but easily distmguished by the golden-green hue 

 of its spreading umbel, which is large in proportion lo the size of 

 the plant, and has several serrated leaves at its base. Cultivated 

 ground ; abundant. — Fl. July, August. Annual. 



3. E. peplus (Petty Spurge). — A very common garden weed, 

 3-9 inches high, distinguished by its pale hue, its 3-rayed and forked 

 umbel of numerous flowers, the involucres of which are crescent- 

 shaped, with long horns. — Fl. summer. Cultivated ground. 

 Annual. 



4. /:'. exigua (Dwarf Spurge). — A slender species, from i or 

 2-8 inches high, with ascending stems and narrow, glaucous leaves. 

 Cultivated land ; common. — Fl. June to September. Annual. 



5. E. Lalhyris (Caper Spurge). — A tall, herbaceous species, 2-4 

 feet high, remarkable for the glaucous hue of its foliage, its heart- 

 shaped, taper-pointed brads, and very large capsules, which abound 

 to a great degree, as well as the rest of the plant, m the milky, acrid 

 fluid found throughout the family. The leaves also, unlike those 

 of other Euphorbias, are all opposite. Common in cottage gardens ; 

 not unfreqnent as an escape, and perhaps trifly wild in one or two 

 localities. — Fl. June, July. Biennial. 



6. E. paralias (Sea Spurge). — A stout, shrubby plant, 6-12 feet 

 high ; stems leafless below, and with numerous glaucous, leathery, 

 imbricated leaves above. Sandy sea-shores; uncommon. — Fl. August 

 to October. Perennial. 



7. E. segetalis (Portland Spurge). — Distinguished from the last 

 by its less robust habit and the red fringe of its stems and leaves, 

 and by its leaves being thinner. South and west coasts ; un- 

 common. — Fl. June to September. Perennial. 



8. E. amygdaloides (Wood Spurge.) — Stem branched above in 

 an umbellate manner into about 5 rays ; r,jys 2-forked ; bracts 

 perfoliate ; leaves narrow, egg-shaped, hairy beneath ; glands of 

 the involucre crescent-shaped. A common plant, with somewhat 

 shrubby stems, 1-2 feet high, conspicuous in .spring and summer 



