72 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



branching, more full of white juice than the others, succulent ; 

 leaves oblong, linear-lanceolate, obtuse ; blossoms in July. 



E. helioscopia. L. Sun Spurge. An erect round stem, with 

 wedge-shaped or ovate leaves ; umbel of 5 rays, each of which 

 is 3-branched, and then dichotomous ; involucre leaves under the 

 umbel ; blossoms in June, in rich grounds. 



ACALYPHA. L. 19. 15. 



A. Virginica. L. Three-seeded Mercury. An insignificant 

 plant, growing in dry, sandy soils, and beside roads, about a foot 

 high, erect, pubescent, with very small sterile flowers, having 

 fertile flowers at their base ; leaves lanceolate-oblong, serrate ; 

 flowers in June to September. 



Ricinus. L. 19. 15. 



R. communis. L. Castor-oil Bean. This is the plant w T hose 

 fruit yields the castor-oil, so well known for its medicinal prop- 

 erties. It has been extensively cultivated in some parts of the 

 State for the production of the oil ; the crop considered profit- 

 able. It is partially naturalized, as it is cultivated as an ornamental 

 plant about gardens. Its large branching glaucous stem, and 

 palmate leaves, peltate, make it a beautiful plant. Its capsules 

 are rough, echinate. The bean in its fresh state is poisonous, 

 and should be kept from the access of children. 



Poinsettia. Graham. 19. 1. 



P. pulcherrima. A showy greenhouse plant, introduced from 

 Mexico by the American minister Poinsett. Its great beauty 

 lies in a number of richly-colored, broad-lanceolate, scarlet 

 bractes, from 2 to 5 or 6 inches long, situated just below the 

 inconspicuous flowers. 



ORDER 116. RUTACEJE. The Rue Tribe. 



Calyx 4-5-divided, with equal petals alternating with the di- 

 visions of the calyx ; definite, hypogynous stamens ; ovary su- 

 perior, divided more or less into 3-5 lobes. 



