HARPER'S GUIDE TO WILD FLOWERS 



color, for the distinctive color lies in large glands. (See description 

 of flower of the Spurge Family, p. 9.) In this species the growth 

 is low and slender, from a long, straight root. The numerous 

 stems fork below the middle, bearing a pair of small, oblong, or 

 linear nearly sessile leaves. Peduncles about an inch long. 



Sometimes the whole plant has a reddish tinge. It may 

 be found in the spring, common, in sandy soil along the 

 coast from Connecticut to Florida. 



Seaside Spurge 



E. polygonifdUa. — This species grows in pure sand on the shore, 

 its pinkish stems, with small, narrow, opposite leaves, slightly 

 heart-shaped at base, acute at apex, with cut or fringed stipules, 

 spreading carpet-like, on the ground. The roots pull lightly up. 

 If a branch or single leaf is broken off, a thick, milky juice exudes 

 from the wound. The flowers are small, greenish, appearing in 

 July. 3 to 10 inches long. 



The euphorbias are all poisonous. Nuttall says, " In the 

 deserts of Africa they only tend, as it were, to augment the 

 surrounding scenes of desolation; leafless, bitter, thorny, 

 poisonous, they seem to deny food to every animated being." 



Cypress Spurge 



E. Cypartssias. — This and the following species are often cul- 

 tivated, and have escaped from gardens. The cypress spurge 

 is low, 8 to 10 inches high, with flowers in spreading umbels, on 

 closely crowded stems. Leaves, on the stem long, and narrow, 

 those near the flowers somewhat heart-shaped. 



Perennial plants from rootstocks. Rather common. 



Caper Spurge. Mole Plant 

 E. Ldthyrus. — A smooth plant with stout stem, 2 to 3 feet high, 

 with flowers in 4 -rayed and forking umbels. Leaves, thick, ob- 

 long, those under the flowers often heart-shaped. 



Water Starwort 



CalUtriche deflexa.. — Family, Water Starwort. (The generic 

 name means "beautiful hair," from the numerous, slender stems). 

 Leaves very small, crowded, in tufts. This plant is one of our 

 tiniest growths. Slender stems with opposite leaves tufted at the 

 root, 1 to 2 inches high, with sterile flowers consisting of a sin- 

 gle stamen, and fertile ones consisting of a 4-celled ovary and 2 

 stigmas, tell the whole story. 



Annuals, found in wet soil, from Connecticut to Delaware 

 and westward. 



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