ettph] 



Cfje ®vtH$uxv ai SSntang. 



478 



resinous or brittle, in which state it is 

 sold in the bazaars, and employed as a 

 cement for fixing knives into handles, and 

 other similar purposes, which are effected 

 by heating it. It is also employed medi- 

 cinally as an outward application in cases 

 of rheumatism. The gum has not the valu- 

 able property, like gutta percha, of being 

 ductile at all times. It can be moulded to 

 any shape when first boiled, but as far as 

 we know not afterwards, though some 

 plan may be found for rendering it sub- 

 sequently pliable.' Dr. Wight further 

 remarks that when exposed to the heat of 

 a Are or lamp it rapidly softens, and be- 

 comes as adhesive to the hand as shoe- 

 maker's wax, but when soaked for some 

 time in warm water, it slowly softens, 

 becomes pliable and plastic, and in that 

 state takes any required form. Another 

 of the Indian species, E. Tirucalli, is fre- 

 quently used in Coromandel, for making 

 hedges, as animals for the most part will 

 not touch it, though goats will eat it in 

 spite of the acrid juice, which latter is used 

 medicinally by the natives. It goes by the 

 name of Milk Hedge. E.phosphorea derives 

 the name from the fact of its sap emitting 

 a phosphorescent light on a warm night 

 in the Brazilian forests. There are several 

 British species, which partake more or less 

 of the acrid properties so general in this 

 group. [M. T. M.] 



EUPHORBIALES. One of Lindley's al- 

 liances, including Euphorbiacece, and a few 

 small related groups. 



EUPHORBIUM. A gum resin obtained 

 from certain succulent species of Euphor- 

 bia. 



EUPHRASIA. The Eye-bright is a small 

 annual belonging to the Scrophulariacece, 

 distinguished" by a tubular four-cleft calyx, 

 a two-lipped corolla, the upper lip two- 

 lobed, the lower three-lobed, and an oblong 

 compressed capsule, containing numerous 

 pendulous ribbed seeds. Eye-bright is a 

 common plant in heaths and dry mea- 

 dows, growing to the height jof six to 

 twelve inches, with small sessile leaves 

 arranged in opposite pairs, and several 

 flowers near the ends of the branches, 

 white spotted with yellow and purple. 

 From the frequent mention of Euphrasy 

 by the poets, it would appear to have been 

 formerly held in high repute for its medi- 

 cal virtues, a view which is confirmed by 

 the statements of the old herbalists, who 

 recommended its use both outwardly and 

 inwardly, in powder and in decoction, for 

 complaints of the eyes. It is still a rustic 

 remedy as an eye-water, but is said by 

 some to be injurious rather than bene- 

 ficial. French, Euf raise ; German, Augen- 

 trost. [C. A. J.] 



EUPHROSYNE. A genus of Composite, 

 composed of two annual Mexican weeds, 

 which grow from one to two feet high, 

 and have alternate twice or thrice pinnati- 

 sected leaves, and terminal panicles of 

 little white flower-heads, each about the 

 size of a pea. The flowers have much re- 



semblance to Ambrosia, but differ in hav- 

 ing male and female flowers in the same 

 capitulum. [A. A. B.] 



EUPLOCA. A North American genus of 

 Ehretmcea;-, probably not distinct from 

 Messerschmidtia, and consisting of herbs 

 furnished with rough leaves, and funnel- 

 shaped flowers. [j. t. S,] 



ETJPOMATIA. A genus of laurel-like 

 shrubs, natives of the eastern extratro- 

 pical parts of New Holland. It forms at 

 present a kind of botanical puzzle, being 

 ; evidently allied to Anonacece, and yet dif- 

 : fering very materially from the other 

 i genera of that family. E. laurifolia was 

 ' discovered by the late Robert Brown, and 

 though it is cultivated in conservatories, it 

 has not produced its flowers. The stamens 

 are perigynous, and the inner ones sterile, 

 petal-like; the tube of the calyx is co- 

 herent with the ovaries, while the limb 

 separates by a transverse slit, like a lid, 

 from the tube. In these flowers the ac- 

 cess of the pollen to the stigmas appears 

 to be completely cut off by the number 

 and disposition of the internal barren 

 petal-like stamens; but the communica- 

 tion is restored, says the learned botanist 

 who first described the plant, by certain 

 minute insects eating the petal-like fila- 

 ments, while the antheriferous stamens, 

 which are either expanded or reflected, 

 and appear to be even slightly irritable, 

 remain untouched. Recently a second 

 species has been discovered, and named 

 by Dr. Mueller E. Bennettii, in compliment 

 to Dr. Bennett, the well-known Australian 

 naturalist. This species has produced 

 flowers in this country, and is figured in 

 the Botanical Magazine (t. 4848), under the 

 name of E. laurina, its distinctness from 

 that species not having been at first de- 

 tected. [M. T. M.] 



EUPTERIS. A sectional name applied 

 by Agardh to the normal forms of Pteris, 

 as distinguished from the groups repre- 

 sented by P. aquilina and Litobrochia ves- 

 pertilionis. It is applied by Newman as a 

 generic name to the common Bracken, 

 Pteris aquilina. 



EUROTIA. A genus of Chenopodiaceo?, 



found in Russia and Siberia, and consisting 



of annuals with numerous branches, nar- 



j row entire leaves, and male flowers four 



or five together at the apices of small 



branches. The female flowers are solitary 



J in the axils of the leaves, with the fruiting 



| perianth limb growing out in the shape of 



two horns. [J. T. S.J 



EURYA. A genus of Ternstromiace&, 

 composed of a number of evergreen 

 shrubs or small trees found in India, 

 China, and the adjacent islands, one spe- 

 cies extending to theFeejee Islands. Their 

 very minute and unisexual flowers, toge- 

 | ther with their small berried fruits, serve 

 j to distinguish them. The leaves are not 

 unlike those of the teaplant, and the small 

 ■ white flowers are arranged in bundles in 

 [ their axils. [A. A. BJ 



