Euphorbia. | LXVIII, EUPHORBIACEZ. 395 
of Europe to Holland. In Britain, along the southern coasts, up to Dublin 
in Ireland, and to Cumberland and Suffolk in England. £1. autumn. 
11, &. Esula, Linn. (fig. 893). Leafy Spurge.—A glabrous perennial, 
readily distinguished from all the preceding species by the terminal umbel 
of 8 to 12 or more rays. Stems 1 to 13 feet high, the leaves varying from 
oblong-lanceolate to linear, of a glaucous green. Floral leaves broadly cor- 
date or orbicular, often yellow. Glands of the involucre crescent-shaped, 
and rather pointed. Capsules minutely granulated, but not warted. Seeds 
not pitted. 
On river-banks and hilly wastes, in central and especially southern 
Europe, and western Asia, extending, however, northwards into southern 
Scandinavia. Probably not indigeneus in Britain, but is said to have 
established itself in Forfar, near Edinburgh and Alnwick. 7. swmmer. 
Starved, narrow-leaved states of this plant have been taken for H. Cypa- 
rissias, a more southern Continental species. 
12, BH. amygdaloides, Linn. (fig. 894). Wood Spurge.—Stock 
perennial and almost woody, with several erect, often reddish stems, 1 to 2 
feet high, glabrous or slightly hairy. Stem- leaves rather crowded towards 
the middle of the stem, lanceolate or narrow-oblong; the upper ones more 
distant, and shorter. Umbel of 5 long rays, not much divided, with a few 
axillary peduncles below it. Floral leaves of each pair always connected 
into one large orbicular one, of a pale yellowish-green. Glands of the 
involucre crescent-shaped, with rather long points. Capsules and seeds 
smooth. 
In woods and thickets, in temperate and southern Europe and western 
Asia, but not extending into Scandinavia. In Britain, common over the 
greater part of England, rare in northern England, in Ireland only near 
Bandon and Donegal; unknown in Scotland. 7. spring. 
Il. MERCURIALIS. MERCURY. 
Erect herbs, with opposite leaves, and small green flowers in little 
clusters, either sessile, stalked, or spiked in the axils of the leaves, the 
males and females distinct, on the same or on separate plants, Perianth 
of 3 segments. Male flowers with 9 to 12 stamens. Females with a sessile 
2-celled ovary, crowned by 2 simple styles, and surrounded by 2 or 3 small 
filaments. Capsule 2-celled, otherwise like that of Spurge. 
A small genus, spread over the temperate regions of the southern as well 
as the northern hemisphere, and nearly connected with several more tropical 
genera of weed-like, uninteresting plants. 
Rootstock perennial. Stems simple. Flowers all in loose spikes. 1. UW. perennis. 
Root annual. sae eee i eeunace powers peas or shortly 
stalked . * : . 2. M. annua. 
1. M. perennis, Linn. (fg. 895). ne Weare Dog’s Mer- 
cury.—Rootstock slender and creeping. Stems erect, simple, 6 or 8 inches, 
or rarely nearly a foot high. Leaves rather crowded in the upper half, 
oblong or ovate-lanceolate, 2 to 4 or 5 inches long, usually pointed, cr enate 
or serrated, and rough or shortly hairy. Flowers dicecious, on slender 
axillary peduncles, often nearly as long as the leaves; the males in little 
clusters, the females singly or 2 together. Ovaries larger than the perianth, 
