EUPHORBIACE*. 



729 



into an umbel of 3 or 4 rays, so that the 

 whole plant appears to consist of the 

 repeatedly forked flowering branches, 

 closely prostrate on the sand, and form- 

 ing patches of 6 inches to a foot or more 

 in diameter. Floral leaves opposite, 

 numerous, very oblique, broadly oblong, 

 very obtuse and rather thick, with mi- 

 nute stipules at their base. Flower- 

 heads very small. Grlands of the invo- 

 lucre expanding into small, whitish or 

 purple scales. Capsule glabrous and 

 smooth. Seeds not pitted. 



In maritime sands, all round the Me- 

 diterranean, and up the western coasts of Europe to the English 

 Channel. In Britain, only on the southern and south-western coasts 

 of England, where it is now becoming scarce, and near Tramore, 

 county Waterford, in Ireland. Fl. summer and autumn. 



Fig. 877. 



2. Sun Spurge. Euphorbia Helioseopia, Linn. (Fig. 878.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 883.) 



An erect or ascending annual, 6 or 8 

 inches to a foot high, simple or with a 

 few branches ascending from the base. 

 Stem-leaves obovate or broadly oblong, 

 and narrowed into a short stalk ; floral 

 leaves broadly obovate or orbicular, all 

 very obtuse and minutely toothed. 

 Umbel of 5 rays, each ray once or twice 

 forked at the end, but the branches so 

 short that the flowers and floral leaves 

 appear crowded into broad, leafy heads. 

 Glands of the involucre entire and 

 rounded. Capsules glabrous and smooth. 

 Seeds pitted. 



In cultivated and waste places, in 

 Europe and western Asia, extending 

 further north than most species, yet not 

 an Arctic plant. Common in Britain. 

 Fl. the whole season. 



Fig. 878. 



