EUPHOKBIACE^E. (SPUKGK FA3IILY.)" 431 



the involucre, soon protruded on a long pedicel, consisting of a 3-Tobed and 3- 

 celled ovary with no calyx, or a mere vestige. Styles 3, each 2-cleft ; the stig- 

 mas therefore 6. Pod separating into 3 one-seeded carpels, which split elasti- 

 cally into 2 valves. Seed often caruncled. — Plants (herbs in the United States), 

 with a milky acrid juice. Peduncles terminal, often umbellate-clustered ; in the 

 first section mostly appearing lateral, but not really axillary. (Named after 

 Eupliorbus, physician to King Juba.) 



Genus newly elaborated for this work by Dr. George Engelmann. 



A. APPEND I CULAT^E. Glands of the involucre with petal-like, usually white 

 or rose-colored, and entire or toothed margins or appendages ; these almost obsolete 

 in No. 1 . 



§ 1. ANISOPHYLLUM. Leaves all similar, opposite, on short petioles, small, 

 oblique at base, furnished with uivl-shaped or scaly and often fringed persistent 

 stipules: stems much branched, spreading or usually procumbent : involucres soli- 

 tary in the forlcs of the branches or in terminal or pseudo-lateral clusters, small, 

 always with 4 glands: seeds without a caruncle: all our species are annuals, 

 flowering throughout summer and autumn. 



5* Seeds smooth and even, ash-colored : leaves entire, glabrous, as is the whole plant, 

 and pale green or glaucous. 



1. E. polygonifolia, L. Prostrate-spreading; leaves oblong-linear, ob- 

 tuse, mucronate, slightly cordate or obtuse at base (4" -8" long) ; stipules seta- 

 ceously divided ; peduncles in the forks of the branches, as long as the petioles ; 

 robes of the involucre longer than the minute not appendaged glands ; pods ob- 

 tusely angled; seeds ovate (over 1" long, the largest of this section). — Sandy 

 .shores of the Atlantic and of the Great Lakes. 



2. E. Geyeri, Engelm. Procumbent ; leaves oblong-ovate, obtuse, slightly 

 mucronate, mostly acutish at base, lowermost cordate (3" -6" long) ; stipules 

 setaceously divided ; peduncles as long as petioles, at length in loose foliaceous 

 lateral clusters ; glands of the involucre with narrow white or red appendages ; 

 pods acutely anglea ; seeds ovate, acute at one end (%" long). — Sandy soil, 

 Illinois (Geyer, Vo.tpy) to Wisconsin and Minnesota (1\ J. Hale). 



The nearly allied i£. i-etaloidka, Engelm., of Kansas and Nebraska, extends 

 into Western Missouri and Iowa, and may cross the upper Mississippi ; it is dis- 

 tinguished by its half-erect spreading growth ; longer, narrower, and retuse or 

 emarginate leaves ; peduncles longer than petioles ; larger involucres, the broadly 

 campanulate appendages much larger and conspicuous ; capsule obtusely angled ; 

 tveeds nearly a line long. 



3. E. Serpens, H. B. K. Stems filiform, prostrate, and often rooting ; 

 leaves round-ovate, obtuse or cordate at base (only ^" - l^" long) ; stipules mem- 

 branaceous, triangular ; peduncles much longer than petioles, at length in loose 

 foliaceous lateral clusters ; glands of the very small involucre with minute crenu- 

 late appendages ; pods acutely angled ; seeds obtusely angled ($" long or less). 

 (E. herniarioides, Nutt. and Ed. 2.) — In rich soil, Illinois, especially in the 

 alluvions of the larger rivers, and southwestward : also adventive on ballast 

 sand-banks of the Delaware near Philadelphia. (/. Martindaie, C. F. Parker.) 



