Euphorbia. 



EUPHORBIACE^E. 



175 



2. Euphorbia platyphylla, Linn. Broad-leaved Spurge. 



Leaves elliptical or oblanceolate, mostly acute, slightly hairy , the floral ones roundish- 

 cordate ; umbel 3 - 5-cleft , the divisions 2-3 times forked ; involucres hemispherical ; 

 fruit papillose-muricate and somewhat hairy, the carpels convex on the back ; seeds obovoid, 

 compressed, smooth and even. — Linn. sp. (ed. 2.) 1. p. 660 ; Rozp. enum. Euphorb. Germ, 

 p. 61 ; Oakes, cat. pi. Verm. p. 24. 



Annual. Stem about a foot high, erect, smooth. Leaves an inch or more in length, tapering 

 to the base, sessile, smooth above, sparsely hairy underneath, finely serrulate except toward 

 the base, where they are entire ; the bracteal ones shorter but very broad, closely sessile and 

 somewhat clasping, mucronate. Involucres nearly sessile, hairy externally ; the lobes small, 

 hairy-ciliate. Glands large, transversely elliptical, entire. Sterile flowers rather nnmerous. 

 Styles 2-cleft ; the lobes obtuse. Capsule sprinkled with small pointed warts. Carpels with 

 a shallow groove down the back. Seeds brown when ripe, with a conspicuous caruncle. 



Near Portland Harbor, Lake Erie (Dr. Knieskern). Perhaps an introduced plant. Mr. 

 Oakes found it on the islands of Lake Champlain. 



3. Euphorbia corollata, Linn. (Plate XCIX.) Flowering Spurge. 



Stem simple, erect ; leaves varying from spatulate- to ovate-oblong, obtuse ; umbel about 

 5-cleft , the divisions 2 - 3-forked, nearly naked ; glands of the involucre with a large obovate 

 petaloid spreading appendage , the proper lobes minute, inflexed ; capsule and seeds smooth. 

 — Linn. sp. \.p. 459 ; Walt. fl,. Car. p. 145 ; Michx. fl. 2. p. 210 ; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 607 ; 

 Ell. sk. 2. p. 659 ; Bot. mag. t. 2992 ; Beck, hot. p. 313 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 517. 



Perennial. Stem lJj - 3 feet high, slender, nearly smooth. Leaves 1-2 inches long and 

 4-8 lines wide, somewhat erect, smooth above, pale and a little hairy underneath. Primary 

 rays of the umbel mostly 5, slender ; the divisions often compoundly forked. Peduncles 

 3-4 lines long. Involucre turbinate : glands transversely elliptical, usually 5, each seated 

 on a white spreading membranaceous appendage ; the proper lobes alternating with the 

 appendages, small, laciniate. Sterile flowers numerous. Fertile flower at length exserted on 

 its pedicel. Capsule rather large ; the carpels obtuse on the back. Styles thick, deeply 

 2-cleft. Seeds obovoid-oblong. 



Rocky banks of the Chemung River (Dr. Knieskern). July - August. This plant is a 

 favorite medicine among the western Indians. It is emetic, cathartic and diuretic (See Wood 

 Sf Bache, U. S. Dispens. p. 300). 



** Leaves opposite.. 



4. Euphorbia hypericifolia, Linn. Upright Spotted Spurge, 



Stem erect -spreading, with dichotomous spreading branches ; leaves on short petioles, 

 oblong-oval, somewhat falcate, serrate ; peduncles solitary in the axils, and corymbose at the 

 extremity of the branches ; glands of the involucre with petaloid small appendages ; capsules 



