344 



The Flora of Wiltshire. 



ORDER. EUPTIORBIACEiE. (JUSS.) 

 Euphorbia, (Linn.) Spurge. 

 Linn. CI. xxi. Ord. i. 1 

 Named from Euphorbus, physician to Juba, King of Mauritania, 

 who brought the plant into use. Spurge is from purgo, (Lat.) to 

 purge, French espurge, the plant being purgative. Spurge is a 

 general name in English for all milky purgative plants. 



1. El Helioscopia, (Linn.) sun-observing Spurge; from Helios 

 the sun, and scopeo, to observe; in allusion to its turning to the 

 sun. It is also called in Wiltshire Wart-wort, from its supposed 

 efficacy in removing warts. Eng. Bot. t. 883. 



Locality. In waste and cultivated ground. A. Fl. June, Sep- 

 tember. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



Common throughout all the Districts. Umbel of five principal 

 branches, bracteas and leaves membranaceous, obovate-cuneate, 

 serrated upwards, capsule glabrous, seeds reticulated and pitted. 



2. E. Platyphylla, (Linn.) broad-leaved warted Spurge. Platy- 

 phylla is from flatus, broad, and phu lion, a leaf. Engl. Bot. t. 333, 



(starved specimens). E. stricta, Sm. (non Linn.). 



Locality. Cornfields. A. Fl. June, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



Observed in all the Districts but sparingly. Umbel of about five 

 principal branches and with frequently scattered peduncles beneath, 

 bracteas cordate, leaves membranaceous, broadly obovate-lanceolate, 

 acute, finely serrulated, hairy beneath, glands of the involucre 

 oval ; capsule warted ; seeds smooth, shining. 



3. E. amygdalo'ides, (Linn.) Wood Spurge; amygdalos is an 

 almond tree, which the leaves of this species resemble. Engl. Bot. 

 t. 256. E. sylvatica, Linn. Jacq. 



Locality. Woods and thickets, especially in a claj'ey soil. P. 

 Fl. March, April. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



1 The structure of the flowers of this genus was completely misunderstood by 

 the early botanists of the Linnoean school, in whose arrangement Euphorbia 

 occupied a very different place to that which is allotted it at present, viz., 

 Dodecandria Monogynia. The discovery of its true position is due to the 

 accurate judgment and research of the late Robert Brown. Few genera are so 

 widely distributed ; some of the species which probably amount to 400 or more, 

 being found in almost every part of the globe. 



