By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 



345 



Generally distributed throughout Wilts. Umbel of about six 

 principal branches, and several scattered peduncles below ; leaves 

 nearly membranaceous, obovate-lanceolate, hairy beneath, attenu- 

 ated at the base, entire ; bracteas perfoliated, glands lunate, 

 capsules minutely dotted ; seeds smooth. Stems red, almost 

 shrubby. 



4. E. Peplus, (Linn.) Petty Spurge. Engl. Bot. t. 959. 

 Locality. A weed in cultivated fields, waste ground, and gardens. 

 A. Fl. July, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



Generally distributed throughout the County. Umbel of about 

 three principal branches, bracteas ovate, leaves membranaceous, 

 broadly ovate, on short stalks, entire, glabrous, glands of the in- 

 volucre lunate, the horns very long, germen somewhat winged and 

 scabrous, seeds dotted. 



5. E. exigua, (Linn.) dwarf Spurge. Exiguus (Lat.) is small 

 or little. Engl. Bot. t. 1326. 



Locality. Cornfields, especially on a light soil. A. Fl. June, 

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



Common in all the Districts. Umbel of generally three principal 

 branches; leaves linear-lanceolate as well as the bracteas ; rather 

 rigid, entire, glabrous ; often truncate and mucronated ; glands of 

 the involucre with two horns ; capsules nearly smooth. Seeds 

 small, white. 



6. E. Lathyris, (Linn.) Caper Spurge. Lathyris is a word used 

 by Pliny for a kind of spurge. The English name caper, refers to 

 the fruit, which closely resemble that of the caper tree, capjoaris. 

 Engl. Bot. t. 2255. 



Locality. Sub-spontaneous in gardens, really wild in dry gravelly 

 copses, where, being biennial, it appears only in the second and 

 the fourth years after they are cut. 1 B. Fl. June, July. Area, 

 j t * * * * 



1 This species presents one of the most marked examples of a tribe of annuals 

 and biennials familiarly known as Copse Plants. Some of these are pretty 

 sure to spring up in great profusion the second or third year after the cutting 

 of copses, upon our dry gravelly soils ; but being soon overpowered by the 

 growth of the underwood, they may afterwards be sought for in vain for some 

 years, till the clearing of the copse again lets in the influences of the light and 



