INTRODUCTION. 



Ivii 



and plantations ; but the other two or three 

 species which constitute the genus and order 

 require no further notice. 



EUPHORBIACEiE. 



Spurge Tribe. 



A large order^ containing nearly 200 genera 

 and 2500 species^ distributed over most of the 

 tropical and temperate regions of the globe, 

 especially the warmer parts of America. They 

 are either trees, shrubs, or herbs, and some kinds 

 have the external habit of the cactus tribe. 

 Among so numerous an assemblage of plants, 

 we should expect to find a great dissimilarity 

 of properties, which, indeed, exists to a certain 

 extent ; yet nearly all agree in being furnished 

 with a juice, often milky, which is highly acrid, 

 narcotic, or corrosive, the intensity of the poisonous 

 property being usually proportionate to the abun- 

 dance of the juice. Of the genus EupJiorhia^ 

 Spurge, which gives name to the order, ten or 

 tw:elve species are natives of Britain, The British 

 Spurges are all herbaceous, and remarkable for the 

 singular structure of their green flowers, and their 

 acrid milky juice, which exudes plentifully when 

 either the stems or leaves are wounded. A small 

 quantity of this placed upon the tongue pro- 

 duces a burning heat in the mouth and throat, 

 which continues for many hours. The unplea- 

 sant sensation may be allayed by frequent 

 draughts of milk. The roots of several of the 



