36 
EUPHORBIA HYPERICIFOLIA. 
Hyper iciim-leaved Spurge. 
MONOECIA MONANDRIA, (DODECANDRIA TRIGYNIA, Linn.) 
Nat. Ou0. EUPHORBIACEJE. 
Gen. Chah. — Flores masculi plurimi ; fcemineus iinicus, plerumque in eodem 
involucro monophyllo calyciforrai octo vel decemdentato. Flores mas- 
culi pedicellati, nudi : Flos fcemineus pedicellatus, nudus, (rarissime pe- 
rianthio instructus). Styli tres, bifidi. Capsula tricocca, coccis mono- 
spermis. 
Euphorbia hypericifoUa ; erecta, glaberrima, foliis oppositis brevissime 
petiolatis oblongis acutiusculis serrulatis basi obliquis semicordatis, 
corymbis axillaribus terminalibusque. 
E. hjrpericifolia. Linn. Amcen. Acad. v. iii. p. 113. (excl. the syii. of Burm. 
Zeyl.) — ^WiLLD. Sp. PI. V. ii. p. 895. — Ait. Hort. Kew. ed. % v. iii. p. l6l. 
— HuMB. et KuNTH, Nov. Gen. et Sp. v. ii. p- 45* 
Tithymalus americanus, floscuhs albis. Comm. Pral. p. 60. t. 60. (fid. Willd). 
Whole plant perfectly glabrous. Root fibrous, annual (perennial ? Humb.y 
Stem a foot or a foot and a half high, erect, rounded, dichotomous, slen- 
der, reddish-green, somewhat swoln at the joints. Leaves in rather dis- 
tant pairs, opposite, patent or deflexed, oblong rather obtuse, serrated, tlie 
base unequal and semicordate, indistinctly marked with veins, of a deli- 
cate texture, and beautiful green colour. There are 2 ovate bifid stipules 
between each pair of leaves, sometimes bipartite. Corymbs axillary and 
terminal, pedunculated, crowded, furnished with a few small, opposite 
leaves. Partial stalks bracteated ; bracteas small, lanceolate, sometimes a 
little toothed. 
Involucres oblongo-turbinate, glabrous, obscurely striated, some terminating at 
the mouth in 4 rather large, petal-like, roundish, pure white, patent teeth 
or processes, with a gi-een gland at the base, and as many erect, or incur- 
ved, ciliated, lanceolate and membranaceous ones, alternating with them, 
(Fig. 3). Others have only the 4 lanceolate, or ovato-lanceolate, erect, mem- 
branaceous scales, with as many smaller and similar ones between them. 
These small ones are, however, sometimes terminated with a green gland, 
and have the rudiment of a white petal-like process beneath it (Fig. 2). 
The Involucre is within pubescent, with very small scales, or chafF-like pro- 
cesses, and amongst them, and upon the side, are several, 10, 12, or more, 
pedicellated, monandrous, naked male Jlowers. Filament white, short, 
jointed on the pedicel. Anther didymous, yellow, when burst tinged 
with purple. Pollen yellow. In the centre, at the base of the involucre, 
is situated the female Jlower, a single 3-lobed germen, with 3 bifid styles, 
destitute of perianth, and jointed upon a thickish green pedicel, which 
VOL. I. 
