NAT. ORDER. 
£Juphorbiace(B. 
EUPHORBIA ATRO-PURPUREA. BLOOD-FLOWERED SPURGE. 
Class XXL MoNOECiA. Order L Monandria. 
Gen. Char. Involucrum resembling a calyx, ventricose, the alter- 
nate segments pelaloid. Filaments twelve or more, simple, each 
consisting of an anther. Calyx and Corolla very rarely present. 
Styles three, tvro-cleft. Capsules three-lobed, 
Spe. Char. Stem simple, erect, smooth, round. Leaves oblong-cu- 
nate, obtuse, umbel-form. Capsules smooth. 
The stem in this plant is between three and four feet in height, 
frutescent, rather larger than the human finger, dichotomously 
branched above, bare of foliage (but copiously marked with the 
scars of the fallen leaves,) except at the summit of the branches — 
there the leaves are numerous, from three to five inches long, lanceo- 
late, tapering at the base, obtuse, pale glauceous-green, patent or 
drooping, nerves obsolete; umbel of from eight to ten rays, each of 
which is quadrifid or four rayed, these lesser rays haAdng each an 
oblong, colored bractea at its base, forming a four leaved involucre ; 
two other bracteas immediately surround the proper involucre — 
these are large, deep, red-purple or blood-colored, broadly oblong, 
obtuse, combined at the base ; proper involucre small, cup-shaped, 
red, with four retuse, fleshy, yellow-green glands at the margin ; 
male flowers, about four are excluded at the same time ; cells of the 
anthers globose, distinct ; female flowers, germen, globose, shortly 
pedicellate ; style with three bifid segments. 
Vol. iv — 123. 
