( 368 .) 
EUPITO'RBIA * *. 
Linnean Class and Order. MoNCECiAf, Mona'ndria+. 
Natural Order. Euphorbia'cea;§, Juss. — Lindl. Syn. p. 220 ; 
Introd. to Nat. Syst. of Bot. p. 102. — Rich, by Macgilliv. p. 539. — 
Loud. Hort. Brit. p. 533. — Mack. FI. Hibern. p. 235. — Hook. Brit. 
FI. (4th edit.) p. 418. — Euphorbia, Juss. Gen. PI. p. 384. — Sm. 
Gram, of Bot. p. 184. — Querneales ; sect. Euphorbin.e; type, 
Euphorbia'ce;e ; subtype, Euphorbidje ; Burn. Outl. of Bot. 
pp.523, 600, 602, & 604. — Tricocc.f, Linn. 
Gen. Char. Involucrum (fig. 1, a.) of 1 leaf, tumid, with 4 or 5 
marginal lobes, permanent, containing several (usually 12 or more) 
barren flowers (see figs. 2 & 3), intermixed with narrow bristly 
scales (fig. 4) ; and 1 central fertile flower ( fig. 1 , c) ; all stalked, 
and destitute of calyx, as well as of corolla. Nectaries ( g lands, 
Lindl.y (fig. 1, 6.) 4 or 5, alternate with the lobes of the involucrum, 
fleshy, coloured, more or less lobed, or crescent-shaped, tumid, 
blunt. Barren Flower (fig. 3.) a single stamen, without calyx or 
corolla. Filament simple, hair-like, upright, its origin marked by 
a joint (see fig. 3, a.), often coloured, at the summit of the partial 
stalk. Anthers of 2 globose distinct lobes. Fertile Flower (see 
fig. 1, c. and fig. 2.) a single pistil, without calyx or corolla, on a 
longer partial stalk than the barren ones, prominent, mostly de- 
flexed to one side. Germen (fig. 1, c.) hanging out of the involu- 
crum, roundish, 3-lobed. Styles (fig. 1, d.) 3, terminal, equal, cloven 
about half way down, spreading, permanent. Stigmas bluntish. 
Capsule (fig. 5.) roundish, 3-lobed, of 3 cells, and 3 valves, with the 
partitions from the centre of each, bursting elastically. Seeds (figs. 
6 & 7.) solitary, large, roundish, smooth or dotted. 
The involucrum of one piece, including several barren flowers 
and one fertile one ; the barren flower consisting of only a single 
stamen, without either calyx or corolla ; the fertile flower of a 
single pistil, also destitute of calyx and corolla ; the 3-cleft style ; 
and the 3-lobed, 3-seeded germen ; will distinguish this from other 
genera in the same class and order. 
Fourteen species British. 
EUPHORBIA HELIOSCO'PIA. Sun Spurge, Wart-wort. Rat- 
weed. Churn-staff. Cat’s Milk. Little-good. 
Spec. Char. Umbel of five 3-cleft, then forked, branches. 
Bracteas and Leaves membranous, inversely egg-shaped, serrated. 
Nectaries 4, undivided. Capsule smooth. Seeds reticulated and 
pitted. 
Fig. 1. Involucrum, with its flowers ; a. involucrum ; b. nectaries; c. germen ; 
d. Styles. — Fig. 2. Several barren Flowers, and one fertile one, with the involu- 
crum removed. — Fig. 3. A single barren Flower ; a. the joint, where it is united to 
the flowerstalk. — Fig. 4. One of the Scales which are intermixed with the flowers. — 
Fig. 5. Capsule, burst. — Figs. 6 and 7. Seed. — All, except fig. 6, more or less 
magnified. 
* So named in honour of Euphorbus, Physician to King Juba, who probably 
first used it. Thornton. 
t See folio 83, note t. t See folio 49, note f. 
} Sea folio 143, a. 
