446 
XC. EUPHORBIACE^ 
cuously bordered with a broad, white or pink, rounded limb. Styles 
long. Capsule glabrous ; seeds rough with minute points. 
Valleys below Simla; April-October. — W. Himalaya, 1500-4000 ft.— 
W. Asia. 
3. Euphorbia thymifolia, Burnt . ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 252. A pu- 
bescent, much branched, annual herb; stems 4-12 in., spreading 
flat on the ground. Leaves opposite, oblong, J in., obtuse ; teeth 
acute or rounded. Involucres minute, axillary ; teeth 4 ; glands 
green, narrowly bordered with a white, rounded limb. Styles 
short. Capsule pubescent ; seeds wrinkled. 
Valleys below Simla, on roads and in waste places ; April-October. — 
Throughout India, ascending to 4000 ft. — All hot countries except Australia. 
4, Euphorbia Royleana, Bois s. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 257. An erect, 
glabrous, fleshy shrub of cactus-like aspect, attaining 15 ft. ; stems 
sometimes 2-3 ft. or more in girth ; branches straight, ascending, 
prominently 5- or sometimes 6- or 7-angled. Leaves 4-6 in., 
inserted along the angles of the branches, soon falling off, alternate, 
sessile, spathulate, entire ; stipules thorny, persistent. Involucres 
\ in. diam., yellow, in sessile, axillary cymes ; lobes 4, spathulate, 
fringed ; glands brown, rounded. Styles long. Capsule J in. diam., 
glabrous. 
Common on dry hills below 6000 ft. ; June, July.— W. Himalaya. 
This plant is usually called a cactus, but the Cactace®, with the exception of 
the genus Rhipsctlis, found in S. Africa, the Mauritius and Ceylon, are indigenous 
only in America. The genus Opuntia, Prickly Pear, has been introduced into 
nearly all warm countries, and O. Dillenii has been naturalised in India, and 
may sometimes be seen as a hedge-plant near Simla. It is easily recognised 
by the thick, flat, fleshy joints of its branches dotted with hairy tufts of short, 
spinescent bristles, and its large, orange-red, many-petalled flowers. 
5. Euphorbia pilosa, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 260. A glabrous 
or pubescent, perennial herb ; stems 1-3 ft., erect, branched at the 
top. Leaves alternate, sessile, oblong, |-2^ in., entire, narrowed to 
the base or rounded, tip rounded. Inflorescenc3 umbellate ; bracts 
yellow-green. Involucres J in. diam., 5-toothed ; glands yellow, 
margins rounded, entire. Styles long, united about half their 
length. Capsule J in. diam., more or less covered with small, often 
minutely hairy tubercles ; seeds smooth. 
Simla, common ; May-July. — W. Himalaya, ascending to 8000 ft.— N. and 
W. Asia, Europe, including Britain. 
6. Euphorbia Helioscopia, Linn . ; FI. Br. Ind. v. 262. A gla- 
brous, erect, annual herb; stems 6-18 in., usually much branched 
at the top. Stem-leaves alternate, shortly stalked, obovate or 
spathulate, ^-2 in. ; lower ones smaller, tip finely toothed. Inflor- 
escence umbellate, rays often very short. Involucres 4-toothed ; 
glands yellow, rounded, entire. Styles free. Capsule J in. diam,, 
smooth ; seeds minutely net-veined. 
