In Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmacognosy)

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INTRODUCTION
are present nectar-secreting glands, these glands are oval or crescent-
shaped and often brightly coloured (1, 5) .
The flowers are usually bracteate, bracteolate, actinomorphic,
hypogynous, rarely perigynous and generally unisexual. The plant
may be monoecious or dioecious (3, 6, 7) .
Flower structure of Euphorbiaceae varies greatly from genus to
genus. The most highly specialized type is that of Euphorbia, which
has a single pistillate flower aggregated with a number of staminate
flowers forming cyathium and enclosed in a cup-like structure with
glands on its margins (3) .
• The perianth is consisting of both calyx and corolla or only
of corolla or sometimes both are absent; valvate or imbricate; calyx
are composed of 3-6 free, sometimes united sepals; corolla of 0 to 6
free or united petals but commonly 5 and usually none petals are
present (1, 3, 6, 7) .
• The androecium is of 1 to 100 or more but usually as many
or twice as many as petals, free or monadelphous stamens forming a
staminal column by the fusion of the filaments; anther bilocular, rarely
3 to 4 locular; longitudinal or transversely dehiscent. The stamens
have a jointed stalk, and the part below the joint is interpreted as a
pedicel, with the filament above. Sometimes staminodes are present in
pistillate flower. Pollen grains often tricolaporate or polyporate (1, 5, 7) .
• The gynoecium is usually tricarpellary, rarely bicarpellary
or pentacarpellary; syncarpus; superior, rarely semi-inferior; trilocular
ovary with one or two anatropous ovule in each locule; of axial