Flora Medica

EUPHORBIACEJE.thartic and emetic ; it is said by Loiseleur Deslongchamps, to be thebest of the European Euphorbias, and to vomit easily in doses of18-20 grains.402. E. Lathyris Linn, sp.pl. 655. E. Bot.t. 2255. Willd.ii. 506. Roper, euph. 67. Common in cottage gardens, andoccasionally as if wild ; its native country is not exactly known.Biennial, very glaucous. Stem strong, erect, 2-4 feet high, smoothand round. Leaves somewhat coriaceous, linear-oblong, sessile, ratheracute, or obtuse, mucronate, entire, smooth, of a dark glaucous green.Whorl 4-cleft, rarely bifid, still more rarely 5-cleft. Bracts heartshaped,entire, tapering. Lobes of the involucre lunate, 2-horned ;thehorns dilated and obtuse. Ovaries convex at the back, with a deeplongitudinal furrow, even, smooth. Seeds obovate, truncate at thebase, rough, brown, not shining. This plant, the Cataputia minor of oldPharmacopoeias, has drastic seeds ; country labourers are said to take 1as a purge, and women several to procure abortion. Bark of the rootand stems reduced to powder are cathartic and emetic. It was one ofthe plants directed by Charlemagne, in his Capitularies, to be grown inevery garden; no doubt as the most ready purge then to be procured.403. E. Esu\a Linn. sp. pi. 660. E. Bot. t. 1399. Roper,euph. 64. Various parts of Europe, in woods.Perennial. Leaves membranous, lanceolate, sessile, bluntish, muricate,entire, or with a few roughish teeth towards the point, smooth.Flowering branches either arranged under the whorl, in a sort of multifidfalse umbel, or occasionally in a 5-cleft whorl. Lobes of theinvolucre lunate, somewhat 2-horned. Ovaria convex, smooth, andround, with dots at the back. Seeds obovate, smooth, greyish brown,not shining. A dangerous poison. A woman is stated by Scopoli tohave died half an hour after swallowing 30 grains of the root.404. E. Cyparissias Linn. sp. pi. 661. E. Bot. t. 840Various parts of Europe in thickets and barren places.Perennial. Leaves membranous, stiff, linear, sessile, obtuse, or ratherpointed, entire, smooth. Flowering branches either arranged under thewhorl, in a sort of multifid false umbel, or occasionally in a 5-cleft whorl.Lobes of the involucre lunate, somewhat 2-horned. Ovaria smooth,convex at the back, roughish, with dots. Seeds obovate, smooth,greyish-brown or whitish, not shining. A virulent poison. A womanis said to have died in half an hour after taking a dose of the root ;and in other cases the skin of the face has peeled off in consequenceof its use. Nevertheless, the powder of the root in doses of 6-20grains, or even from a scruple to a drachm, has been given without badconsequences.405. E. thymifolia Linn, sp.pl. 651. Forsk. p. 94. Willd.ii. 898. (Pluk. t. 113. f. 2. Burm. Zeyl. t. 105. f. 3.)Gravelly all places over India.A little annual plant. Branches quite prostrate, hairy, coloured red.Leaves small, opposite, oblique, ovate, serrate. Flowers axillary,crowded, on short stalks. Lobes of the involucre white and red,crenulated. Juice made into a paste with wheat-flour, and formedinto pills,is a violent purgative in doses of 5 pills.The fresh plant194