Spurge
a vast genus (upward of 700 species) of herbs, shrubs, or soft-wooded trees with fleshy branches, abounding in milky juice. An extensive group, abounding in South Africa, have suc- 40 SPURGEON, CHARLES HADDON culent, spiny or unarmed, often melonshaped or cactus-like stems. The flower heads resemble single flowers, consisting of a calyx-like cap-shaped involucre, with 4-5 teeth, alternating with as many large horizontal glands, which enclose 10-15 male and 1 central female flower; the capsule separating when ripe into its three 2-valved constituent carpels. The genus is represented in all climates excepting the Arctic. Eleven non-important species are natives of Great Britain, and three others are more or less naturalized. Of the latter the caper spurge (E. Lathyris) has seeds containing a powerfully purgative oil. The most noteworthy medicinal species are E. resinifera, furnishing the intensely acrid gum-resin known in commerce as euphorbium, used principally as a vesicant in veterinary practice; E. ipecacuanha of North America - -called wild ipecac - the root bark of which possesses emetic, expectorant, and cathartic properties; E. corollata, of which the root is officinal in the United States pharmacopœia as an emetic; and E. neriifolia of India, yielding a juice employed externally in native medicine, while the root is used as a remedy in snake bites, Various species with brilliant scarlet bracts are grown for ornament.