SPURGE FAMILY. EUPHORBIACEAE.

Fig 119. [Three-Seeded Mercury. Acalypha Virginica] L.

Three-Seeded Mercury. Acalypha Virginica L. Seeds 1.3–1.8 mm. long oval or obovoid, dull, light to dark reddish brown or gray, mottled with black spots, surface covered with numerous irregular vertical lines, a ridge (hilum) extending from the pointed end for about one-third the length, continuing to the broad extremity as a dark line (raphe). Native to this country. Moist land.

Fig 120. [Cypress Spurge. Euphorbia Cyparissias] L.

Cypress Spurge. Euphorbia Cyparissias L. Seeds dull, light lead or ash-colored, oval or oblong, circular in transverse section, 1.5–2 mm. long, not including an irregular yellowish appendage (caruncle) at the base, a dark verticle line (raphe) extending along one side. Introduced from Europe. Thriving on thin sandy soil.

Fig 121. [Toothed Spurge. Euphorbia dentata] Michx.

Toothed Spurge. Euphorbia dentata Michx. Seeds ash colored, obovoid, or globose, inconspicuously four-angled, base obtuse, irregularly tuberculate, 1 mm. or more long. It thrives in the Botanic Garden and very likely may soon spread onto Michigan farms.

Fig 122. [Leafy Spurge. Euphorbia Esula] L.

Leafy Spurge. Euphorbia Esula L. Seeds dull, light drab colored, broad-oval, narrowed at one end, nearly circular in transverse section, 2.3 mm. long, not including a wrinkled bunch (caruncle) at the base, a dark vertical line (raphe) extending above one side opposite which is another ridge the color of the seed. Introduced from Europe.

Fig 123. [Euphorbia hirsuta] (Torr). Weigand.

Euphorbia hirsuta (Torr). Weigand. Seeds lead colored, obovoid approximately square in transverse section with one side narrower than the others, 4–10 irregular transverse ridges on each side, the raphe standing along one corner, about 1.2 mm. long by 7 mm. wide. Sandy soil.

Fig 124. [Spotted Spurge. Euphorbia maculata] L.

Spotted Spurge. Euphorbia maculata L. Seeds obovoid-oblong, nearly square in cross-sections, minutely pitted and transversely wrinkled with 2–5 broken wavy ridges, a fine dark vertical line (raphe) along one corner, color reddish drab, .6-.8 mm. long. Probably introduced from west of the Rocky Mountains.

Fig 125. [Upright Spotted Spurge. Euphorbia Preslii] Guss. Euphorbia nutans Lag.

Upright Spotted Spurge. Euphorbia Preslii Guss. Euphorbia nutans Lag. Seeds lead-colored obovoid-oblong, with 4 unequal sides as seen in cross-section, pitted and transversely wrinkled, with 2–5 broken wavy ridges, a fine dark, verticle line (raphe) along one corner, 1–1.3 mm. long. Native of eastern North America. Introduced in seeds of red clover.

Fig 126. [Thyme-leaved Spurge. Euphorbia serpyllifolia] Pers.

Thyme-leaved Spurge. Euphorbia serpyllifolia Pers. Seed ash-colored, obovoid, four-angled or nearly square in cross-section, the surface covered with four or five more or less broken obtuse transverse ridges, a slender, dark line (raphe) extending from end to end on one corner. Dry soils, like railway tracks.