Spurge

Spurge (Euphorbia), a genus of plants of the natural order Euphorbiaceæ, having monœcious naked flowers, the male flowers membranous, and surrounding a tricœcous stalked female flower, the whole placed within a cup-shaped involucre. The fruit has three valves and three cells, the cells one-seeded, and bursting elastically. The species are very numerous, natives of warm and temperate climates, mostly herbaceous, but some of them woody. About twelve species are natives of Britain. All contain a resinous milky juice, which in most is very acrid. Several tropical species are cultivated for their great beauty in hothouses.