OregonFlora: Euphorbia hypericifolia vs. Euphorbiaceae

	Euphorbia hypericifolia	Euphorbiaceae
		spurge family
Habit		Shrubs, subshrubs, or herbs annual, biennial, or perennial, monoecious or dioecious; stems branched.
Leaves		alternate, subopposite; opposite or whorled; simple; margins entire or toothed; petioles present or not; stipules present or not.
Inflorescences		various and diverse; in some genera individual flowers reduced and grouped into a bisexual inflorescence resembling a single flower (cyathium); bracts present or not, sometimes petaloid in appearance.
Flowers		unisexual, sometimes with a corolla-like involucre; sepals 0–5; petals usually 0; stamens 1–many; ovaries superior; styles 3.
Fruits		capsules; dry.
Seeds		1 per chamber.

	Euphorbia hypericifolia	Euphorbiaceae
Distribution	[WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]	[BONAP county map]
Discussion		Worldwide. ~300 genera; 3 genera treated in Flora. Mercurialis annua has been collected on ballast in Portland and rarely as a garden waif. The plants and seeds of many species in Euphorbiaceae are toxic and highly poisonous to animals. The milky sap of Chamaesyce and Euphorbia species contains chemicals that help protect the plants from herbivory and can be very irritating to skin and eyes.
Source		Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 642
Sibling taxa	E. crenulata, E. cyparissias, E. dentata, E. esula, E. helioscopia, E. lathyris, E. myrsinites, E. oblongata, E. peplus, E. spathulata
Web links	Local Web sites: Flora NW, PNW Herbaria WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search	Local floras: CA, OR Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos, Flora NW, PNW Herbaria WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search

Euphorbia hypericifolia

Euphorbiaceae

spurge family

Habit

Shrubs, subshrubs, or herbs annual, biennial, or perennial, monoecious or dioecious; stems branched.

Leaves

alternate, subopposite; opposite or whorled; simple;

margins entire or toothed;

petioles present or not;

stipules present or not.

Inflorescences

various and diverse; in some genera individual flowers reduced and grouped into a bisexual inflorescence resembling a single flower (cyathium);

bracts present or not, sometimes petaloid in appearance.

Flowers

unisexual, sometimes with a corolla-like involucre;

sepals 0–5;

petals usually 0;

stamens 1–many;

ovaries superior;

styles 3.

Fruits

capsules; dry.

Seeds

1 per chamber.

Euphorbia hypericifolia

Euphorbiaceae

Distribution

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

Discussion

Worldwide. ~300 genera; 3 genera treated in Flora.

Mercurialis annua has been collected on ballast in Portland and rarely as a garden waif. The plants and seeds of many species in Euphorbiaceae are toxic and highly poisonous to animals. The milky sap of Chamaesyce and Euphorbia species contains chemicals that help protect the plants from herbivory and can be very irritating to skin and eyes.

Source

Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 642

Sibling taxa