Euphorbia bicolor |
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snow-on-the-prairie |
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Habit | Herbs, annual, with taproot. |
Stems | erect, unbranched or branched, 40–100 cm, pilose. |
Leaves | alternate; stipules 0.3–0.4 mm; petiole 0.3–1 mm, pilose; blade narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, 37–54 × 7–17 mm, base cuneate to slightly rounded, margins entire, apex aristate or acute, surfaces pilose; venation obscure, only midvein conspicuous. |
Involucre | campanulate, 2.7–3.5 × 2.2–3 mm, densely pilose; glands 4–5, green to pale greenish yellow, reniform, 0.6–0.7 × 1.4–1.6 mm; appendages white, obdeltate to orbiculate, 1.4–2.5 × 1.7–3 mm, dentate to erose. |
Staminate flowers | 30–70. |
Pistillate flowers | ovary pilose; styles 0.7–1.2 mm, 2-fid 1/2 length. |
Capsules | depressed-ovoid, 3.5–7.5 × 6–8.7 mm, densely pilose; columella 4.5–5.5 mm. |
Seeds | tan to brown, ovoid, 4.3–4.5 × 3.7–3.9 mm, alveolate; caruncle absent. |
Cyathia | in terminal pleiochasia dichasial and pleiochasial bracts linear to narrowly oblanceolate, with conspicuous white margins; peduncle 1.2–3 mm, densely pilose. |
Euphorbia bicolor |
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Phenology | Flowering and fruiting summer–fall. |
Habitat | Prairies, blackland (calcareous) prairies, pastures and clearings in former blackland prairie areas, roadside clearings. |
Elevation | 100–200 m. (300–700 ft.) |
Distribution |
AR; LA; OK; TX
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Discussion | Euphorbia bicolor is similar in appearance to E. marginata but can be distinguished by its linear to narrowly oblanceolate bracts and the presence of hairs on all parts of the plant. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 12, p. 243. |
Parent taxa | Euphorbiaceae > Euphorbia > sect. Alectoroctonum |
Sibling taxa | |
Name authority | Engelmann & A. Gray: Boston J. Nat. Hist. 5: 233. (1845) |
Web links |