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corrugate-seed spurge, rib-seed sandmat, ridge-seed spurge

pineland spurge

Habit Herbs, annual, with taproot. Herbs, perennial, with thickened, woody taproot.
Stems

prostrate, loosely mat-forming, 5–40 cm, glabrous, sometimes slightly glaucous.

erect, 30–100 cm, glabrous;

branches ± straight.

Leaves

opposite;

stipules usually distinct, linear-subulate, usually irregularly fringed or lobed, rarely laciniate, 0.4–2 mm, glabrous;

petiole 0.2–2 mm, glabrous;

blade narrowly oblong to oblong-obovate or oblong-ovate, 3–15 × 2–7 mm, base asymmetric, one side angled and other rounded to shallowly cordate, margins minutely sparsely serrulate, especially near apex and on longer side, apex rounded to obtuse, abaxial surface usually pale grayish green, adaxial surface sometimes reddish tinged or with reddish blotch, both surfaces glabrous; palmately veined at base, pinnate distally.

usually alternate, occasionally opposite proximally;

petiole 0–1.5 mm, glabrous;

blade narrowly lanceolate to linear, base long-attenuate, 30–120 × 2.5–5 mm, margins usually entire, occasionally with few inconspicuous teeth, revolute, apex narrowly acute, surfaces glabrous;

venation obscurely pinnate, midvein prominent.

Involucre

obconic, 0.6–0.9 × 0.3–0.6 mm, glabrous;

glands 4, red to purple, narrowly oblong-elliptic, 0.1–0.2 × 0.1–0.5 mm;

appendages white or pinkish tinged, semilunate and fringing distal margin of gland, 0.1–0.3 × 0.1–0.3 mm, distal margin usually irregularly crenulate or lobed.

campanulate, 1.5–1.9 × 1.4–1.7 mm, glabrous;

involucral lobes divided into broad, triangular segments;

glands 3(–5), red to purple, sessile and broadly attached, 0.8–1.1 × 1.2–1.6 mm, opening oblong (flattened without pressing), without annular rim, glabrous;

appendages absent.

Staminate flowers

1–5.

8–12.

Pistillate flowers

ovary glabrous;

styles 0.1–0.3 mm, 2-fid 1/2 length.

ovary glabrous;

styles 1.5 mm, 2-fid nearly entire length.

Capsules

broadly ovoid, 1.3–1.9 × 1.6–2 mm, glabrous;

columella 1.3–1.5 mm.

purpurescent, depressed-globose, 2.8–3.2 × 3.6–4 mm, 3-lobed, glabrous;

columella 2.6–2.9 mm.

Seeds

with thin white coat that readily falls off, surface below tan brown, oblong-ovoid, sharply angular in cross section, 1–1.4 × 0.6–0.9 mm, with 3–4(–6) prominent transverse ridges that usually interrupt abaxial keel.

dark brown, cylindric-ovoid to ovoid, rounded in cross section, 2.1–2.4 × 2 mm, uniformly low-tuberculate, tubercles in median, transverse ridge;

caruncle absent.

Cyathia

solitary or in small, cymose clusters at distal nodes;

peduncle 0.5–1.6 mm.

peduncle 1.5–3 mm.

Cyathial

arrangement: terminal monochasial or dichasial branches 1–2, unbranched;

pleiochasial bracts 2–3, often whorled, wholly purpurescent green or pink at base, similar in shape and size to distal leaves or slightly narrower;

dichasial bracts highly reduced.

2n

= 22.

Euphorbia glyptosperma

Euphorbia pinetorum

Phenology Flowering and fruiting early summer–fall. Flowering and fruiting year-round.
Habitat Stream and river banks, sand prairies, loess hill prairies, meadows, ballast, open disturbed areas, roadsides. Sandy soils in pinelands.
Elevation 0–1800 m. (0–5900 ft.) 0–10 m. (0–0 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; CT; IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; LA; MA; ME; MI; MN; MO; MT; ND; NE; NH; NM; NV; NY; OK; OR; SD; TN; TX; UT; VT; WA; WI; WY; AB; BC; MB; NB; NS; ON; PE; QC; SK; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
FL
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Euphorbia glyptosperma is one of the most widespread species of the genus in North America, and it is often quite weedy. It is likely native to much of the central United States, but in areas like eastern Canada, it occurs in highly disturbed habitats, and it may be adventive there. Euphorbia glyptosperma is characterized by its prominently ridged seeds, laciniate stipules, complete lack of pubescence, and somewhat obscure toothing near the tips of the leaves.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Euphorbia pinetorum has a restricted distribution in southern peninsular Florida, primarily in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. The species is very similar to narrow-leaved forms of the closely related E. cyathophora but differs in its perennial habit, consistently unlobed leaves, and purpurescent involucral glands and cyathia.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 12, p. 269. FNA vol. 12, p. 323.
Parent taxa Euphorbiaceae > Euphorbia > sect. Anisophyllum Euphorbiaceae > Euphorbia > sect. Poinsettia
Sibling taxa
E. aaron-rossii, E. abramsiana, E. acuta, E. agraria, E. albomarginata, E. alta, E. angusta, E. antisyphilitica, E. arizonica, E. astyla, E. austrotexana, E. bicolor, E. bifurcata, E. bilobata, E. blodgettii, E. bombensis, E. brachycera, E. capitellata, E. carunculata, E. chaetocalyx, E. chamaesula, E. cinerascens, E. commutata, E. conferta, E. cordifolia, E. corollata, E. crenulata, E. cumulicola, E. cuphosperma, E. curtisii, E. cyathophora, E. cyparissias, E. davidii, E. deltoidea, E. dendroides, E. dentata, E. discoidalis, E. eriantha, E. exigua, E. exserta, E. exstipulata, E. falcata, E. fendleri, E. florida, E. floridana, E. garberi, E. georgiana, E. geyeri, E. golondrina, E. gracillima, E. graminea, E. helioscopia, E. helleri, E. heterophylla, E. hexagona, E. hirta, E. hooveri, E. humistrata, E. hypericifolia, E. hyssopifolia, E. indivisa, E. innocua, E. inundata, E. ipecacuanhae, E. jaegeri, E. jejuna, E. laredana, E. lasiocarpa, E. lata, E. lathyris, E. longicruris, E. lurida, E. macropus, E. maculata, E. marginata, E. meganaesos, E. melanadenia, E. mendezii, E. mercurialina, E. mesembrianthemifolia, E. micromera, E. misera, E. missurica, E. myrsinites, E. nephradenia, E. nutans, E. oblongata, E. ocellata, E. ophthalmica, E. ouachitana, E. parishii, E. parryi, E. pediculifera, E. peplidion, E. peplus, E. perennans, E. pergamena, E. pinetorum, E. platyphyllos, E. platysperma, E. polycarpa, E. polygonifolia, E. polyphylla, E. porteriana, E. prostrata, E. pubentissima, E. purpurea, E. radians, E. rayturneri, E. revoluta, E. roemeriana, E. rosescens, E. schizoloba, E. serpens, E. serpillifolia, E. serrata, E. serrula, E. setiloba, E. simulans, E. spathulata, E. stictospora, E. strictior, E. telephioides, E. terracina, E. tetrapora, E. texana, E. theriaca, E. thymifolia, E. tithymaloides, E. trachysperma, E. trichotoma, E. vallis-mortae, E. velleriflora, E. vermiculata, E. villifera, E. virgata, E. wrightii, E. yaquiana
E. aaron-rossii, E. abramsiana, E. acuta, E. agraria, E. albomarginata, E. alta, E. angusta, E. antisyphilitica, E. arizonica, E. astyla, E. austrotexana, E. bicolor, E. bifurcata, E. bilobata, E. blodgettii, E. bombensis, E. brachycera, E. capitellata, E. carunculata, E. chaetocalyx, E. chamaesula, E. cinerascens, E. commutata, E. conferta, E. cordifolia, E. corollata, E. crenulata, E. cumulicola, E. cuphosperma, E. curtisii, E. cyathophora, E. cyparissias, E. davidii, E. deltoidea, E. dendroides, E. dentata, E. discoidalis, E. eriantha, E. exigua, E. exserta, E. exstipulata, E. falcata, E. fendleri, E. florida, E. floridana, E. garberi, E. georgiana, E. geyeri, E. glyptosperma, E. golondrina, E. gracillima, E. graminea, E. helioscopia, E. helleri, E. heterophylla, E. hexagona, E. hirta, E. hooveri, E. humistrata, E. hypericifolia, E. hyssopifolia, E. indivisa, E. innocua, E. inundata, E. ipecacuanhae, E. jaegeri, E. jejuna, E. laredana, E. lasiocarpa, E. lata, E. lathyris, E. longicruris, E. lurida, E. macropus, E. maculata, E. marginata, E. meganaesos, E. melanadenia, E. mendezii, E. mercurialina, E. mesembrianthemifolia, E. micromera, E. misera, E. missurica, E. myrsinites, E. nephradenia, E. nutans, E. oblongata, E. ocellata, E. ophthalmica, E. ouachitana, E. parishii, E. parryi, E. pediculifera, E. peplidion, E. peplus, E. perennans, E. pergamena, E. platyphyllos, E. platysperma, E. polycarpa, E. polygonifolia, E. polyphylla, E. porteriana, E. prostrata, E. pubentissima, E. purpurea, E. radians, E. rayturneri, E. revoluta, E. roemeriana, E. rosescens, E. schizoloba, E. serpens, E. serpillifolia, E. serrata, E. serrula, E. setiloba, E. simulans, E. spathulata, E. stictospora, E. strictior, E. telephioides, E. terracina, E. tetrapora, E. texana, E. theriaca, E. thymifolia, E. tithymaloides, E. trachysperma, E. trichotoma, E. vallis-mortae, E. velleriflora, E. vermiculata, E. villifera, E. virgata, E. wrightii, E. yaquiana
Synonyms Chamaesyce glyptosperma Poinsettia pinetorum
Name authority Engelmann: in W. H. Emory, Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. 2(1): 187. (1859) (Small) G. L. Webster: J. Arnold Arbor. 48: 403. (1967)
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