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dune spurge, Parry's sandmat, Parry's spurge

false flowering spurge, southeastern flowering spurge

Habit Herbs, annual, with taproot. Herbs, perennial, with spreading rootstock.
Stems

usually prostrate, rarely ascending-erect, 5–70(–85) cm, glabrous.

erect, usually unbranched, occasionally few branched distally, solitary or few, previous year's dead stems not persistent, 30–65 cm, usually glabrous, rarely villous.

Leaves

opposite;

stipules distinct, linear-subulate, usually lacerate and divided into 2 or more slender segments, rarely entire, 0.6–1.4 mm, glabrous;

petiole 1–2.5 mm, glabrous;

blade linear to narrowly oblong, (5–)10–25(–30) × 2–5 mm, base usually symmetric, sometimes slightly asymmetric, attenuate, margins entire, occasionally ± revolute, apex acute to obtuse, mucronulate, surfaces glabrous;

only midvein conspicuous.

alternate;

stipules 1 mm;

petiole (0–)1–2(–10) mm, glabrous or densely villous;

blade lanceolate, lance-ovate, elliptic, or obovate, 40–68 × 6–18 mm, often reflexed, base cuneate to rounded, margins entire, apex usually rounded, sometimes broadly acute, abaxial surface glabrous or villous, adaxial surface usually glabrous, rarely sparsely villous;

venation occasionally obscure on small leaves, midvein conspicuous.

Involucre

broadly cupuliform-campanulate, 1.2–1.7 × 1.4–1.8 mm, glabrous;

glands 4, reddish pink to greenish yellow, deeply concave, elliptic to oblong, 0.2–0.3 × 0.3–0.5 mm;

appendages white, elliptic to oblong, usually forming narrow margin around gland, sometimes rudimentary, 0.2–0.6 × 0.3–0.7(–1.1) mm, distal margin entire.

campanulate or hemispheric, 1.3–1.7 × 1.8–2.2 mm, glabrous or villous;

glands 5 (7–10 on central cyathium), green, reniform or broadly elliptic, 0.3–0.5 × 0.5–0.8 mm;

appendages white, orbiculate or narrowly flabellate, 1–2.2 × 1.5 mm, entire.

Staminate flowers

40–55.

20–25.

Pistillate flowers

ovary glabrous;

styles 0.5–0.7 mm, 2-fid nearly entire length.

ovary glabrous or sparsely villous;

styles 0.6–1.1 mm, 2-fid 1/2 length.

Capsules

ovoid-globose, 2–2.3 × 1.5–2.5 mm, glabrous;

columella 1.4–2 mm.

globose, 2–2.4 × 3.3–4.8 mm, glabrous or sparsely villous;

columella 1.8–2.1 mm.

Seeds

mottled brown and white because of irregularly loose and tight outer covering, broadly ovoid, rounded-angular in cross section, 1.4–1.8 × 0.8–1 mm, smooth or only inconspicuously roughened.

light gray, ovoid, 2.2–2.4 × 1.6–1.8 mm, with shallow depressions;

caruncle absent.

Cyathia

solitary or in small clusters on short axillary branches at distal nodes;

peduncle 1–5 mm.

in terminal pleiochasia;

peduncle 1–5 mm (or 15–40 mm on early flowering individuals), usually glabrous, occasionally sparsely villous.

Euphorbia parryi

Euphorbia pubentissima

Phenology Flowering and fruiting spring–fall. Flowering and fruiting spring–fall.
Habitat Sand dunes, other sandy habitats. Open fields, cliffs, woods, floodplains.
Elevation 200–2200 m. (700–7200 ft.) 0–900 m. (0–3000 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; NM; NV; TX; UT; Mexico (Chihuahua)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; FL; GA; LA; MD; MS; NC; SC; TN; VA; WV
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Euphorbia parryi is similar to E. missurica, differing only by the generally narrow involucral gland appendages and prostrate habit in E. parryi as opposed to the conspicuous involucral gland appendages and ascending-erect habit in E. missurica. Euphorbia parryi has sometimes been considered the western race of E. missurica (D. S. Correll and M. C. Johnston 1970).

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

The taxonomic history of Euphorbia pubentissima is complex. The species has been included within a very broadly defined E. corollata in the past. Therefore, its geographic distribution appears significantly more wide-ranging in some treatments. The framework established by M. J. Huft (1979) and later by K. R. Park (1998) is followed here. Euphorbia pubentissima is recognized as a variable species restricted to the southeastern United States. The species can be distinguished from E. corollata by its shorter involucral gland appendages and smaller seeds. Euphorbia paniculata Elliott, which sometimes is applied to E. pubentissima, is an illegitimate name (a later homonym of Euphorbia paniculata Desfontaines).

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

Source FNA vol. 12, p. 281. FNA vol. 12, p. 250.
Parent taxa Euphorbiaceae > Euphorbia > sect. Anisophyllum Euphorbiaceae > Euphorbia > sect. Alectoroctonum
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. 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. 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. pinetorum, E. platyphyllos, E. platysperma, E. polycarpa, E. polygonifolia, E. polyphylla, E. porteriana, E. prostrata, 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 longeramosa, C. parryi, E. longeramosa E. apocynifolia, E. corollata var. paniculata, E. corollata var. zinniiflora, E. zinniiflora, Tithymalopsis apocynifolia, T. paniculata, T. zinniiflora
Name authority Engelmann: Amer. Naturalist 9: 350. (1875) Michaux: Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 212. (1803)
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