Euphorbia parryi |
Euphorbia texana |
|
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dune spurge, Parry's sandmat, Parry's spurge |
Texas spurge |
|
Habit | Herbs, annual, with taproot. | Herbs, annual, with taproot. |
Stems | usually prostrate, rarely ascending-erect, 5–70(–85) cm, glabrous. |
erect or ascending, unbranched or branched, sometimes extensively at crown, 7–20 cm, glabrous. |
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. |
petiole 0–0.2 mm; blade oblanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate, 8–15 × 2–5 mm, base usually attenuate, occasionally cuneate, margins crenulate distally, apex rounded to obtuse, bluntly mucronate, surfaces glabrous; venation pinnate, midvein prominent. |
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. |
hemispheric, 0.5–0.9 × 0.6–1 mm, glabrous; glands (4–)5, elongate reniform, 0.1–0.3 × 0.3–0.5 mm; horns absent. |
Staminate flowers | 40–55. |
5. |
Pistillate flowers | ovary glabrous; styles 0.5–0.7 mm, 2-fid nearly entire length. |
ovary glabrous; styles 0.8–1 mm, 2-fid. |
Capsules | ovoid-globose, 2–2.3 × 1.5–2.5 mm, glabrous; columella 1.4–2 mm. |
depressed-globose, 1.6–2 × 2.5–3 mm, 3-lobed; cocci rounded, smooth, glabrous; columella 1.2–1.5 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. |
brownish black, globose-lenticular, 1.4–1.5 × 1.3–1.4 mm, finely reticulate or areolate with distinct line on back; caruncle low conic, 0.4 × 0.5 mm. |
Cyathia | solitary or in small clusters on short axillary branches at distal nodes; peduncle 1–5 mm. |
peduncle 0.3–0.6 mm. |
Cyathial | arrangement: terminal pleiochasial branches 3, each 1–3 times 2-branched; pleiochasial bracts similar in shape and size to distal leaves; dichasial bracts distinct, elliptic to ovate, base acute to ± truncate, margins crenate distally, apex obtuse to rounded and mucronate; axillary cymose branches 1–3. |
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Euphorbia parryi |
Euphorbia texana |
|
Phenology | Flowering and fruiting spring–fall. | Flowering and fruiting spring. |
Habitat | Sand dunes, other sandy habitats. | Open ground, prairies. |
Elevation | 200–2200 m. (700–7200 ft.) | 0–200 m. (0–700 ft.) |
Distribution |
AZ; CA; CO; NM; NV; TX; UT; Mexico (Chihuahua)
|
LA; TX |
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.) |
Euphorbia texana is related to E. alta and E. spathulata, but differs from both of those species in its smooth capsules. It is endemic to southeastern Texas and adjacent Louisiana. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 12, p. 281. | FNA vol. 12, p. 311. |
Parent taxa | Euphorbiaceae > Euphorbia > sect. Anisophyllum | Euphorbiaceae > Euphorbia > subg. Esula |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Chamaesyce longeramosa, C. parryi, E. longeramosa | E. dictyosperma var. leiococca, E. leiococca |
Name authority | Engelmann: Amer. Naturalist 9: 350. (1875) | Boissier: Cent. Euphorb., 30. (1860) |
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