FNA: Euphorbia pediculifera vs. Euphorbia trichotoma

	Euphorbia pediculifera	Euphorbia trichotoma
	Carrizo Mountain sandmat	sand-dune spurge
Habit		Herbs, perennial, with thick rootstock.
Stems		erect, branched, 15–40 cm, glabrous.
Leaves		petiole absent; blade obovate to oblanceolate, 5–20 × 2–7 mm, base broadly attenuate, margins entire, apex acute to obtuse, surfaces glabrous; venation pinnate, very obscure, midvein prominent.
Involucre		hemispheric, 1–1.5 × 1.4–2 mm, glabrous; glands 5, elliptic to slightly crescent-shaped, 0.4–0.6 × 0.9–1.1 mm; horns divergent, 0.1–0.2 mm.
Staminate flowers		8–10.
Pistillate flowers		ovary glabrous; styles 0.2–0.4 mm, 2-fid.
Capsules		depressed-ovoid, 1.1–1.5 × 2–3 mm, strongly 3-lobed; cocci rounded, minutely papillate, sometimes appearing smooth, glabrous; columella 1.6–1.9 mm.
Seeds		white, ovoid-globose, 1.8–2 × 1.6–1.8 mm, smooth; caruncle ± rounded and flattened, 0.3 × 0.3 mm.
Euphorbia	pediculifera can be variable in terms of leaf shape and the extent of pubescence, but the species is readily identified by the short, appressed hairs on the leaves and the distinctive seed that is encircled by a series of round, transverse ridges.
Cyathial		arrangement: terminal pleiochasial branches 3, each usually 1–2 times 3-branched, sometimes unbranched; pleiochasial bracts similar in shape and size to distal leaves, alternate; dichasial bracts distinct, obovate to oblanceolate, base broadly attenuate, margins entire, apex acute to obtuse; axillary cymose branches 0.
Cyathia		peduncle 0.7–1 mm.

	Euphorbia pediculifera	Euphorbia trichotoma
Phenology		Flowering and fruiting year-round (primarily spring–summer).
Habitat		Coastal beaches, sand dunes, thickets.
Elevation		0–10 m. (0–0 ft.)
Distribution	AZ; CA; nw Mexico [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]	FL; Mexico; Central America; West Indies [BONAP county map]
Discussion	Varieties 2 (1 in the flora). Euphorbia pediculifera var. linearifolia S. Watson is found only near Guaymas in southwestern Sonora, Mexico. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)	Euphorbia trichotoma is found in coastal peninsular Florida from Hillsborough County south to Key West. (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	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. 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. 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. vallis-mortae, E. velleriflora, E. vermiculata, E. villifera, E. virgata, E. wrightii, E. yaquiana
Subordinate taxa	E. pediculifera var. pediculifera
Synonyms	Chamaesyce pediculifera	Galarhoeus trichotomus, Tithymalus trichotomus
Name authority	Engelmann: in W. H. Emory, Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. 2(1): 186. (1859)	Kunth: in A. von Humboldt et al., Nov. Gen. Sp. 2(fol.): 48; 2(qto.): 60. (1817)
Web links	Local floras: CA Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search	WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search

Euphorbia trichotoma

Carrizo Mountain sandmat

sand-dune spurge

Habit

Herbs, perennial, with thick rootstock.

Stems

erect, branched, 15–40 cm, glabrous.

Leaves

petiole absent;

blade obovate to oblanceolate, 5–20 × 2–7 mm, base broadly attenuate, margins entire, apex acute to obtuse, surfaces glabrous;

venation pinnate, very obscure, midvein prominent.

Involucre

hemispheric, 1–1.5 × 1.4–2 mm, glabrous;

glands 5, elliptic to slightly crescent-shaped, 0.4–0.6 × 0.9–1.1 mm;

horns divergent, 0.1–0.2 mm.

Staminate flowers

8–10.

Pistillate flowers

ovary glabrous;

styles 0.2–0.4 mm, 2-fid.

Capsules

depressed-ovoid, 1.1–1.5 × 2–3 mm, strongly 3-lobed;

cocci rounded, minutely papillate, sometimes appearing smooth, glabrous;

columella 1.6–1.9 mm.

Seeds

white, ovoid-globose, 1.8–2 × 1.6–1.8 mm, smooth;

caruncle ± rounded and flattened, 0.3 × 0.3 mm.

Euphorbia

pediculifera can be variable in terms of leaf shape and the extent of pubescence, but the species is readily identified by the short, appressed hairs on the leaves and the distinctive seed that is encircled by a series of round, transverse ridges.

Cyathial

arrangement: terminal pleiochasial branches 3, each usually 1–2 times 3-branched, sometimes unbranched;

pleiochasial bracts similar in shape and size to distal leaves, alternate;

dichasial bracts distinct, obovate to oblanceolate, base broadly attenuate, margins entire, apex acute to obtuse;

axillary cymose branches 0.

Cyathia

peduncle 0.7–1 mm.

Euphorbia pediculifera

Euphorbia trichotoma

Phenology

Flowering and fruiting year-round (primarily spring–summer).

Habitat

Coastal beaches, sand dunes, thickets.

Elevation

0–10 m. (0–0 ft.)

Distribution

AZ; CA; nw Mexico

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

FL; Mexico; Central America; West Indies

[BONAP county map]

Discussion

Varieties 2 (1 in the flora).

Euphorbia pediculifera var. linearifolia S. Watson is found only near Guaymas in southwestern Sonora, Mexico.

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

Euphorbia trichotoma is found in coastal peninsular Florida from Hillsborough County south to Key West.

(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

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. 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. 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. vallis-mortae, E. velleriflora, E. vermiculata, E. villifera, E. virgata, E. wrightii, E. yaquiana

Subordinate taxa

E. pediculifera var. pediculifera

Synonyms

Chamaesyce pediculifera

Galarhoeus trichotomus, Tithymalus trichotomus

Name authority

Engelmann: in W. H. Emory, Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. 2(1): 186. (1859)

Kunth: in A. von Humboldt et al., Nov. Gen. Sp. 2(fol.): 48; 2(qto.): 60. (1817)

Web links

Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).

Choose a data source: Flora of North America

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Euphorbia pediculifera

Euphorbia trichotoma

Euphorbia pediculifera

Euphorbia trichotoma