Euphorbia tithymaloides subsp. smallii

(Millspaugh) V. W. Steinmann

Acta Bot. Mex. 65: 50. 2003.

Common names: Jacob’s ladder devil’s backbone redbird flower
Illustrated
Basionym: Pedilanthus smallii Millspaugh Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 2: 358. 1913
Synonyms: P. tithymaloides subsp. smallii (Millspaugh) Dressler Tithymalus smallii (Millspaugh) Small
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 294.

Shrubs. Stems 0.7–2 m. Leaves: stipules dark brown, 0.5–0.6 × 0.5–0.6 mm; petiole 1.5–5 mm; blade usually elliptic- to lance-ovate, 25–70 × 13–32 mm, occasionally bractlike, 8–15 × 3.5–5 mm, base cuneate, apex acuminate, acute or narrowly obtuse, abaxial surface sparsely pilose-puberulent, adaxial surface glabrate or sparsely puberulent; midvein prominent, keeled or winged adaxially. Cyathia: peduncle 6–9 mm; bracts red or pink, oblong-lanceolate to oblong-ovate, 5–7 × 2–3 mm, apex acute or acuminate. Involucre red or pink, 8.5–12 mm; glands: medial slightly reniform, subquadrate to oblong, 0.8–1.2 × 0.7–0.8 mm, lateral irregularly ovate or oblong, 1–1.2 × 0.6–1 mm; appendages pink or red. Pistillate flowers: styles 5–6 mm. Seeds 3.3 × 2.7 mm, faintly keeled dorsally, base rounded, apex apiculate.


Phenology: Flowering and fruiting winter–early spring.
Habitat: Pinelands, hammocks.
Elevation: 0–10 m.

Discussion

Subspecies smallii is widely cultivated and was likely transported extensively by Spanish explorers very early but appears to be native to coastal areas of southern Florida and Matanzas in northern Cuba. Fieldwork suggests that several if not all Florida populations have apparently been extirpated due to development and human activity on Chokoloskee Island in the Florida Keys.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Natalia Ivalú Cacho +
(Millspaugh) V. W. Steinmann +
Pedilanthus smallii +
Jacob’s ladder +, devil’s backbone +  and redbird flower +
Fla. +  and West Indies (Cuba). +
0–10 m. +
Pinelands, hammocks. +
Flowering and fruiting winter–early spring. +
Acta Bot. Mex. +
Illustrated +
P. tithymaloides subsp. smallii +  and Tithymalus smallii +
Euphorbia tithymaloides subsp. smallii +
Euphorbia tithymaloides +
subspecies +