Euphorbia lasiocarpa

Klotzsch

Nov. Actorum Acad. Caes. Leop.-Carol. Nat. Cur. 19(suppl. 1): 414. 1843.

Common names: Roadside sandmat
WeedyIntroduced
Synonyms: Chamaesyce lasiocarpa (Klotzsch) Arthur
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 275. Mentioned on page 252, 279.

Herbs, annual or perennial, often robust, with slender to moderately thickened taproot. Stems erect to ascending, 30–100 cm, pilose to tomentose. Leaves opposite; stipules distinct when young, connate into deltate scale when older, erose to laciniate, with dark glands at margin or base, 0.5–1.3 mm, pilose; petiole 0.5–2 mm, glabrescent or pilose; blade ovate or oblong, sometimes slightly falcate, 8–46 × 3–21 mm, base asymmetric, obtuse to hemicordate, margins serrulate, apex obtuse or acute, surfaces often with red spot in center, pilose to sericeous; palmately 3–5(–7)-veined from base. Cyathia in dense, usually terminal, capitate glomerules, with reduced, bractlike leaves subtending cyathia; peduncle 0.8–2.3 mm. Involucre obconic, 0.9–1.3 × 0.8–1.2 mm, pilose to sericeous; glands 4, yellow or pink, circular or oblong, 0.1–0.3 mm diam.; appendages white or pink, oblong, flabellate, or suborbiculate, 0.1–0.6 × 0.2–1 mm, entire or crenate. Staminate flowers 15–25. Pistillate flowers: ovary densely pilose to sericeous with yellowish hairs; styles 0.6–0.9 mm, 2-fid 1/2 length, filiform. Capsules subglobose to broadly ovoid, 1.7–2 mm diam., pilose to sericeous with yellowish hairs; columella 1.5–1.7 mm. Seeds dark reddish brown to almost black, plumply ovoid, 4-angled in cross section, 1.2–1.3 × 0.7–0.8 mm, with 2 inconspicuous rows of 3–5 shallow depressions separated by low ridges.


Phenology: Flowering and fruiting year-round.
Habitat: Open disturbed areas, mostly along roadsides and railroad tracks.
Elevation: 0–10 m.

Distribution

V12 531-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Euphorbia lasiocarpa is similar to E. hypericifolia but is much more hairy on its stems and leaves. Euphorbia lasiocarpa is widespread throughout tropical America, but its precise native range in the New World is not clear. In the flora area, E. lasiocarpa is found in southern Florida, where it is likely introduced.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Euphorbia lasiocarpa"
Victor W. Steinmann +, Jeffery J. Morawetz +, Paul E. Berry +, Jess A. Peirson +  and Ya Yang +
Klotzsch +
Anisophyllum +
Roadside sandmat +
Fla. +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +  and South America. +
0–10 m. +
Open disturbed areas, mostly along roadsides and railroad tracks. +
Flowering and fruiting year-round. +
Nov. Actorum Acad. Caes. Leop.-Carol. Nat. Cur. +
Weedy +  and Introduced +
Chamaesyce lasiocarpa +
Euphorbia lasiocarpa +
Euphorbia sect. Anisophyllum +
species +