| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
Annual, perennial herb, shrub, tree, vine, monoecious or dioecious
Stem generally branched, sometimes fleshy or spiny
Leaves generally simple, alternate or opposite, generally stipuled, petioled; blade entire, toothed, or palmately lobed
Inflorescence: cyme, panicle, raceme, spike; flowers sometimes in clusters (dense, enclosed by involucre, flower-like in Chamaesyce, Euphorbia ), terminal or axillary
Flower unisexual, ± radial; sepals generally 3–5, free or fused; petals generally 0; stamens 1–many, free or filaments fused; ovary superior, chambers 1–4, styles free or fused, simple or lobed
Fruit: generally capsule
Seeds 1–2 per chamber; seed scar appendage sometimes present, pad- to dome-like
Genera in family: 300 genera, 7500 species: ± worldwide especially tropical; some cultivated (Aleurites , tung oil; Euphorbia subsp.; Hevea , rubber; Ricinus )
Reference: [Webster 1967 J Arnold Arbor 48:303–430]
Many species ± highly TOXIC .
Shrub, monoecious or dioecious; sap clear
Stems erect, generally much-branched
Leaves simple, cauline, alternate, stipuled; hairs simple or stellate
Staminate inflorescence: spike or raceme, axillary
Pistillate inflorescence terminal; flower sometimes solitary
Staminate flower sessile or short-pedicelled; calyx splitting into 3–4 segments; petals 0; stamens 3–25, filaments free; nectar disk minute or 0
Pistillate flower sessile; sepals 4–6; petals 0; nectar disk 0; ovary 3-chambered, styles 3, free, 2-lobed or -toothed
Fruit 3-lobed
Seed 1 per chamber; scar appendaged
Species in genus: 30–40 species: tropical, subtropical Am
Etymology: (Latin: Bernard de Jussieu, French taxonomist, 1699–1776)