TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993)	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California

EUPHORBIACEAE

SPURGE FAMILY

Grady L. Webster, except as specified

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.

TRAGIA

NOSEBURN

Perennial < 0.5 m, monoecious; hairs stinging, nettle-like
Stems spreading to erect, branched, sometimes twining
Leaves generally simple, cauline, alternate; stipules persistent
Inflorescence: raceme, terminal or opposite leaf; staminate flowers above pistillate flowers
Staminate flower: sepals 3(–5); petals 0; stamens 3–6(50); nectary 0
Pistillate flower: sepals 4–8; petals 0; ovary 3-chambered, styles simple, ± fused at base
Fruit ± spheric
Seeds 1 per chamber, smooth or ± rough; scar not appendaged
Species in genus: ± 100 species: tropical, warm temp worldwide
Etymology: (Latin: Tragus, name for Hieronymus Bock, German herbalist, 1498–1554)
Reference: [Miller & Webster 1967 Rhodora 69:241–305]