| 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 .
Annual, perennial herb, monoecious or dioecious, generally glabrous; sap clear
Stems: central erect, branched; lateral < central, spreading to ascending
Leaves simple, cauline, opposite; stipules persistent; hairs simple
Staminate inflorescence spike-like, axillary; flowers clustered
Pistillate inflorescence: flowers clustered, axillary, below staminate flowers
Staminate flower: calyx 3-lobed; petals 0; stamens 8–15(20), free; nectary 0
Pistillate flower: sepals 3; petals 0; staminodes 2, elongated; ovary 2-chambered, bristly, styles free, simple
Fruit bristly
Seeds 1 per chamber, generally pitted; scar appendaged
Species in genus: 8 species: Eurasia, n Africa
Etymology: (Greek: Greek God Mercury)