Jepson Herbarium
The University and Jepson Herbaria
University of California, Berkeley
Jepson eFlora: Key page
Vascular Plants of California
Key to families | Table of families and genera

Key to Euphorbiaceae

View taxon page for Euphorbiaceae

 

Jepson Manual glossary definitions can be seen by moving your cursor over words underlined with dots.

1. Inflorescence a compact, flower-like cyathium comprising an  of fused bracts that encloses a cluster of 1-stamened staminate flowers and 1 pistillate flower; involucre margin bearing 1–5 nectary glands, these sometimes bearing petal-like appendages ..... EUPHORBIA

1' Inflorescence not a cyathium, not flower-like; pistillate and staminate flowers generally ± separated, not enclosed in an involucre; stamens 2–many per staminate flower

2. Leaves  ..... MERCURIALIS

2' Leaves 

3. Leaf  palmately veined and lobed, 1–5 dm; inflorescenceterminal ..... RICINUS

3' Leaf not peltate, blade pinnately veined,  or toothed, generally << 1 dm; inflorescences various

4. Petals present ..... DITAXIS

4' Petals 0

5. Stem and  hairs 

6. Leaf margin bluntly toothed; stipules persistent; staminate inflorescence  ..... BERNARDIA

6' Leaf margin entire; stipules inconspicuous; staminate inflorescence terminal or axillary ..... CROTON

5' Stem and leaf hairs 0 or unbranched

7. Bracts subtending pistillate flowers leaf-like, toothed, > fruit ..... ACALYPHA

7' Bracts subtending pistillate flowers 0 or scale-like, entire, << fruit

8. Leaves with stinging, nettle-like hairs; stamens 3–6; base of pistillate bracts without glands; stem sap clear ..... TRAGIA

8' Leaves ± glabrous or glaucous; stamens 2–3; base of pistillate bracts with 2 large glands; stem sap milky or clear

9. Annual or  herb; stamens 2; seeds 2–3.5 mm ..... STILLINGIA

9' Tree; stamens 2–3; seeds 6–9 mm ..... TRIADICA

 

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Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) . Jepson eFlora, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/ [accessed on ]

Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on .

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