Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbia

Euphorbia serpens Kunth

First published in F.W.H.von Humboldt, A.J.A.Bonpland & C.S.Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. 2: 52 (1817)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Easter Island, SE. Canada to Tropical & Subtropical America. It is an annual and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is used as a medicine.

Descriptions

Euphorbiaceae, A. R.-Smith. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1987

Morphology General Habit
Annual much-branched herb, prostrate, with branches to 10(–20) cm. long, the whole plant completely glabrous.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves subcircular, 1–3 mm. in diameter, base obliquely cordate, margin entire; petiole 0.2–0.5 mm. long; stipules united at the swollen nodes, triangular, ± 0.5 × 1 mm., with toothed margin.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Cyathia
Cyathia solitary on peduncles to 2 mm. long, terminal and pseudoaxillary on short leafy shoots, ± 0.7 × 0.7 mm., with cup-shaped involucres; glands 4, minute, transversely elliptic, with small white shallowly lobed petaloid appendages; involucral lobes minute, margin fringed.
sex Male
Male flowers:bracteoles laciniate; stamens 0.7 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Female flower:perianth evident as a 3-lobed rim below the shortly pedicellate ovary; styles 0.2 mm. long, spreading, bifid almost to the base. Male flowers:bracteoles laciniate; stamens 0.7 mm. long.
sex Female
Female flower:perianth evident as a 3-lobed rim below the shortly pedicellate ovary; styles 0.2 mm. long, spreading, bifid almost to the base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule exserted on a reflexed pedicel to 1.8 mm. long, obtusely 3-lobed, with truncate base, ± 1.5 × 1.8 mm., yellowish green.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds oblong-conical, 1 × 0.6 mm., greyish pink, smooth.
Habitat
Not known, probably by the roadside; 560 m.
Distribution
K7 a pantropical weed but in E. Africa known only from this collection
[FTEA]

Euphorbiaceae, S. Carter & L.C. Leach. Flora Zambesiaca 9:5. 2001

Morphology General Habit
Much-branched prostrate annual herb, with branches to 10(20) cm long, completely glabrous.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves with a petiole 0.2–0.5 mm long; stipules united at the swollen nodes, 0.5 × 1 mm, triangular with toothed margins; lamina 1–3 mm long, subcircular, obliquely cordate at the base, margins entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Cyathia
Cyathia terminal and pseudoaxillary on short leafy shoots, solitary on peduncles to 2 mm long, 0.7 × 0.7 mm with cup-shaped involucres; glands 4, minute, transversely elliptic, with small white shallowly lobed appendages; involucral lobes minute, fringed.
sex Male
Male flowers: bracteoles laciniate; stamens 0.7 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Female flower: perianth evident as a 3-lobed rim below the shortly pedicellate ovary; styles 0.2 mm long, spreading, bifid almost to the base. Male flowers: bracteoles laciniate; stamens 0.7 mm long.
sex Female
Female flower: perianth evident as a 3-lobed rim below the shortly pedicellate ovary; styles 0.2 mm long, spreading, bifid almost to the base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule exserted on a reflexed pedicel to 1.8 mm long, 1.5 × 1.8 mm, obtusely 3-lobed with truncate base, yellowish-green.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 1 × 0.6 mm, oblong-conical, smooth, greyish-pink.
[FZ]

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution
Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 75 m.; Llanura del Caribe.
Morphology General Habit
Hierba
Conservation
No Evaluada
[CPLC]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Caribbean. Elevation range: 75–75 m a.s.l. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Magdalena.
Habit
Herb.
Ecology
Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.
[UPFC]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/128045317/208230294

Conservation
CR - critically endangered
[IUCN]

Uses

Use Medicines
Medical uses.
[UPFC]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images

  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0