Euphorbia thymifolia L.

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. 0 - 1200 m.; Amazonia, Andes, Islas Caribeñas, Llanura del Caribe, Orinoquia, Pacífico, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Morphology General Habit

Hierba

Conservation

No Evaluada

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

Morphology General Habit

Prostrate densely branching annual herb, with branches to 25 cm. long, glabrous on the undersurface, the upper surface densely pilose with fairly long curved adpressed hairs, the whole plant tinged reddish brown.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves ovate, to 8 × 4 mm., base obliquely subcordate, apex obtuse, margin shallowly toothed, upper surface glabrous, the lower surface with long scattered hairs; petiole 0.5 mm. long; stipules free, linear, to 1.25 mm. long, often deeply 2–3-toothed, pilose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Cyathia

Cyathia solitary, subsessile, terminal and pseudoaxillary on congested leafy shoots, ± 0.5 × 0.5 mm., with funnel-shaped involucres, pilose; glands 4, minute, subcircular, red, with often almost invisible red appendages; lobes minute, triangular, ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Male flowers very few (5 or less):bracteoles reduced to 1 or 2 threads; stamens 0.8 mm. long. Female flower:ovary subsessile; styles 0.6 mm. long, erect, bifid to halfway.

sex Male

Male flowers very few (5 or less):bracteoles reduced to 1 or 2 threads; stamens 0.8 mm. long.

sex Female

Female flower:ovary subsessile; styles 0.6 mm. long, erect, bifid to halfway.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule subsessile (pedicel 0.2 mm. long), splitting the involucre during development, 3-lobed, with truncate base, 1 × 1 mm., pilose with short adpressed hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds conical, sharply 4-angled, 0.6 × 0.4 mm., reddish brown, with shallow transverse ridges and grooves.

Habitat

On disturbed ground in sandy soil; 1050–1150 m.

Distribution

T4 T8 West Africa eastwards to Central African Republic, Zaire and Zambia, with one specimen seen from Mozambiquea pantropical weed apparently only recently spreading into East Africa

Euphorbiaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit

A prostrate herb

Morphology Leaves

Leaves often purplish

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Involucral glands red

Note

An introduced weed.

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Amazonia, Andean, Caribbean, Orinoquia, Pacific. Elevation range: 0–1200 m a.s.l. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Amazonas, Antioquia, Atlántico, Bolívar, Caquetá, Chocó, Córdoba, Guainía, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, San Andrés y Providencia, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vichada.

Habit

Herb.

Conservation

National Red List of Colombia (2021): Potential LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, native grassland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.

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

Morphology General Habit

Prostrate densely branching annual herb, whole plant tinged reddish-brown; branches to 25 cm long, glabrous on the underside, densely pilose above with curved appressed hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with a petiole 0.5 mm long; stipules to 1.25 mm long, linear, often deeply 2–3-toothed, pilose; lamina to 8 × 4 mm, ovate, obtuse at the apex, obliquely subcordate at the base, shallowly toothed at the margin, upper surface glabrous, lower surface with long scattered hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Cyathia

Cyathia terminal and pseudoaxillary on congested leafy shoots, solitary, subsessile, c. 0.5 × 0.5 mm, with funnel-shaped involucres, pilose; glands 4, minute, subcircular, red, with often almost invisible red appendages; lobes minute, triangular, ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Male flowers very few (5 or less): bracteoles reduced to 1 or 2 threads; stamens 0.8 mm long. Female flower: ovary subsessile; styles 0.6 mm long, erect, bifid to halfway.

sex Male

Male flowers very few (5 or less): bracteoles reduced to 1 or 2 threads; stamens 0.8 mm long.

sex Female

Female flower: ovary subsessile; styles 0.6 mm long, erect, bifid to halfway.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule subsessile, splitting the involucre during development, 1 × 1 mm, 3-lobed with a truncate base, pilose with short appressed hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 0.6 × 4 mm, conical, sharply 4-angled, with shallow transverse ridges and grooves, reddish-brown.