Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbia

Euphorbia classenii P.R.O.Bally & S.Carter

First published in Kew Bull. 29: 507 (1974)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Kenya (Mt. Kasigau). It is a succulent shrub and grows primarily in the desert or dry shrubland biome.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Succulent shrub, densely branching from the base, erect to 1 m. high; branches sparsely rebranched, prominently 6–8-angled, 1–3 cm. thick, bright green; angles sinuately and shallowly toothed, with teeth 6–12 mm. apart.
Morphology General Spines
Spinescence grey; spine-shields oblong-triangular, to 2 × 2 mm. above the spines and often extended to surround the flowering eye, decurrent to 4 mm. and halfway to the flowering eye below; spines to 8 mm. long; prickles absent or rudimentary.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves acutely deltoid, ± 1 × 1 mm.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Cymes solitary, 1 (–2)-forked, subsessile; bracts subquadrate, ± 2 × 2 mm.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Cyathia
Cyathia ± 3 × 4 mm., with cup-shaped involucres; glands transversely oblong, ± 1 × 2 mm., just touching, golden yellow; lobes subcircular, ± 1.3 × 1.3 mm.
sex Male
Male flowers:bracteoles fan-shaped, laciniate; stamens 3 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Female flower:styles ± 2 mm. long, joined to almost halfway, apices thickened, rugulose. Male flowers:bracteoles fan-shaped, laciniate; stamens 3 mm. long.
sex Female
Female flower:styles ± 2 mm. long, joined to almost halfway, apices thickened, rugulose.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule exserted on a reflexed pedicel to 4 mm. long, obtusely 3-lobed, ± 4 × 5.5 mm., buff.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds ovoid, 2 × 1.5 mm., reddish brown, smooth.
Habitat
Exposed rock faces with deciduous woodland; 900–1200 m.
Distribution
K7 known only from Mt. Kasigau
[FTEA]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/158055/758943

Conservation
LC - least concern
[IUCN]

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: threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

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

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

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

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 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