Euphorbia inaequilatera Sond.

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual much-branched herb, prostrate, to ± 50 cm. in diameter, or sometimes decumbent with branches to 30 cm. long, longitudinally ridged, conspicuously so when dry, the whole plant completely glabrous or with a few scattered hairs on the lower leaf-surface and occasionally on the capsules.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves ovate to occasionally lanceolate, to 14 × 6 mm., base very obliquely rounded to subcordate, apex obtuse, margin serrate, sometimes obscurely so; petiole to 1.5 mm. long; stipules ± 1.5 mm. long, deeply divided with 3–5 linear points.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Cyathia

Cyathia solitary, on peduncles 1 mm. long, terminal and pseudoaxillary on short, leafy shoots, 1 × 1 mm., with cup-shaped involucres; glands 4, minute, transversely elliptic, red, with small lobed pink or white appendages; involucral lobes minute, triangular, margin sharply toothed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Male flowers:bracteoles laciniate; stamens 1.25 mm. long. Female flower:ovary pedicellate; styles 0.5 mm. long, spreading, bifid almost to the base.

sex Male

Male flowers:bracteoles laciniate; stamens 1.25 mm. long.

sex Female

Female flower:ovary pedicellate; styles 0.5 mm. long, spreading, bifid almost to the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule exserted on a reflexed pedicel 2 mm. long, acutely 3-lobed, 1.5 × 1.75 mm., with the angles often purple-tinged.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds oblong-conical, 1.25 × 0.75 mm., greyish brown, with shallow transverse wrinkles and pits.

Figures

Fig. 78/1, p. 422.

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb, rarely perennial, prostrate and much-branched up to 50 cm in diameter or sometimes decumbent with branches up to 30 cm long; branches longitudinally ridged especially when dry, completely glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with a petiole to 1.5 mm long; stipules to 1.5 mm long, deeply divided into 3–5 linear points; lamina to 10 × 6 mm, ovate to occasionally lanceolate, obtuse at the apex, very obliquely rounded to subcordate at the base, margin minutely toothed, often very obscurely so.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Cyathia

Cyathia terminal and pseudoaxillary on short leafy shoots, solitary on peduncles 1 mm long, 1 × 1 mm with cup-shaped involucres; glands 4, minute, transversely elliptic, red with small lobed pink or white appendages; involucral lobes minute, triangular, sharply toothed.

sex Male

Male flowers: bracteoles laciniate; stamens 1.25 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flower: ovary pedicellate; styles 0.5 mm long, spreading, bifid almost to the base. Male flowers: bracteoles laciniate; stamens 1.25 mm long.

sex Female

Female flower: ovary pedicellate; styles 0.5 mm long, spreading, bifid almost to the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule exserted on a reflexed pedicel 2 mm long, 1.5 × 1.75 mm, acutely 3-lobed with the angles often purple-tinged.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1.25 × 0.75 mm, oblong-conical, with shallow transverse wrinkles and pits, greyish-brown.

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

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Distribution

N2; C2; S2, 3; Ethiopia, Kenya, NE Tanzania

Ecology

Altitude range 10–500 m.

Vernacular

Nayla ababis (Somali)