Euphorbia chamaesyce, is an annual plant in the family Euphorbiaceae. It is native to North Africa, Europe and Asia.[1]

Euphorbia chamaesyce
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Euphorbia
Species:
E. chamaesyce
Binomial name
Euphorbia chamaesyce

Description

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A mat-forming annual Euphorbia, hairy or hairless, with oblique-based leaves. Fruits, 2 mm, are covered with projecting hairs (not just at the edges), or no hairs, bumpless. The leaves are weakly toothed or toothless, to 7(11) x 4.5(6) mm, leaf tips not pointed, slightly to rather greyish (glaucous) on 1 mm stalks. 'Flower' effect is formed of small but prominent white/pinkish appendages to the rounded yellowish/reddish floral glands. Seeds 1.2 mm, ovoid-quadrangular, irregularly tuberculate-rugulose, pale greyish.

In Europe similar plants are the other mat-forming Euphorbia, of which the fruit if hairy is the best distinguisher.

Subspecies as Flora Europaea has them -

ssp chamaesyce - hairless or pubescent, leaves smaller (<10mm) and rather roundish, often untoothed, tip usually notched. Petal-like appendages to glands up to twice the gland in width (so not more prominent than the gland), edge usually unlobed.

ssp massiliensis (DC.) Thell. - villous, leaves larger (to 10 mm), elongated, finely toothed (serrulate), tip rounded. Petal-like appendages to glands more than twice the gland in width (more prominent than the gland), edge often 3-lobed.

Sources: Flora Europaea,[2] Flora of Turkey [3]

Habitat

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Europe: Open habitats.[2]

Turkey: Rocky hillsides, scree, gravel plains, saline and sandy soils, streamsides, lake shores, disturbed habitats, 0–1600 m.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Plants of the World Online (Map)".
  2. ^ a b Tutin. Flora Europaea, vol. 2.
  3. ^ a b Davis. Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, vol. 7.