Euphorbia thymifolia

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Malpighiales Family: Euphorbiaceae Genus: Euphorbia

spurge

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annual herbs.

Stems: Stems prostrate, 1–3 dm long, crisp–pubescent above, glabrous below.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite. Blades ovate to oblong, 3–9 mm long, 1.5–5 mm wide. Apex rounded or obtuse. Base obtuse, rounded, or subcordate. Surfaces glabrous or with a few scattered hairs. Margins coarsely serrate. Petioles 0.5–1 mm long. Stipules distinct, 0.5–1 mm long, lacerate.

Flowers: Flowers in cyathia 1 to few at nodes of short, congested, leafy, lateral shoots; staminate flowers 3–5 per cyathium. involucre 0.6–1 mm high, pubescent to glabrate, glands 4, red, elliptic to suborbicular, appendages white to rose, about twice as long as the gland, sometimes absent. Flowers unisexual and highly reduced. Pistillate flowers solitary, on a gynophore; staminate flowers in 5 groups or cymules, each with 1 to several flowers. Calyx (sepals) absent. Corolla (petals) absent. Male flower reduced to a single stamen, with an articulation at junction of pedicel and filament, subtended by slender bracteoles. Ovary superior, 3-carpellate; ovules 1 per cell, anatropous.

Fruit: Capsules ovoid–deltoid; 3–angled; 1–1.5 mm long; uniformly strigose; not fully exserted; but splitting the cyathium at maturity. Seeds dull; pinkish; strongly quadrangular; 0.8–1 mm long; the faces with 3–4 transverse ridges.

Ploidy: 2n = 18; 19

Habitat: Low elevation; dry; disturbed sites.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 454 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:615 (O, H [as Chamaesyce thymifolia]); Lorence et al. 1995:35 (K, EM); Oppenheimer & Bartlett 2000:5 (WM); Oppenheimer 2003:11 (Mo, L); Govaerts et al. 2000:848 (NOM:Syn. C. thymifolia = Euphorbia thymifolia); Steinmann & Porter 2002/Yang & Berry 2011 (molecular support for nesting of Chamaesyce within Euphorbia)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Central Maui, Wailuku District, Kahului, Jack in the Box parking lot In curb. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Starr, F. Martz, K. Collector Number: 010722-1 Maui BISH 7/22/2001
2 Euphorbia thymifolia L. located down chain of craters road about 23.3 miles toward dkalapana from intersection with crater rim road; 1.6 miles before kamoamoa picnic area, or 8 miles before queens bath Salt spray community. Plant on ocean side (SE) of road across from a road pulloff. (plot 30). PRESERVED_SPECIMEN newell, c.l. collector number: 96 Hawaii BISH 7/20/1966
3 Euphorbia thymifolia L. W Maui, Lahaina District, Honokahua, Hawea Point Growing near coastal bluffs in shallow clay soil. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. H99908 Maui BISH 9/11/1999
4 Euphorbia thymifolia L. within a disturbed area at the western tip of Halepuaa Forest Reserve in the Puna District Found only in areas of crushed `a`a lava void of other vegetation. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Clarke, G. 79.23 Hawaii BISH 3/29/1979
5 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Honolulu, University of Hawaii Manoa Campus Growing in sidewalk crack. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. 1966 Oahu BISH 6/20/1971
6 Euphorbia thymifolia L. W Maui, Lahaina District, Honokahua, vicinity of Namalu Bay, near Kapalua Bay Hotel Weed in lawn. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. H99902 Maui BISH 9/4/1999
7 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Honolulu, Old Naval Station PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Garber, D.W. 5 Oahu BISH 10/16/1919
8 Euphorbia thymifolia L. central maui, wailuku district, kahului, jack in the box parking lot In curb. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN starr, f. martz, k. collector number: 010722-1 Maui BISH 7/22/2001
9 Euphorbia thymifolia L. w maui, lahaina district, honokahua, hawea point Growing near coastal bluffs in shallow clay soil. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oppenheimer, h.l. collector number: h99908 Maui BISH 9/11/1999
10 Euphorbia thymifolia L. w maui, lahaina district, honokahua, vicinity of namalu bay, near kapalua bay hotel Weed in lawn. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oppenheimer, h.l. collector number: h99902 Maui BISH 9/4/1999
11 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Central Maui, Wailuku District, Kahului, Jack in the Box parking lot In curb. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Starr, F. 010722-1 Maui BISH 7/22/2001
12 Euphorbia thymifolia L. university of hawaii at manoa campus PRESERVED_SPECIMEN d. r. herbst 1966 MPM 6/20/1971
13 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Hawaii National Park, between Hilina Pali and Kaone Abundant on shallow ash soil. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN St. John, H. 324 Hawaii BISH 2/15/1943
14 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Kaunakakai, in lawn near the wharf. Near sea level. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H70112 Molokai PTBG 7/14/2001
15 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Hulupoe Bay. Near sea level. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H40118 Lanai PTBG 4/15/2001
16 Euphorbia thymifolia L. W. Maui, Hanakaoo. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H20121 Maui PTBG 2/16/2001
17 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Poipu. Sheraton Poipu. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 4258a Kauai PTBG 10/2/1990
18 Euphorbia thymifolia L. MAUI: Hana District. Kahahu Point. PTBG Kahanu Garden. Cultivated area running north from garden entrance along edge of forest. Elev. 0-50 ft. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 2584 Maui PTBG 10/30/1987
19 Euphorbia thymifolia L. at edge of parking lot, lower campus, university of hawaii at manoa, moiliili quarry, honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN k. nagata 1262 Oahu US 4/2/1975
20 Euphorbia thymifolia L. hawaii volcanoes national park, chain of craters road, aloi hot spot, near aloi crater PRESERVED_SPECIMEN f. r. fosberg 45164 Hawaii US 3/15/1964
21 Euphorbia thymifolia L. kaunakakai, near wharf PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oppenheimer, h.l. collector number: h70112 Maui BISH 7/14/2001
22 Euphorbia thymifolia L. honolulu, old naval station PRESERVED_SPECIMEN garber, d.w. collector number: 5 Oahu BISH 10/16/1919
23 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Hulopoe Bay In lawn. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. H40118 Lanai BISH 4/15/2001
24 Euphorbia thymifolia L. honolulu, university of hawaii manoa campus Growing in sidewalk crack. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. collector number: 1966 Oahu BISH 6/20/1971
25 Euphorbia thymifolia L. panaewa, south hilo district Growing with Desmodium, Mimosa pudica and grasses along roadways. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN nagata, k.m. sato, g. collector number: 1650 Hawaii BISH 5/27/1978
26 Euphorbia thymifolia L. within a disturbed area at the western tip of halepuaa forest reserve in the puna district Found only in areas of crushed `a`a lava void of other vegetation. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN clarke, g. collector number: 79.230 Hawaii BISH 3/29/1979
27 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Located down Chain of Craters Road about 23.3 miles toward dKalapana from intersection with Crater Rim Road; 1.6 miles before Kamoamoa picnic area, or 8 miles before Queens Bath Salt spray community. Plant on ocean side (SE) of road across from a road pulloff. (plot 30). PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Newell, C.L. 96 Hawaii BISH 7/20/1966
28 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Kaunakakai, near wharf In lawn. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. H70112 Molokai BISH 7/14/2001
29 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Honolulu, 42 Coelho Way in garden bed PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Neal, M.C. s.n. Oahu BISH 10/19/1957
30 Euphorbia thymifolia L. central maui, kahului Very common in lawns in the Kahului industrial area. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hobdy, r.w. collector number: 2790 Maui BISH 4/18/1987
31 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Panaewa, South Hilo District Growing with Desmodium, Mimosa pudica and grasses along roadways. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Nagata, K.M. 1650 Hawaii BISH 5/27/1978
32 Euphorbia thymifolia L. within a disturbed area at the western tip of Halepuaa Forest Reserve in the Puna District Found only in areas of crushed `a`a lava void of other vegetation. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Clarke, G. Collector Number: 79.230 Hawaii BISH 3/29/1979
33 Euphorbia thymifolia L. east maui, hana district, kalahu point, ptbg kahanu garden Cultivated area running north from garden entrance along edge of forest. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN flynn, t. collector number: 2584 Maui BISH 10/30/1987
34 Euphorbia thymifolia L. hawaii national park, between hilina pali and kaone PRESERVED_SPECIMEN st.john, h. collector number: 324 Oahu BISH 2/15/1943
35 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Hulopoe Bay In lawn. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. Collector Number: H40118 Lanai BISH 4/15/2001
36 Euphorbia thymifolia L. honolulu, 42 coelho way in garden bed PRESERVED_SPECIMEN neal, m.c. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 10/19/1957
37 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Kaunakakai, near wharf In lawn. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. Collector Number: H70112 Molokai BISH 7/14/2001
38 Euphorbia thymifolia L. Central Maui, Kahului Very common in lawns in the Kahului industrial area. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hobdy, R.W. 2790 Maui BISH 4/18/1987