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Euphorbia prostrata

Aiton (1789)

This name is accepted

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

prostrate spurge

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Mat–forming annual herbs.

Stems: Stems often purplish, prostrate, 0.07–0.2 m long, crisp–pubescent to pilose or sometimes glabrate.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite. Blades oblong to ovate–oblong, 3–9 mm long, 1.5–5 mm wide. Apex rounded or obtuse. Base rounded. Surfaces sparsely pubescent or sometimes glabrate. Margins serrate. Petioles 0.5–1 mm long. Stipules present ± distinct, yellowish to purplish, linear–lanceolate, 1–2 mm long, ciliate.

Flowers: Flowers in cyathia solitary at nodes of short, congested, leafy, lateral shoots; staminate flowers 2–5 per cyathium. involucre purple, 0.4–0.7 mm high, sparsely villous or glabrous, glands 4, maroon, suborbicular, 0.05–0.15 mm long, appendages minute, pinkish white, shorter than the gland is wide. 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; 3–angled; 1–1.4 mm long; pilose on the angles; otherwise glabrous. Seeds gray to tan; narrowly ovoid; strongly 4–angled; ca. 1 mm long; the faces strongly ridged.

Ploidy: 2n = 18; 20

Habitat: Low elevation; dry; disturbed sites.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Naturalized
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Kaho'olawe Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean
Wind

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Hort. Kew. 2: 139 (1789)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:613 (Mi, K, O, L, M, Ka, H [as Chamaesyce prostrata]); Hughes 1995:4 (Mo); Govaerts et al. 2000:324/Yang & Berry 2011 (Syn. C. prostrata = E. prostrata); Wood 2012:94 (Le)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Euphorbia prostrata Waianae, in pineapple plantation Preserved_Specimen Meebold, A. 21108 Oahu BISH 1935-11-01
2 Euphorbia prostrata Honolulu, Kapiolani Park Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 6 Oahu BISH 1948-11-08
3 Euphorbia prostrata East Maui, Haleakala Summit parking lot near bathrooms Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 2322 Maui BISH 2012-12-04
4 Euphorbia prostrata In fairly dry pineapple field, Lanai City Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 469 Lanai BISH 1931-07-23
5 Euphorbia prostrata Roadside at Albert H. Azevedo Field, jct. of Hihimanu St. and Kalanianaole Hwy. in Waimanalo Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.l. 4827 Oahu BISH 1983-06-04
6 Euphorbia prostrata Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Faurie, A. 486 Oahu BISH 1909-04-01
7 Euphorbia prostrata along roadway to Ukoa wetland from wayside community of Chamaesyce hirta, Chloris barbata, Bidens pilosa Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. 1201 Oahu BISH 1990-05-08
8 Euphorbia prostrata Papaia, small island near Kailua Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Oahu BISH 1915-11-01
9 Euphorbia prostrata Islet off Malaekahana-Mokuauia Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1938-06-19
10 Euphorbia prostrata Honopu Valley Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kauai BISH 1984-07-17
11 Euphorbia prostrata Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. Oahu BISH 1929-04-23
12 Euphorbia prostrata Manana island, off Waimanalo. On the ridge, NW ? side Preserved_Specimen Strandtmann, R.W. Oahu BISH 1979-06-12
13 Euphorbia prostrata Kahoolawe Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Kahoolawe BISH 1913-03-10
14 Euphorbia prostrata Honolulu, Kapiolani Park Preserved_Specimen Lau, J. 1397 Oahu BISH 1985-09-08
15 Euphorbia prostrata Former Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Northern Trap & Skeet Range, Outplanting site Open area near road. With Euphorbia hirta, Cenchrus ciliaris Preserved_Specimen Prostrate herb. BISH staff 16 Oahu BISH 2021-04-29
16 Euphorbia prostrata Honolulu, Bishop Museum Campus Weed in gravel. Partial sun Preserved_Specimen Common Faccenda, K. 2006 Oahu BISH 2021-06-24
17 Euphorbia prostrata Kapapa Islet, Kaneohe Bay Raised coral reef with shallow, sandy soil. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6125 Oahu BISH 1978-05-24
18 Euphorbia prostrata Koloa District: Mahaulepu area of S coast, at ca. 1 mile NE of Makawehi Point and NE Windswept lithified coral sand dunes and upraised dunerock, with coastal shrub vegetation of Scaevola, Sida fallax, Chamesyce degeneri and native herbs. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate mat-forming herb, leaves & stems dark reddish green. Cyathia with red glands. Lorence, D.H. 6016 Kauai BISH 1988-05-25
19 Euphorbia prostrata Kewalo St. and Wilder Ave Weed on side of road, shady area growing under Bougenvilla Preserved_Specimen Uncommon, growing erect Faccenda, K. 1672 Oahu BISH 2020-08-22
20 Euphorbia prostrata W horn Relatively bare with ca. 75% of the ground being exposed barren tuff along with many hundreds of naturally hallowed burrows. Sida fallax shrubland. W. Tribulus cistoides, Waltheria indica, Jacquemontia ovalifolia subsp sandwicensis, several native grasses such as Panicum torridum, Panicum fauriei var latius, and Panicum pellitum (kai`oi`o) Preserved_Specimen Decumbent stems pink or green-purple, leaves green or green-red, cyathial gland white Wood, K.R. 13714 Lehua Rock BISH 2009-05-02
21 Euphorbia prostrata East Maui, Haleakala National Park at Summit Visitor Center septic system Haleakala National Park at Summit Visitor Center septic system Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 2350 Maui BISH 2014-02-05
22 Euphorbia prostrata Makuauia Island, Laie Preserved_Specimen Normal plants prostrate those infected with not erect. Fosberg, F.R. 14147 Oahu BISH 1937-07-04
23 Euphorbia prostrata Ahukini Recreational Pier State Park on southeastern corner of Hanamaulu Bay Preserved_Specimen Prostrate, mat forming herb. Milky sap. Flynn, T.W. 1069 Kauai BISH 1985-04-11
24 Euphorbia prostrata Bishop Museum Grounds Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1023 Oahu BISH 1909-09-15
25 Euphorbia prostrata Kaalualu Bay near South Point Preserved_Specimen Prostrate herb growing between pebbles in a driveway. Whistler, W.A. 85 Hawaii BISH 1972-04-06
26 Euphorbia prostrata W Maui, Napili Preserved_Specimen Very dark red purple plants. Forbes, C.N. 83 Maui BISH 1910-05-01
27 Euphorbia prostrata Kalaupapa; airport, oceanview pavilion Preserved_Specimen glabrous, low perennial herb Wysong, M.L. 417 Molokai BISH 2004-11-11
28 Euphorbia prostrata Keaau Valley, north side near sea Preserved_Specimen Very prostrate, purplish. Fosberg, F.R. 27138 Oahu BISH 1946-10-27
29 Euphorbia prostrata Transect C1 - from Lua Makika to area above Hakioawa Beach Preserved_Specimen Char, W.P. 78.04 Kahoolawe BISH 1978-11-23
30 Euphorbia prostrata Koele Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 197 Lanai BISH 1913-11-02
31 Euphorbia prostrata Koele Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 289 Lanai BISH 1913-11-02
32 Euphorbia prostrata Honolulu, Bishop Museum Grounds Preserved_Specimen Prostrate, stems dark reddish, leaves purplish green, somewhat glaucous. Fosberg, F.R. 14220 Oahu BISH 1937-07-21
33 Euphorbia prostrata Honolulu, Bishop Museum Grounds Preserved_Specimen Lacks red coloring matter. Egler, F.E. 3777 Oahu BISH 1937-07-06
34 Euphorbia prostrata Wheeler Army Airfield, Schofield Plateau, Wahiawa. Growing in old runway south of airfield Preserved_Specimen Prostrate, stems purplish, capsules pubescent on angles. Nagata, K.M. 1383 Oahu BISH 1976-10-27
35 Euphorbia prostrata Along road leading to Kaluanui Valley Preserved_Specimen Weed. Corn, C. Oahu BISH 1978-03-21
36 Euphorbia prostrata Lihue, Westin Kauai Hotel (Kauai Lagoons), on curbside Preserved_Specimen Evenhuis, N. 1 Kauai BISH 1989-04-12
37 Euphorbia prostrata Honolulu, Bishop Museum Grounds Preserved_Specimen Wayside weed, erect; infected with fungus. Egler, F.E. 3775 Oahu BISH 1937-07-06
38 Euphorbia prostrata Honolulu, Bishop Museum Grounds Preserved_Specimen Egler, F.E. 3776 Oahu BISH 1937-07-06
39 Euphorbia prostrata Intersection of Mamalahoa Hwy. & Waikoloa Rd. Prostrate herb Preserved_Specimen Stemmermann, R.L. 7170 Hawaii BISH 1987-06-28
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