Euphorbia prostrata

Aiton (1789)

This name is accepted

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

prostrate spurge

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

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

Specimens

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 (NOM:Syn. C. prostrata = Euphorbia prostrata); Wood 2012:94 (Le); 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 prostrata Aiton honolulu, bishop museum grounds PRESERVED_SPECIMEN fosberg, f.r. collector number: 14220 Oahu BISH 7/21/1937
2 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton along roadway to ukoa wetland from wayside community of chamaesyce hirta, chloris barbata, bidens pilosa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN funk, e.j. lee, m.; b.ching collector number: 1201 Oahu BISH 5/8/1990
3 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton 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 lorence, d.h. flynn, t.; hume, l. collector number: 6016 Kauai BISH 5/25/1988
4 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton honolulu, bishop museum grounds PRESERVED_SPECIMEN egler, f.e. collector number: 37-75 Oahu BISH 7/6/1937
5 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Intersection of Mamalahoa Hwy. & Waikoloa Rd. Prostrate herb PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Stemmermann, R.L. 7170 Hawaii BISH 6/28/1987
6 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Ahukini Recreational Pier State Park on southeastern corner of Hanamaulu Bay PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Flynn, T. 1069 Kauai BISH 4/11/1985
7 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN A A Heller Oahu HAPI
8 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Caum, E.L. s.n. Oahu BISH 4/23/1929
9 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Papaia, small island near Kailua PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Stokes, J.F.G. s.n. Oahu BISH 11/1/1915
10 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Honolulu, Bishop Museum Grounds PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Egler, F.E. 37-77 Oahu BISH 7/6/1937
11 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Honolulu, Bishop Museum Grounds PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Fosberg, F.R. 14220 Oahu BISH 7/21/1937
12 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Sand Island In open, disturbed area. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. 6388 Midway Atoll BISH 6/29/1980
13 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Makuauia Island, Laie PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Fosberg, F.R. 14147 Oahu BISH 7/4/1937
14 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Roadside at Albert H. Azevedo Field, jct. of Hihimanu St. and Kalanianaole Hwy. in Waimanalo PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Wagner, W.l. 4827 Oahu BISH 6/4/1983
15 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Faurie, A. Collector Number: 486 Oahu BISH 4/1/1909
16 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Eastern Island PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Starr, F. 990420-3 Midway Atoll BISH 4/20/1999
17 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Koele PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Munro, G.C. 289 Lanai BISH 11/2/1913
18 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Eastern Island PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. 6412 Midway Atoll BISH 6/30/1980
19 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton keaau valley, north side near sea rain forest PRESERVED_SPECIMEN fosberg, f.r. collector number: 27138 Maui BISH 10/27/1946
20 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Kapapa Islet, Kaneohe Bay Raised coral reef with shallow, sandy soil. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. 6125 Oahu BISH 5/24/1978
21 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Transect C1 - from Lua Makika to area above Hakioawa Beach PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Char, W.P. 78.04 Kahoolawe BISH 11/23/1978
22 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton West horn, relatively bare with ca. 75% of the ground being exposed barren tuff along with many hundreds of naturally hallowed burrows. Sida fallax shrubland. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN K. R. Wood 13714 Lehua PTBG 5/2/2009
23 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton kalama`ula PRESERVED_SPECIMEN g. hughes 8 NY 8/29/1992
24 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton E. Maui, Kalialinui. Haleakala National Park visitor center. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H20103 Maui PTBG 2/2/2001
25 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton west horn. Shrubby a' flow PRESERVED_SPECIMEN k. r. wood & m. query 13714 CM 5/2/2009
26 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Alaeloa. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H70004 Maui PTBG 7/1/2000
27 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Poipu. Sheraton Poipu. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 4258b Kauai PTBG 10/2/1990
28 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Lawai Valley. National Tropical Botanical Garden. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 4250 Kauai PTBG 9/24/1990
29 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN a. s. hitchcock 13717 Oahu US 6/15/1916
30 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton PRESERVED_SPECIMEN d. r. herbst & w. n. takeuchi 6388 Oahu US 6/29/1980
31 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Laie PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Fosberg, F. R.; Egler, F. E. 14147 Oahu US 7/4/1937
32 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton West horn. Shrubland PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Wood, K. R.; Query, M. 13714 Lehua US 5/2/2009
33 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Kaneohe Bay, Kapapa Island State Bird Refuge PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D. R. 6125 Kapapa US 5/24/1978
34 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D. R.; Takeuchi, W. N. 6388 Oahu US 6/29/1980
35 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Kalama`ula Dry disturbed site PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hughes, G. 8 Molokai US 1992-00-00
36 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton sand island In open, disturbed area. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. takeuchi, w.n. collector number: 6388 Midway Atoll BISH 6/29/1980
37 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton In and on the slopes of Makiki PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Heller, A. A. 1981 Oahu US 1895-00-00
38 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton 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 wood, k.r. query, m. collector number: 13714 Lehua Rock BISH 5/2/2009
39 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton kaalualu bay near south point PRESERVED_SPECIMEN whistler, w.a. collector number: w85 Hawaii BISH 4/6/1972
40 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN faurie, a. collector number: 486 Oahu BISH 4/1/1909
41 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton bishop museum grounds PRESERVED_SPECIMEN forbes, c.n. collector number: 1023.0 Oahu BISH 9/15/1909
42 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton along roadway to Ukoa wetland from wayside community of Chamaesyce hirta, Chloris barbata, Bidens pilosa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Funk, E.J. 1201 Oahu BISH 5/8/1990
43 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Honolulu, Kapiolani Park PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Lau, J. 1397 Oahu BISH 9/8/1985
44 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Kahoolawe PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Stokes, J.F.G. s.n. Kahoolawe BISH 3/10/1913
45 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton 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 Wood, K.R. 13714 Lehua Rock BISH 5/2/2009
46 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Keaau Valley, north side near sea PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Fosberg, F.R. 27138 Oahu BISH 10/27/1946
47 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Koele PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Munro, G.C. 197 Lanai BISH 11/2/1913
48 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Honolulu, Kapiolani Park PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Munro, G.C. 6 Oahu BISH 11/8/1948
49 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton lehua; west horn PRESERVED_SPECIMEN k. r. wood 13714 BRU 5/2/2009
50 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton ahukini recreational pier state park on southeastern corner of hanamaulu bay PRESERVED_SPECIMEN flynn, t. collector number: 1069 Kauai BISH 4/11/1985
51 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Lihue, Westin Kauai Hotel (Kauai Lagoons), on curbside PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Evenhuis, N. 1 Kauai BISH 4/12/1989
52 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Sand Island PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Neff, J.A. 43 Midway Atoll BISH 11/1/1954
53 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Waianae, in pineapple plantation PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Meebold, A. 21108 Oahu BISH 11/1/1935
54 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Bishop Museum Grounds PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forbes, C.N. 1023 Oahu BISH 9/15/1909
55 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton honolulu, kapiolani park PRESERVED_SPECIMEN munro, g.c. collector number: 6 Oahu BISH 11/8/1948
56 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Eastern Island, By abandoned concrete building slabs near dock/pier. Vegetation type: coastal disturbed; substrate: sand. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Starr, F. 170620-02 Midway Atoll BISH 6/20/2017
57 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Honolulu, Bishop Museum Grounds PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Egler, F.E. 37-76 Oahu BISH 7/6/1937
58 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton 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 Lorence, D.H. 6016 Kauai BISH 5/25/1988
59 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton lihue, westin kauai hotel (kauai lagoons), on curbside PRESERVED_SPECIMEN evenhuis, n. collector number: 0001 Kauai BISH 4/12/1989
60 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton intersection of mamalahoa hwy. & waikoloa rd. prostrate herb PRESERVED_SPECIMEN stemmermann, r.l. collector number: 7170 Hawaii BISH 6/28/1987
61 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Kalaupapa; airport, oceanview pavilion PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Wysong, M.L. 417 Molokai BISH 11/11/2004
62 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton W Maui, Napili PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forbes, C.N. 83 Maui BISH 5/1/1910
63 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Faurie, A. 486 Oahu BISH 4/1/1909
64 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Honolulu, Bishop Museum Grounds PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Egler, F.E. 37-75 Oahu BISH 7/6/1937
65 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton In fairly dry pineapple field, Lanai City PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hosaka, E.Y. 469 Lanai BISH 7/23/1931
66 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton in fairly dry pineapple field, lanai city PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hosaka, e.y. collector number: 469 Lanai BISH 7/23/1931
67 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton wheeler army airfield, schofield plateau, wahiawa. growing in old runway south of airfield PRESERVED_SPECIMEN nagata, k.m. sato, g. collector number: 1383 Maui BISH 10/27/1976
68 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton sand island PRESERVED_SPECIMEN neff, j.a. dumont, p.a. collector number: 43 Maui BISH 11/1/1954
69 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Manana island, off Waimanalo. On the ridge, NW ? side PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Strandtmann, R.W. s.n. Oahu BISH 6/12/1979
70 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton roadside at albert h. azevedo field, jct. of hihimanu st. and kalanianaole hwy. in waimanalo PRESERVED_SPECIMEN wagner, w.l. herbst, d.r.; mill, s. collector number: 4827 Oahu BISH 6/4/1983
71 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Kaalualu Bay near South Point PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Whistler, W.A. W85 Hawaii BISH 4/6/1972
72 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton Wheeler Army Airfield, Schofield Plateau, Wahiawa. Growing in old runway south of airfield PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Nagata, K.M. 1383 Oahu BISH 10/27/1976
73 Euphorbia prostrata Aiton w maui, napili PRESERVED_SPECIMEN forbes, c.n. collector number: 83 Maui BISH 5/1/1910