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Euphorbia graminea

Jacq. (1763)

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 or perennial herbs.

Stems: Stems up to 6 dm long, glabrous.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate below, opposite or verticillate above. Blades broadly ovate to lanceolate–ovate, blades 2–7 cm long, 0.2–3 cm wide. Apex obtuse to acute. Base rounded to acute. Surfaces glabrous or with a few scattered hairs; green, reduced floral leaves occasionally white. Margins entire. Petioles up to 3 cm long. Stipules minute and gland-like.

Flowers: Flowers in cyathia in open terminal cymes. pistillate flowers solitary, on a gynophore; staminate flowers in 5 groups or cymules, each with 1 to several flowers. involucre 0.8–1.3 mm high, glabrous, glands 2–4, green, appendages petaloid, white, oblong, 0.6–1 mm long. Flowers unisexual and highly reduced. 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 nearly globose; 1.5–2 mm long; glabrous. Seeds gray ovoid; 1.6–1.8 mm long; tuberculate; deeply pitted; ecarunculate.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Raised coralline plains at sea level.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Select. Stirp. Amer. Hist.: 151 (1763)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:618 (O)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Euphorbia graminea Dillingham Military Reserve. Northern Waianae Mountains. Mostly open canopy with partial shade provided by Syzygium cumini, Leucaena leucocephala, and Prosopis pallida. Closed canopy with associated vegetation understory Megathyrsus maximus, Leonotis nepetifolia, Cynodon dactylon, Neonotonia wightii. Specimen mostly grew in patches along the road, found along corridor parts of the road. Preserved_Specimen Schlenz, S. 592 Oahu BISH 2025-01-15
2 Euphorbia graminea Former Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Northern Trap & Skeet Range Open canopy with scattered Prosopis pallida overstory, in opening of thick Cenchrus ciliaris groundcover, along with Sonchus oleraceus (779322), Asystasia gangetica, Stachys arvensis (779319) and Euphorbia graminea (779320). Preserved_Specimen Lanky herb up to 40 cm tall. BISH staff 103 Oahu BISH 2021-05-03
3 Euphorbia graminea Campbell Industrial Park, Ewa. Vacant lot between Malakole Ave. & deep draft harbor Rare in open, sunny sites. Wasteland of Leucaena, Cenchrus ciliaris & Panicum maximum. Preserved_Specimen Nagata, K.M. 3951 Oahu BISH 1989-01-28
4 Euphorbia graminea Hanalei District. Seascape Nursery, off Kahiliholo Road, Kalihiwai, Kilauea. Cultivated. Preserved_Specimen 1 gal plot; sub-shrub; stems pale green; petioles whitish to whitish green, occasionally tinged pink; leaves dul medium green above, dull grey green below with glossy midvein, older senescing leaveas pinkish to orange-pink tinged. Inflorescence bracts white. Flynn, T.W. 8953 Kauai BISH 2019-02-05
5 Euphorbia graminea Kalaeloa, Tripoli Rd Roadside weed Preserved_Specimen Uncommon in area with other annuals along roadside Faccenda, K. 2997 Oahu BISH 2023-01-17
6 Euphorbia graminea Salt Lake District Park, Honolulu; north of the park near east the end of salt lake.. Growing in loose turf Preserved_Specimen Slender annual herb, ertect ca. 20-25 cm. tall; involucral appendage white. Ca 5 plants seen Ross, M.C. 1980 Oahu BISH 2024-02-19
7 Euphorbia graminea Ewa plains area, mauka of quarry, section 26B-1 Closed Prosopis forest. Preserved_Specimen Annual; 6 inches to 1 ft. tall; flowers w/white bracts. Char, W.P. 78.094 Oahu BISH 1978-12-09
8 Euphorbia graminea Barber's Point Raised coralline plain. Preserved_Specimen Bracts white; growing after rains. Funk, E.J. Oahu BISH 1985-01-01
9 Euphorbia graminea Waipahu Depot St, Waipahu, 300m E of Kapakahi stream. Growing in disturbed roadside habitat Preserved_Specimen Annual herb, erect, 25-30 cm tall; involucral appendage white Ross, M.C. 1982 Oahu BISH 2024-02-26
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