Description ²

Plants robust, prostrate to erect annuals; glabrous. Roots often thick, 1 to 2 times the diameter of the base largest stem. Stems thin to thick, largest internodes anywhere from 1 to 3 mm in diameter with some specimens up to 7 mm in diameter. Stipules divided. Leaves linear to broadly linear. Cyathia generally slightly over 1 mm across and variable. Appendages usually long and spreading (typically longer than the gland is long), usually not covering the gland, may be absent; glands on cyathia absent in some specimens. Fruit longer than 1 mm long. Seeds smooth and plump.

Habitat and Distrabution ²

Widespread throughout the Llano (Turner et. al., 2003; SRSC) in deep sand dunes.

Comments ²

One cannot mention E. missurica without mentioning E. parryi when covering an area where both are reported to occur. Euphorbia parryi has only been reported on the Llano in Roosevelt Co., NM (ENMU via Consortium of Intermountain Herbaria) and Curry Co., NM (BONAP, 2013). These specimens are likely just misidentified specimens of E. missurica due to the very similar morphology between the two species, seemingly identical habitat requirements between the two species, and the presence of numerous specimens of E. missurica collected from the immediate area.

Taking a broader perspective, Correll and Johnston mention that E. parryi is probably a western race of E. missurica (Correll and Johnston, 1970). I am inclined to agree with them, as both species are highly variable. Some specimens annotated as E. missurica in the SRSC Herbarium have some appendages appearing erect and some spreading on the same plant (appendages are a major character between these two species). The other important character is habit. However, both appendage types include ascending plants. Wheeler (1942) used overall cyathium shape, but this character too is variable. He also identified specimens from the Monahans Sanddune area as E. parryi, now commonly known as E. missurica in herbaria and publications alike. These two concepts need further study before a determination is made on the specimens around the Llano. For the above reasons, I have decided not to include a treatment of E. parryi here.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Nathan Taylor, all rights reserved, uploaded by Nathan Taylor
2. (c) Nathan Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• World Flora Online

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