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  2. The Weedy Species of Sandmats (Euphorbia sect. Anisophyllum) in Texas
  3. graceful spurge

graceful spurge

Euphorbia hypericifolia

Description 3

Plants robust, ascending to erect annuals, glabrous, may attain a height of over 30 cm tall, not typically branching much at the base. Stems glabrous; largest internodes may get up to 3 mm in diameter. Stipules fused on both sides of the stem except near the apex where they separate, usually entire, spreading away from the stem. Leaves oblong-lanceolate and usually slightly crescent shaped; most leaves 1.5-2 cm long and longer. Cyathia about 1 mm across. Appendages mostly entire. Styles long and slender. Fruits glabrous. Seeds smooth or lightly wrinkled; mostly tannish or brown in color.

Comments 3

Many people have confused E. hypericifolia, E. hyssopifolia, and E. nutans. All three species can be distinguished using the following characters:

Euphorbia hypericifolia: Stems always glabrous; stipules longer than 1 mm spreading away from the stem; cyathia in dense leafless inflorescences (a single solitary cyathium is usually present at the node before the nodes holding the dense inflorescences).
Euphorbia hyssopifolia: Stems glabrous or with pilose hairs; stipules shorter than 1 mm erect; cyathia solitary, at most in dense leafy inflorescences.
Euphorbia nutans: Stems always with some short crinkled hairs (in Texas; may be glabrous elsewhere; see note on hairs for E. nutans); stipules shorter than 1 mm erect; cyathia solitary, at most in dense leafy inflorescences.

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Nathan Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Nathan Taylor
  2. (c) Sam Kieschnick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sam Kieschnick
  3. (c) Nathan Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/346775

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