Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbia

Euphorbia malevola L.C.Leach

First published in J. S. African Bot. 30: 1 (1964)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. Tropical Africa. It is a succulent subshrub or shrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Euphorbiaceae, S. Carter & L.C. Leach. Flora Zambesiaca 9:5. 2001

Morphology General Habit
Spiny succulent shrub to 1.5 m high, branching densely from the base, sparingly branched above.
Morphology Branches
Branches spreading-ascending, 4(5)-angled, c. 1 cm in diameter, greyish-green with darker mottling along the angles; angles sinuate, with tubercles 8–15 mm apart along the margins.
Morphology General Spines
Spine shields 1–2 mm wide, obovate and decurrent to shortly above the flowering eye below, rarely forming a continuous margin, dark purplish-brown; spines needle-like, 5–7 mm long, spreading; prickles c. 2 mm above the spines, 1.5–2 mm long.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves c. 1.5 mm long, ovate, caducous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Cymes solitary, simple; peduncle and cyme branches to c. 2 mm long; bracts c. 0.75 × 1 mm, ovate, denticulate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Cyathia
Cyathia 3 × 5–5.5 mm with funnel-shaped involucres; glands 2.25–3 mm wide, transversely oblong, touching, brownish-yellow with a purplish-red outer margin; lobes c. 0.75 × 0.74 mm, denticulate.
sex Male
Male flowers 10: bracteoles c. 2 mm long, fimbriate; stamens 3 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Female flower: styles 3.25–4 mm long, free nearly to the base, apices capitate to emarginate. Male flowers 10: bracteoles c. 2 mm long, fimbriate; stamens 3 mm long.
sex Female
Female flower: styles 3.25–4 mm long, free nearly to the base, apices capitate to emarginate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule to 3.5 × 4 mm, subglobose, dull green marked with purple, sessile.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds c. 1.5 mm in diameter, subglobose, verrucose, brownish.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0