Euphorbia heterophylla

Herbs, annual, with taproot. Stems erect-ascending, 20–100 cm, sparsely pilose to villous; branches ± straight. Leaves usually alternate, occasionally opposite proximally; petiole 10–50 mm, pilose; blade narrowly lanceolate to elliptic or broadly obovate (then usually pandurate and 4-lobed), often polymorphic on single plants, 30–200 × 20–140 mm, base acute, margins sparsely glandular-serrulate, hirtellous, flat, apex acute to obtuse, abaxial surface sparsely appressed-pilose, adaxial surface sparsely pilosulous to glabrate; venation pinnate, midvein prominent. Cyathial arrangement: terminal dichasial branches usually 2, occasionally reduced to congested cyme, 1–2-branched (often congested and difficult to discern); pleiochasial bracts 2–4, often whorled, wholly green or paler green at base, similar in shape and size to distal leaves; dichasial bracts highly reduced, rarely absent in highly congested clusters. Cyathia: peduncle 0.9–1.5 mm. Involucre usually campanulate, occasionally nearly hemispheric, 1.5–1.9 × 1.2–1.8 mm, glabrous; involucral lobes divided into several linear, smooth lobes; gland 1, yellow-green, stipitate, clavate, 1–1.4 × 1–1.2 mm, opening circular (occasionally flattened from pressing), with annular rim, glabrous; appendages absent. Staminate flowers 8–15. Pistillate flowers: ovary glabrous or puberulent; styles 0.8–1.3 mm, 2-fid 1/2 to nearly entire length. Capsules broadly ovoid, 2.8–3.8 × 4–5.3 mm, 3-lobed, usually glabrous, rarely sparsely puberulent; columella 2.1–2.8 mm. Seeds brown-gray to ashy gray, broadly deltoid, 2.4–2.8 × 1.9–2.4 mm, angular in cross section, dorsal face strongly acute-carinate, tuberculate, with broad rounded tubercles in 2 rows; caruncle 0.1 mm. 2n = 28.

3-6 hours of sun per day, with protection from intense mid-day sun

Euphorbia Heterophylla

Euphorbia heterophylla

Gallery

Share With Your Friends

How to Grow

Characteristics

More Info

Taxonomy