Euphorbia graniticola L.C.Leach

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

Morphology General Habit

Succulent spiny shrub or rarely a small tree to 2(2.75) m high, at first branching from the base, eventually forming a stout greyish trunk to c. 1 m tall and c. 12 cm in diameter with a dense crown of crowded, spreading-ascending branches.

Morphology Branches

Branches to 1 m long, 4–6-angled, constricted into segments; segments to 25 cm long, c. 6 cm in diameter near the base and tapering to 4 cm in diameter towards the apex; angles wing-like to 3 cm broad and 3–5 mm thick, shallowly sinuate, with tubercles 5–15 mm apart along the margins.

Morphology General Spines

Spine shields joined, forming a conspicuous whitish, horny margin c. 3 mm wide; spines widely diverging, to 8 mm long at base of segments, shorter towards the apex, often much reduced; prickles minute.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves to 34 × 4 mm, linear to narrowly ovate, spreading recurved, sessile, caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes 3 at each flowering eye, simple, with lateral cyathia vertically arranged; peduncles and cyme branches c. 1 mm long; bracts 1.5–2.5 × 1 mm, broadly ovate, truncate, denticulate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Cyathia

Cyathia with involucres 3 × 3–3.5 mm, narrowly obconic; glands 1.5–2 mm broad, transversely narrowly elliptic, touching, orange-yellow; lobes 0.75 × 0.75 mm, subquadrate.

sex Male

Male flowers numerous: bracteoles 1.75 mm long, filiform; stamens 4 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flower: ovary subglobose, perianth rim-like; styles 1.5–2 mm long, united for c. 1 mm, spreading above, stigmas shortly bifid. Male flowers numerous: bracteoles 1.75 mm long, filiform; stamens 4 mm long.

sex Female

Female flower: ovary subglobose, perianth rim-like; styles 1.5–2 mm long, united for c. 1 mm, spreading above, stigmas shortly bifid.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 3 × 5.5–6 mm, acutely lobed, truncate at the base, exserted on a recurved pedicel to 9 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 2 mm in diameter, globose, smooth, pale yellow-brown, mottled.

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: threatened. Confidence: confident

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/120955505/120980228

Conservation

LC - least concern

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

Morphology General Habit

Small succulent spiny tree or shrub to 3 m high; trunk stout, eventually multi-angled, marked with scars of fallen branches.

Morphology Branches

Branches whorled, mostly simple, spreading arcuate-ascending, c. 60 cm long, constricted into segments; segments to c. 15 × 6 cm, 4–6 winged; wings 2–2.5 cm wide, shallowly sinuate with tubercles 5–10 mm apart along the margins.

Morphology General Spines

Spine shields forming a continuous whitish horny margin 1.5–3 mm wide; spines horizontally spreading, to 6 mm long; prickles obsolescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves to 7 mm long, ovate, fleshy, sessile, caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes 1–3 at each flowering eye, randomly arranged, lateral cyathia often branching several times; peduncles and cyme branches c. 2 mm long, 2–3 mm thick; bracts 1 × 1.5 mm, broadly ovate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Cyathia

Cyathia with involucres 2.5–3.25 × 4.5–5 mm, obconic; glands fleshy, separate or barely touching, 1.75–2.5 × 1 mm, yellow; lobes 0.5 × 0.5 mm, subquadrate to transversely oblong, fimbriate.

sex Male

Male flowers c. 30: bracteoles filiform, laciniate, c. 2.5 mm long; stamens c. 4.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flower: perianth rim-like; styles c. 1 mm long, free almost to the base with spreading, shortly bifid apices. Male flowers c. 30: bracteoles filiform, laciniate, c. 2.5 mm long; stamens c. 4.5 mm long.

sex Female

Female flower: perianth rim-like; styles c. 1 mm long, free almost to the base with spreading, shortly bifid apices.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule obtusely lobed, 3–3.5 × 5–5.5 mm, exserted on a recurved pedicel 7 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds subglobose, c. 2 mm in diameter, smooth.

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: threatened. Confidence: confident