Euphorbia prostrata Aiton
EUPHORBIACEAE
Synonymy
Common Name: Euphorbia
Description: Prostrate to weakly ascending annual herb to 5 cm high with white sap and simple hairs in a longitudinal band on one side of the stems. The leaves are opposite, oblong, elliptic to orbiculate, usually glabrous above and hairy below, sparingly toothed, green to grey-green occasionally red-tinged, 2.2-8.5 mm long and 1-5 mm wide. Entire or deeply 2-lobed interpetiolar stipules are present. Each involucre has 4 glands shaped like a compressed ring with a sunken centre. A white, pink or red entire or undulate appendage to about 0.1 mm long fringes each gland margin. The ovary of female flowers is terminated by 3 styles each bifid for about one-half of their length. The dehiscent fruits are 1-1.7 mm long and have spreading hairs mostly confined to the keels. Seeds are 0.8-1 mm long, 4-angled in cross-section and with 4-7 distinct acute transverse ridges.
Similar Taxa: Euphorbia prostrata is most likely to be confused with E. maculata as they have a similar appearance and occur in similar habitats. The latter can be distinguished by the evenly distributed appressed hairs on the capsules and by the central red-purple patch on the leaves.
Distribution
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Specimens
Observations
Cultivated
Introduced Status: Introduced to NT
First Collected in NT: 17/07/1983
Bioregion: Dampierland, Davenport Murchison Ranges, Einasleigh Uplands, Finke, Great Sandy Desert, Gulf Fall and Uplands, Gulf Plains, MacDonnell Ranges, Mitchell Grass Downs, Mount Isa Inlier, Ord Victoria Plain, Swan Coastal Plain
Habitat: Presently occurs only as a garden and nursery weed.
Ecological Attributes
Flowering: Jan, Apr, May, Jul, Nov, Dec
Fruiting: Jan, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Oct, Nov, Dec
Other Attributes
Conservation Status (TPWCA): Not Evaluated
NT Parks: Alice Springs Desert Park
Flora Description Source: Unpublished notes prepared for FloraNT
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Specimens