Euphorbia rosescens

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Euphorbia rosescens
Euph rose.jpg
Photo by Spencer Bissett, Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Order: Euphorbiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Euphorbia
Species: E. rosescens
Binomial name
Euphorbia rosescens
E.L.Bridges & Orzell
Euph rose dist.jpg
Natural range of Euphorbia rosescens from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common name: Scrub spurge

Taxonomic notes

Distinguishable from Euphorbia floridana by broader stem leaves that are not reflexed and do not abruptly contrast with ovate bracteal leaves on the inflorescence.[1]

Description

Euphorbia rosescens is a slightly succently, blue-green herb[1] and is often a single stem and can be seen growing in clusters.[2] The leaves are elliptic to oblanceolate or obovate-spatulate.[1] Flowers are unisexual and occur in cyathia that develop acropetally and are arranged on a compound inflorescense.[2]

Distribution

Distribution is limited to a 50 kilometer range on the well drained sands of the Lake Wales Ridge.[3] There are fewer than 20 known sites.[4]

Ecology

Habitat

E. rosescens has been found in the xeric sand entisols of the Lake Wales Ridge, sand pine scrub, scrubby flatwoods, Florida rosemary scrub, and oak scrub. It is also found in disturbed areas including sandy roads, firebreaks, disturbed scrub habitat, improved pasture, and vacant lots of cleared former sand pine scrub.[5][6]

Phenology

The flowers of E. rosescens are unisexual and occur within cyathia that develop acropetally, arranged on a compound inflorescense.[2]

Pollination

Euphorbia rosescens is visited by thread-waisted wasps from the Sphecidae family (Bembecinus nanus floridanus, Tachysphex apicalis, T. similis and Tachytes mergus) and wasps from the Vespidae family (Leptochilus krombeini)[7]

Conservation, cultivation, and restoration

Range is limited to Highlands county on the Lake Wales Ridge, and there are fewer than 20 known sites. The ridge is quickly being converted into agricultural lands and urban development. The existing scrubs are becoming overgrown with fire suppression.[4] Archbold currently monitors this species.[8]

G1-critically imperiled.[4]

Cultural use

Members of this genus can be used as a laxative in small amounts, but an overdose can cause severe poisoning.[9]

Photo Gallery

References and notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 [NatureServe]Accessed: December 11, 2015
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 [Archbold Biological Station] Accessed: December 11, 2015
  3. [[1]]Accessed: December 11, 2015
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 [Encyclopedia of Life]Accessed: December 11, 2015
  5. Archbold Biological Station herbarium accessed using Southeastern Regional Network of Expertise and Collections (SERNEC) data portal. URL: http://sernecportal.org/portal/collections/index.php Last accessed: May 2021. Collectors: L. Calabrese. States and Counties: Florida: Highlands.
  6. Atlas of Florida Plants Institute for Systematic Botany. URL:https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Default.aspx Last accessed: May 2021. Collectors: S. L. Orzell. States and Counties: Florida: Highlands.
  7. Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.
  8. [[2]] Accessed: December 11, 2015
  9. Mueschner, W.C. 1957. Poisonous Plants of the United States. The Macmillan Company, New York.