Euphorbia discoidalis
| Euphorbia discoidalis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons |
| Order: | Euphorbiales |
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus: | Euphorbia |
| Species: | E. discoidalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Euphorbia discoidalis Chapm. | |
| |
| Natural range of Euphorbia discoidalis from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Common name: summer spurge
Contents
Taxonomic notes
Description
Distribution
Ecology
Habitat
It likes sandy soils as well as disturbance. Kral (1983) says that it appears to have increased because of disturbance: "Areas in various stages of site preparation have an abundance which continues until the crowns of plantation pine close."[1] It is found in open sandy woodlands; it is most common in longleaf pine-deciduous scrub oak woods and oak-hickory-pine uplands wherever the soils are sandy. It is also found in sandy clearings, and sandhills.[1]. This has been found in habitats such as sandhills, upland pinelands that are annually burned, well drained uplands, and on slopes above a stream (FSU Herbarium). This is also found in human disturbed habitats such as a sandy fallow field (FSU Herbarium). This plant requires areas in habitats that have high light levels (FSU Herbarium) and is associated with areas that have loamy sand (FSU Herbarium). Euphorbia discoidalis is restricted to native groundcover with a statistical affinity in upland pinelands of South Georgia (Ostertag and Robertson 2007).
It occurs in pine dominated habitats such as longleaf pine scrubs, sandhills, upland pine, and drained uplands (FSU Herbarium). It prefers areas that have high light level/ open canopies (FSU Herbarium). It also occurs in disturbed habitats such as fallow fields, clearings, and in annually burned pinelands (FSU Herbarium). It likes sandy soil types (FSU Herbarium). Euphorbia discoidalis is restricted to native groundcover with a statistical affinity in upland pinelands of South Georgia (Ostertag and Robertson 2007). Populations appear to increase due to disturbance (Kral 1983).
Phenology
It flowers from late August to frost.[1] This species has been observed flowering in August and September (FSU Herbarium).
Seed dispersal
Seed bank and germination
Fire ecology
This species is found in areas that are burned annually such as Longleaf pine-wiregrass savannas and sandhills (FSU Herbarium). It responds positively to fire. Kral (1983) writes "In naturally stocked uplands it increases as a result of woods fires which reduce competing woody vegetation." [1]
Pollination
Use by animals
Diseases and parasites
Conservation and Management
Cultivation and restoration
Photo Gallery
References and notes
Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: R. A. Norris, R. Komarek, Andre F. Clewell, Robert K. Godfrey, Jefferson, R. Komarek, Loran C. Anderson, Travis MacClendon, Karen McClendon, G. Wilder, Ann F. Johnson, Wilson Baker, and G. Wilder. States and Counties: Florida: Calhoun, Jackson, Leon. Georgia: Thomas.
Ostertag, T.E., and K.M. Robertson. 2007. A comparison of native versus old-field vegetation in upland pinelands managed with frequent fire, South Georgia, USA. Pages 109–120 in R.E. Masters and K.E.M. Galley (eds.). Proceedings of the 23rd Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference: Fire in Grassland and Shrubland Ecosystems.
