Difference between revisions of "Euphorbia discoidalis"

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Common name: Summer spurge
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Common name: summer spurge
 
==Taxonomic notes==
 
==Taxonomic notes==
Synonyms: ''Tithymalopsis discoidalis'' (Chapman) Small; ''E. corollata'' var. ''corollata''
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Synonyms: ''Tithymalopsis discoidalis'' (Chapman) Small; ''E. corollata'' var. ''corollata''<ref name=weakley>Weakley, A.S. 2020. Flora of the Southeastern United States. Edition of 20 October 2020. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.</ref>
==Description==  
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<!-- Basic life history facts such as annual/perrenial, monoecious/dioecious, root morphology, seed type, etc. -->
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Varieties: none<ref name=weakley/>
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==Description== <!-- Basic life history facts such as annual/perrenial, monoecious/dioecious, root morphology, seed type, etc. -->
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''Euphorbia discoidalis'' is a perennial forb/herb that is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family.<ref>USDA, NRCS. (2016). The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 10 May 2019). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.</ref> It reaches heights of about 18 inches with white colored flowers.<ref>[[https://www.wildflower.org/plants/search.php?search_field=&newsearch=true]] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed: May 10, 2019</ref>
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==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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''Euphorbia discoidalis'' is distributed from eastern and central Georgia south and west to the Florida panhandle and eastern Texas.<ref name= "Weakley">Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Herbarium.</ref>
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==Ecology==
 
==Ecology==
 
===Habitat=== <!--Natural communities, human disturbed habitats, topography, hydrology, soils, light, fire regime requirements for removal of competition, etc.-->
 
===Habitat=== <!--Natural communities, human disturbed habitats, topography, hydrology, soils, light, fire regime requirements for removal of competition, etc.-->
Habitats of ''E. discoidalis'' include pine dominated habitats such as longleaf pine scrubs, sandhills, upland pine, and drained uplands. It prefers areas that have high light level/ open canopies. It also occurs in disturbed habitats such as fallow fields, clearings, and in annually burned pinelands. It likes sandy soil types.<ref name=fsu>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.</ref> ''Euphorbia discoidalis'' is restricted to native groundcover with a statistical affinity in upland pinelands of South Georgia.<ref name=ostertag>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.</ref> Populations appear to increase due to disturbance.<ref name=kral>Kral, R. (1983). Euphorbia discoidalis Chapman. A report on some rare, threatened or endangered forest-related vascular plants of the South. R. Kral. Atlanta, USDA Forest Service, Paper 228: 701-705.</ref>
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It is primarily found in sandhills.<ref name= "Weakley"/> Other habitats that have been observed of ''E. discoidalis'' include pine dominated habitats such as longleaf pine scrubs, sandhills, upland pine, and drained uplands. It prefers areas that have high light level/ open canopies. It also occurs in disturbed habitats such as fallow fields, clearings, and in annually burned pinelands. It likes sandy soil types.<ref name=fsu>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.</ref> ''Euphorbia discoidalis'' is restricted to native groundcover with a statistical affinity in upland pinelands of South Georgia.<ref name=ostertag>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.</ref>  
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Populations appear to increase due to disturbance.<ref name="Kral 1983"/> It is considered an indicator species of the clayhill longleaf woodlands in the western panhandle of Florida.<ref name= "Carr">Carr, S. C., et al. (2010). "A Vegetation Classification of Fire-Dependent Pinelands of Florida." Castanea 75(2): 153-189.</ref> It was found to become absent or decrease in occurrence in response to soil disturbance by agriculture in southwest Georgia. It has shown resistance to regrowth in reestablished pineland habitat that was disturbed by agricultural practices.<ref name=ostertag/>
  
 
Associated species include longleaf pine, slash pine, shortleaf pine, oaks, red oak, mockernut hickory, magnolia.<ref name=fsu/>
 
Associated species include longleaf pine, slash pine, shortleaf pine, oaks, red oak, mockernut hickory, magnolia.<ref name=fsu/>
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''Euphorbia discoidalis'' is an indicator species for the Clayhill Longleaf Woodlands community type as described in Carr et al. (2010).<ref>Carr, S.C., K.M. Robertson, and R.K. Peet. 2010. A vegetation classification of fire-dependent pinelands of Florida. Castanea 75:153-189.</ref>
  
 
===Phenology=== <!--Timing off flowering, fruiting, seed dispersal, and environmental triggers.  Cite PanFlora website if appropriate: http://www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ -->
 
===Phenology=== <!--Timing off flowering, fruiting, seed dispersal, and environmental triggers.  Cite PanFlora website if appropriate: http://www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ -->
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===Fire ecology=== <!--Fire tolerance, fire dependence, adaptive fire responses-->
 
===Fire ecology=== <!--Fire tolerance, fire dependence, adaptive fire responses-->
This species is found in areas that are burned annually such as longleaf pine-wiregrass savannas and sandhills.<ref name=fsu/> 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." <ref name="Kral 1983">Kral, R. (1983). Euphorbia discoidalis Chapman. A report on some rare, threatened or endangered forest-related vascular plants of the South. R. Kral. Atlanta, USDA Forest Service, Paper 228: 701-705.</ref>
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This species is found in areas that are burned annually such as longleaf pine-wiregrass savannas and sandhills.<ref name=fsu/> It responds positively to fire, and populations of ''Euphorbia discoidalis'' have been known to persist through repeated annual burning.<ref>Robertson, K.M. Unpublished data collected from Pebble Hill Fire Plots, Pebble Hill Plantation, Thomasville, Georgia.</ref> Kral (1983) writes "In naturally stocked uplands it increases as a result of woods fires which reduce competing woody vegetation." <ref name="Kral 1983">Kral, R. (1983). Euphorbia discoidalis Chapman. A report on some rare, threatened or endangered forest-related vascular plants of the South. R. Kral. Atlanta, USDA Forest Service, Paper 228: 701-705.</ref> It increases in frequency in burned wiregrass habitats rather than fire-surpressed areas or burned bluestem habitats.<ref>Rodgers, H. L. and L. Provencher (1999). "Analysis of Longleaf Pine Sandhill Vegetation in Northwest Florida." Castanea 64(2): 138-162.</ref>
 
<!--===Pollination===-->  
 
<!--===Pollination===-->  
<!--===Use by animals===--> <!--Herbivory, granivory, insect hosting, etc.-->
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<!--===Herbivory and toxicology===-->
 
<!--===Diseases and parasites===-->
 
<!--===Diseases and parasites===-->
  
==Conservation and management==
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==Conservation, cultivation, and restoration==
==Cultivation and restoration==
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''E. discoidalis'' should avoid soil disturbance by agriculture to conserve its presence in pine communties.<ref name=ostertag/>
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==Cultural use==
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Members of this genus can be used as a laxative in small amounts, but an overdose can cause severe poisoning.<ref> Mueschner, W.C. 1957. Poisonous Plants of the United States. The Macmillan Company, New York.</ref>
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==Photo Gallery==
 
==Photo Gallery==
 
<gallery widths=180px>
 
<gallery widths=180px>
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 
==References and notes==
 
==References and notes==

Latest revision as of 11:41, 26 May 2023

Euphorbia discoidalis
Euphorbia discoidales 2.jpg
Photo taken by Kevin Robertson
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.
EUPH DISC dist.jpg
Natural range of Euphorbia discoidalis from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common name: summer spurge

Taxonomic notes

Synonyms: Tithymalopsis discoidalis (Chapman) Small; E. corollata var. corollata[1]

Varieties: none[1]

Description

Euphorbia discoidalis is a perennial forb/herb that is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family.[2] It reaches heights of about 18 inches with white colored flowers.[3]

Distribution

Euphorbia discoidalis is distributed from eastern and central Georgia south and west to the Florida panhandle and eastern Texas.[4]

Ecology

Habitat

It is primarily found in sandhills.[4] Other habitats that have been observed of E. discoidalis include pine dominated habitats such as longleaf pine scrubs, sandhills, upland pine, and drained uplands. It prefers areas that have high light level/ open canopies. It also occurs in disturbed habitats such as fallow fields, clearings, and in annually burned pinelands. It likes sandy soil types.[5] Euphorbia discoidalis is restricted to native groundcover with a statistical affinity in upland pinelands of South Georgia.[6]

Populations appear to increase due to disturbance.[7] It is considered an indicator species of the clayhill longleaf woodlands in the western panhandle of Florida.[8] It was found to become absent or decrease in occurrence in response to soil disturbance by agriculture in southwest Georgia. It has shown resistance to regrowth in reestablished pineland habitat that was disturbed by agricultural practices.[6]

Associated species include longleaf pine, slash pine, shortleaf pine, oaks, red oak, mockernut hickory, magnolia.[5]

Euphorbia discoidalis is an indicator species for the Clayhill Longleaf Woodlands community type as described in Carr et al. (2010).[9]

Phenology

It flowers from late August to frost.[7] This species has been observed flowering in August and September.[5]

Fire ecology

This species is found in areas that are burned annually such as longleaf pine-wiregrass savannas and sandhills.[5] It responds positively to fire, and populations of Euphorbia discoidalis have been known to persist through repeated annual burning.[10] Kral (1983) writes "In naturally stocked uplands it increases as a result of woods fires which reduce competing woody vegetation." [7] It increases in frequency in burned wiregrass habitats rather than fire-surpressed areas or burned bluestem habitats.[11]

Conservation, cultivation, and restoration

E. discoidalis should avoid soil disturbance by agriculture to conserve its presence in pine communties.[6]

Cultural use

Members of this genus can be used as a laxative in small amounts, but an overdose can cause severe poisoning.[12]

Photo Gallery

References and notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Weakley, A.S. 2020. Flora of the Southeastern United States. Edition of 20 October 2020. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
  2. USDA, NRCS. (2016). The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 10 May 2019). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
  3. [[1]] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed: May 10, 2019
  4. 4.0 4.1 Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Herbarium.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 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.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 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.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Kral, R. (1983). Euphorbia discoidalis Chapman. A report on some rare, threatened or endangered forest-related vascular plants of the South. R. Kral. Atlanta, USDA Forest Service, Paper 228: 701-705.
  8. Carr, S. C., et al. (2010). "A Vegetation Classification of Fire-Dependent Pinelands of Florida." Castanea 75(2): 153-189.
  9. Carr, S.C., K.M. Robertson, and R.K. Peet. 2010. A vegetation classification of fire-dependent pinelands of Florida. Castanea 75:153-189.
  10. Robertson, K.M. Unpublished data collected from Pebble Hill Fire Plots, Pebble Hill Plantation, Thomasville, Georgia.
  11. Rodgers, H. L. and L. Provencher (1999). "Analysis of Longleaf Pine Sandhill Vegetation in Northwest Florida." Castanea 64(2): 138-162.
  12. Mueschner, W.C. 1957. Poisonous Plants of the United States. The Macmillan Company, New York.