Euphorbia peplus Linnaeus (1753: 456)

Silva, Otávio Luis Marques Da, Cordeiro, Inês & Caruzo, Maria Beatriz Rossi, 2014, Synopsis of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, Phytotaxa 181 (4), pp. 193-215 : 202

15. Euphorbia peplus Linnaeus (1753: 456) ( Fig. 5C–E ). Lectotype (designated by El Hadidi & Fayed 1978: 46):— Locality unknown, Anonymous s.n. (LINN 630.24!).

Distribution and habitat:— Euphorbia peplus occurs in the Mediterranean region, Europe and temperate Asia, being introduced and naturalized as a weed in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions around the world. In the State of São Paulo the species occurs in disturbed areas.

Representative Specimen:— BRAZIL. São Paulo: Atibaia , 28 October 2013, O.L.M. Silva & R. Hoinaski 95 (SP) .

Taxonomic notes:— Euphorbia peplus may be recognized by its ovary and fruit with two slender longitudinal ridges along the keel of the cocci. The species is similar to Euphorbia elodes , but cyathial glands of E. peplus have two white, horn-like and well developed appendages (vs. appendages absent in E. elodes ) and its seed are carunculate, with two sulci on the ventral face and alveolate on the dorsal face (vs. ecarunculate and verrucose in E. elodes ).

Figures

FIGURE 5.A–B: Euphorbia peperomioides. A. habit, B. cyathium.C–E: Euphorbia peplus. C. habit, D. branch with cyathia, E. cyathium. F–H: Euphorbia potentilloides. F. habit, G. branch with synflorescence, H. cyathium. Photos: O.L.M. Silva.