Euphorbia comosa Vellozo (1829: 202)

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 : 198

4. Euphorbia comosa Vellozo (1829: 202) ( Fig. 2A–B ). Lectotype (designated here): — BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: “ Euphorbia comosa ” in Vellozo (1831: tab. 15).

Distribution and habitat:— Euphorbia comosa occurs in Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil. In the State of São Paulo the species occurs in cerrado vegetation and disturbed areas.

Representative Specimen:— BRAZIL. São Paulo: Paulo de Faria , 25 April 1995, V. Stranghetti 506 (SPSF) .

Taxonomic notes:— Euphorbia comosa can be easily recognized among the other species of Euphorbia from the state of São Paulo by its characteristic synflorescence, typically of E. sect. Stachydium in subg. Euphorbia , which consist of a monochasium with decussate, orbicular, folded in half cyathophylls. Others singular characteristics of E. comosa are its glands, with an extension with thick and slightly crenate margin, and prismatic, carunculate seeds.

Figures

FIGURE 2. A–B: Euphorbia comosa. A. habit, B. synflorescence. C–E: Euphorbia elodes. C. synflorescence, D. branch with cyathia, E. cyathium. F–I: Euphorbia foliolosa. F. habit, G. detail of leaf margin, H. branch with cyathia, I. detail of a cyathium. Photos: A–B: I. Cordeiro, C–I: O.L.M. Silva.