Euphorbia caput-medusae
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Euphorbia caput-medusae |
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Euphorbia caput-medusae is a species of the genus spurge ( Euphorbia ) in the family of Euphorbiaceae (Euphorbiaceae).
description
The succulent Euphorbia caput-medusae forms small shrubs with a plant body up to 20 centimeters in diameter. The root merges into the partly subterranean stem axis. The upright to flat branches are arranged radially around the plant body and radiate from there. The actual plant body is somewhat hidden and the plant forms a cushion of up to 70 centimeters in diameter. The branches are 5 to 37 inches long and up to 2.5 inches thick. They are divided into small segments with protruding warts. These warts are elongated crookedly and are up to 8 millimeters long and 5 millimeters wide. The linear leaves are up to 5 millimeters long and are short-lived.
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Individual cyathia are formed on the shoot tips, which stand on 1 to 10 millimeter long stems. Five on the stems develop to seven durable and hard expectant bracts . The cyathia reach a diameter of about 12 millimeters. The green nectar glands are 4 millimeters long and 6 millimeters wide. At the edges three to six white, linear, entire or toothed appendages are formed. The bluntly lobed ovary is sessile. Nothing is known about the fruits and seeds.
Distribution and systematics
Euphorbia caput-medusae is common in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
The first description of the species was in 1753 by Carl von Linné . Synonyms for this species are Euphorbia fructus-pini Miller (1768), Medusae fructus-pini (Miller) Haw. (1812), Euphorbia caput-medusae var. Geminata Aiton (1789) Euphorbia fructus-pini var. Geminata (Aiton) Sweet (1827), Euphorbia caput-medusae var. Major Aiton (1789), Discomedusae major (Aiton) Haw. (1812), Euphorbia caput-medusae var. Minor Aiton (1789) Euphorbia medusae Thunberg (1800), Discomedusae tessellata Haw. (1812) and Euphorbia commelinii DC. (1813).
swell
- Urs Eggli (ed.): Succulent lexicon. Dicotyledons (dicotyledons) . Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-8001-3915-4 , pp. 127-128 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Species Plantarum Vol. 1. Lars Salvius, Stockholm 1753, p. 452. ( online ).
