Euphorbia Subg Research Articles

Taxonomic Studies on Family Euphorbiaceae Based on Some Morphological, Biochemical and Molecular Characteristics

An informal group of scientists from multiple nations formed the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG), in which experts work together for the development of taxonomy of angiosperms. The group took into account all new information about diverse plant species using a high steering phylogenetic investigation. The APG has developed four classification systems from 1998 through 2003 and 2009 up until 2016. Since, the previously classified angiosperm species and their wild relatives were not fully based on monophyletic grouping, the classification has a lot of shortcoming and faults. According to the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, the Phyllanthaceae of order Malpighiales is most important with Euphorbiaceae sensu lato as a pantropical family comprised of hundreds of genera and thousands of species. It has several physical characteristics which are the same as Euphorbiaceae sensu stricto. The most important characteristics include unisexual flowers and a syncarpous ovary. Further, the flowers have an axile-apical placentation without pistillode (rudimentary pistil). In the Middle East region, the critical taxonomic review of six important genera from 10 taxa of sub-families Phyllanthaceae and Euphorbiaceae were studied for various characteristics using the latest nomenclature, type citation, and keys for each genus and species. Euphorbia are very rich in natural plant products which have an incredible chemical composition and functional diversity. Compounds were found highly significant and have been the subject of extensive research globally. Further, the genetic composition of Euphorbia is diverse, maturing in various growth forms, cyathial features, and habitats. The molecular characterization of the family Euphorbiaceae also showed a diverse species composition. The members of the family Euphorbiaceae exhibit a palisadal exotegmen with cellular bundles in association with vascular bundles on inner integument as synapomorphies for several major clades. Within current studies on phylogeny and classification of Euphorbia subg. Esula are burning topics comprised of diverse species that make the genus most significant in the kingdom plantae..

Euphorbia marciae: A New Species from the Balsas Depression of Mexico

Euphorbia marciae, a new species from the lowlands of the Balsas Depression in southwestern Mexico, is described and illustrated. The species was first collected by the renowned botanist George B. Hinton during his explorations of the area in the 1930s. It is known from only five collections made in northwestern Guerrero and the extreme southwestern portion of the state of México, at elevations from 250 to 610 m. Vegetation of the area is tropical deciduous forest. Euphorbia marciae belongs to Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce sect. Anisophyllum and resembles E. apatzingana, E. hyssopifolia, and E. nutans. However, it differs from these species in having smooth seeds. The seeds are nearly identical to those of E. pionosperma, an endemic species occurring in the Sierra Madre Occidental of eastern Sonora and western Chihuahua. However, the leaves of E. pionosperma are more conspicuously serrate and have larger stipules. In addition, Euphorbia pionosperma has smaller involucres and involucral appendages. Following IUCN Redlist criteria, E. marciae should be treated as Data Deficient (DD) until the species can be relocated and its populations field evaluated.

Euphorbia berryi: a narrowly endemic Brazilian species

Euphorbi berryi is described and illustrated with photos. It is known from the Cerrado vegetation of Maranhão, Brazil, where it occurs on sandy soils in the municipality of Carolina at elevations of 187 to 350 m. The precise affinities of Euphorbia berryi are not clear, but it undoubtedly belongs to Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce sect. Anisophyllum. It differs from other species of the section by the combination of being a delicate annual with the stipules united into an erose sheath; slender styles that are notched at the apex; and linear, entire, strongly falcate leaves that are scarcely asymmetrical at the base and have a white, straight to flexuous, quickly deciduous, hairlike extension at the apex. The latter feature is apparently unique in sect. Anisophyllum. Comparisons are made with Euphorbia burchellii and E. potentilloides, two species with which it has been confused. Its conservation status is preliminary assessed to be data deficient (DD) until the populations can be field evaluated.

A Remarkable New Species of Euphorbia section Helioscopia (Euphorbia subgenus Esula, Euphorbiaceae) from Jiufeng Mountains in Fujian Province, Eastern China

Abstract— Euphorbia xiangxiui, a new species of Euphorbiaceae from Eastern China, supported by morphological and molecular evidence, is illustrated and described here. It can be distinguished from its closest relatives by the combination of several characters, including taller stature (up to 1.6 m), leaves of 5‐18 × 0.6‐3 cm in size, color of primary involucral leaves and cyathophylls changing from pink to rose, fading to green after fruiting, and four to six reniform-rounded concave glands. The molecular phylogenetic analysis, based on combined nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid ndhF sequences, further supports that E. xiangxiui should be placed in the East Asian Clade of Euphorbia subg. Esula sect. Helioscopia.

A new species of succulent Euphorbia subg. Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) from central Somalia

A new species of Euphorbia subg. Euphorbia sect. Euphorbia is described as new to science. Euphorbia elburensis sp. nov. is endemic to central Somalia and only known from the El‐Buur area. This species belongs to a morphological group characteristic of the Horn of Africa, with tiny (2–4 mm diam.) deeply lobed capsules, well exserted on recurved pedicels, containing ovoid densely tuberculate seeds.

Studies in the vascular flora of the southeastern United States. VII

As part of ongoing efforts to understand, document, and conserve the flora of southeastern North America, we propose two new species, the recognition of a usually synonymized variety, the acceptance of two species of Waltheria as being present in peninsular Florida, taxonomic acceptance of a sometimes deprecated species transferred with a new name into a different genus, and we clarify the distribution and ecology of a species. In Carex (Cyperaceae), we re-analyze infrataxa in Carex intumescens and recommend the recognition of two varieties, a taxonomic schema first proposed in 1893, but usually not followed in the 128 years since. In Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae), a careful assessment of south Florida material of Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce sect. Anisophyllum subsect. Hypericifoliae reveals the need for taxonomic changes to best classify endemic representatives of this group, resulting in the naming of a new species, and a new name at species rank in Euphorbia for a taxon first named in Chamaesyce and sometimes subsequently treated at only varietal rank in Euphorbia. Chamaecrista deeringiana (Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae) has been repeatedly misinterpreted to include two different and disjunct population systems with differing morphologies and habitats, which are here interpreted as separate species, one newly named and the other Chamaecrista deeringiana returned to its original and narrower interpretation as a south Florida endemic. Waltheria (Malvaceae) has sometimes been interpreted as being represented in Florida by a single taxon, Waltheria indica, but we disentangle the concepts of the widespread W. indica and the West Indian W. bahamensis and clarify that both are present in the southeastern United States. We reconsider the occurrence and habitat of Toxicoscordion nuttallii (Melanthiaceae) in three states in which it has been reported as a rare species, Mississippi, Missouri, and Louisiana, and remove it from the Mississippi flora as a garbled and false report. In Louisiana, its occurrence in calcareous prairie complexes limits its potential occurrence in the state to a specialized and rare habitat, but careful exploration of habitat remnants may result in the discovery of additional populations. Taxonomic studies and re-assessments of this kind are critical in laying the best scientific foundation for regulatory, policy, and land conservation decisions. This paper names or makes the case for the renewed acceptance of six species with range-wide conservation concern: one Critically Imperiled (G1 – Euphorbia ogdenii), one Imperiled (G2 – E. hammeri), and four Vulnerable (G3 – E. garberi, E. porteriana, Chamaecrista deeringiana, C. horizontalis).

Euphorbia lakshminarasimhanii: a new pygmy succulent species from Konkan region of Maharashtra, India

Euphorbia lakshminarasimhanii (Euphorbiaceae), a new pygmy species belonging to the genus Euphorbia subg. Euphorbia sect. Euphorbia is described and illustrated from the Konkan region of Maharashtra, India. It is easily distinguished from all known Indian species by its unique sparsely‐branched pygmy habit, closely spaced and horizontally flattened tubercles, trapezoidal spine shields which are very close and overlapping at the apical region, giving a pouch like appearance, bifurcated spines completely separated by the leaf scar, leaves forming a crown, long bracts extending past the gland edge, coral red colored glands with indented margins, male florets 10 per fascicle, and capsule having globose cocci with thin keels.

<p><strong><em>Euphorbia mongoliensis </em></strong><strong>(Euphorbiaceae), a new species<em> </em>from Inner Mongolia, China</strong></p>

In May 2020, a new taxon of Euphorbia, Euphorbiaceae was collected from a dry hillside of Dongsheng District, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia. The morphological characteristics of the specimens analyzed differ from those of the known Euphorbia species from this region; therefore, we suspected this may be a new species, and we set to analyze the ITS2 sequences of some Euphorbia species. The results show that the new taxon belongs to the sect. Esula of Euphorbia subg. Esula. It is similar to Euphorbia esula (description from Flora of China) but does not belong to the same species. Concomitantly, plant morphological data and pollen morphology results show significant differences between the new taxon, E. esula and E. caesia, a finding that supports the delimitation of this new taxon, which is named Euphorbia mongoliensis in accordance with its geographical distribution.

<p><strong><em>Euphorbia sahyadrica </em></strong><strong>(Euphorbiaceae), a new species of succulent shrub from the wet zone of the northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India</strong></p>

Euphorbia sahyadrica (Euphorbiaceae), a new succulent species belonging to Euphorbia subg. Euphorbia sect. Euphorbia is described and illustrated from the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. It is related to E. nivulia but differs in its shrub-like habit, bark with closely-packed horizontal branch scars, elliptical-shaped leaf with short petiole and easily visible lateral veins, protruding tubercles with two pairs of spines per spine shield, bisexual cyathia in the central sessile position on the cyme, and capsules that have laterally tapering cocci without bulging suture lines between the cocci.

Diversity, distribution, endemism and conservation status of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) in SW Asia and adjacent countries

In order to evaluate the diversity, endemism, distribution and conservation of the genus Euphorbia in SW Asian countries, we generated an updated and annotated checklist of 249 taxa belonging to the current accepted four Euphorbia subgenera, 30 sections and five subsections, based on floristic compilations followed by extensive verification of nearly 24,000 herbarium vouchers from the region. We also provide updated distribution maps for 247 of the 249 taxa treated. The predominant group is Euphorbia subg. Esula, with 19 sections and 184 taxa (176 species), followed by subg. Chamaesyce (six sections, 32 species), subg. Euphorbia (two sections, 21 species) and subg. Athymalus (three sections, 12 species). Turkey, Iran and Syria are the most diverse countries, with 102, 92 and 50 species, respectively. The richest concentration of Euphorbia species in SW Asia are the eastern part of the Mediterranean region in Lebanon with 27–34 taxa; Alborz, Zagros (Iran), Lesser Caucasus, and Anti-Taurus (S Turkey) with 21–27 taxa each are the second richest areas. The highest number of endemics occurs in Iran (21 taxa), followed by Turkey (12 taxa) and Yemen (7 taxa). All 134 endemic and subendemic taxa were evaluated by the IUCN Red List categories and criteria. Among the known Euphorbia species in the region, 10 of them (4.4%) are adventive. Life-form spectra show that the majority of species (80.7%) are hemicryptophytes, therophytes and chamaephytes. Twelve new records are reported here for Iran, Afghanistan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and Turkey, six synonyms and three sectional transfers are suggested.

Contribution to the flora of the Maltese Islands: Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce and Euphorbia exigua s. l. (Euphorbiaceae)

The identity and the taxonomic treatment of the species belonging to Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce occurring on the Maltese Islands were not adequately studied both in historical and recent literature. Apart from the native sand dune species Euphorbia peplis, all records have been previously attributed to the cosmopolitan weedy species E. maculata and E. chamaesyce. This work provides the first taxonomic synopsis based on the examination of 53 specimens collected from Malta and Gozo between 2014 and 2017. The study ascertained the occurrence of six species, of which E. serpens, E. prostrata and E. hypericifolia are first reported from the Maltese Islands. Discussion on the taxonomy, origin, ecology and invasiveness of these species is provided, together with photos and an identification key. Moreover, taxonomic studies on E. exigua s. l., belonging to subg. Esula, sect. Exiguae, have been carried out on Maltese material and discussed. E. exigua var. pycnophylla, originally described as endemic of the Maltese Archipelago and recorded afterwards on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, bears no significant morphological trait which allows to clearly distinguish it from the nominal variety. No differences in fruit and seed morphology resulted when the two varieties were compared and the slight differences present in the habit of the plant and the arrangement of leaves has been judged to be of ecotypic origin, hence justifying the lumping of this variety into the single and variable taxon E. exigua.

A biosystematic study of Euphorbia subgenus Chamaesyce (Euphorbiaceae) in Iran

We studied leaf anatomy, mitotic chromosomes and pollen grains of nine species of Euphorbia (E. chamaesyce, E. granulata, E. indica, E. humifusa, E. maculata, E. petiolata, E. prostrata, E. serpens and E. nutans) out of the 15 species of Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce present in Iran. We compared our results with two species of subg. Esula sections Tythymalus and Helioscopia (E. peplus and E. helioscopia). Our anatomical survey identified the Kranz bundle sheath as a distinct anatomical character for subgenus Chamaesyce sect. Anisophyllum, differentiating this from E. petiolata of subg. Chamaesyce sect. Cheirolepidium. Based on type of abaxial epidermis cell walls, species were classified into three groups including species with zigzagged, sinuous and intermediate (zigzagged-sinuous) walls. Chromosome numbers for four species were reported for the first time from Iran, and 2n=32 is the first report for E. indica. Three shapes of pollen grains were determined: oblate spheroidal, prolate spheroidal and subprolate. A tectate perforate exine ornamentation was detected in almost all of the species.

Euphorbia Section Hainanensis (Euphorbiaceae), a New Section Endemic to the Hainan Island of China From Biogeographical, Karyological, and Phenotypical Evidence.

Euphorbia hainanensis is an endangered species endemic to the tropical Hainan Island in southern China and of historical importance for Chinese medicine. It is currently the only unplaced species of the genus Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) due to its isolated island distribution and debated placement by a previous molecular phylogenetic study. We sequenced nuclear ITS and chloroplast rbcL and ndhF for newly collected accessions of E. hainanensis and additional Euphorbia species found in Hainan, and analyzed the sequences in the context of the entire genus together with published data. All gene regions highly supported that E. hainanensis occupied an isolated phylogenetic position, showing no close affinity with any known Euphorbia sections suggesting it was a new section. ITS placed E. hainanensis sister to sect. Crossadenia (subgenus Chamaesyce) from Brazil with an estimated divergence time of 9.3-30.6 Mya while the chloroplast markers placed E. hainanensis at a position sister to the entire New World clade of Euphorbia subgenus Chamaesyce. In addition, our karyological results suggested a close affinity between E. hainanensis and the New World species of Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce, with which shared the same chromosome number 2n = 28 and basic chromosome number x = 7. Phenotypically, E. hainanensis is unique with no close resemblance to other species in Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce. Based on its isolated biogeographical, karyological, and phenotypical position, we propose a new section E. subgenus Chamaesyce section Hainanensis that might origin from long distance dispersal events because collective evidences showed a close affinity between the species from the Old World with those from the New World.

Four new species of Euphorbia sect. Pithyusa (subg. Esula, Euphorbiaceae) from SW Asia

Four new SW Asian species of Euphorbia subg. Esula, sect. Pithyusa are described and mapped. Euphorbia acanthoclada is known from W Afghanistan and is compared with E. acanthodes. Euphorbia boreo-baluchestanica and E. ziaratensis are found from N Baluchistan of Pakistan and are most similar to E. prolifera and E. sulphurea respectively. Euphorbia kavirensis is known from temperate desert of the interior Iran, Dasht-e Kavir, and is closely related to the Iranian E. gedrosiaca. Diagnosis, description, distribution, ecology, conservation status, image and pertinent notes, if needed, are also considered.

Evolutionary History and Taxonomy of the Euphorbia polycarpa Complex (Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce sect. Anisophyllum, Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract Euphorbia polycarpa (Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce sect. Anisophyllum) is one of the most common species of the Sonoran Desert. It exhibits a wide range of morphological variation and has been considered as a taxonomic complex. Since the late nineteenth century more than seven varieties have been described for the complex, some with very restricted distributions. Because of morphological intergrades present in the complex, there has been much confusion among taxonomists, and it became necessary to clarify the taxonomy of this complex using molecular phylogenetic evidence in addition to morphology alone. In this paper we reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships for the E. polycarpa complex based on molecular information from the psbA-trnH and ITS spacers, using Bayesian inference. Morphology was compared with phylogenetic results, and we also explored geographic patterns of the varieties of the complex, as well as closely related species of Euphorbia sect. Anisophyllum. Taking into account the resu...

Global medicinal uses of Euphorbia L. (Euphorbiaceae)

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe genus Euphorbia (spurges, Euphorbiaceae) is the third largest genus of flowering plants, with almost 2000 species. Its exceptional diversity of growth forms and near-cosmopolitan distribution have attracted human interest since ancient times. For instance in Australia, topical application of latex of Euphorbia peplus L. is used as a home treatment for skin cancer and actinic keratosis. Its use in Australian folk medicine has inspired the release of the drug Picato® (ingenol mebutate), and further fostered interest in natural products and medicinal uses of Euphorbia in recent years. Aim of the studyTo provide an indicative overview of medicinal uses of the genus Euphorbia driven by the recent interest in biologically active natural products from Euphorbia in drug discovery. We assess documented medicinal knowledge and value of the genus Euphorbia and the taxonomic distribution of this value. Materials and methodsWe undertook an extensive survey of over 260 multidisciplinary publications on the online repository JSTOR using the search term “Euphorbia medicinal”. ResultsMedicinal uses were identified for >5% of the species in the genus, including descriptions of treatments for a variety of diseases. The most-cited medicinal uses around the world were treatments for digestive system disorders, skin ailments and, especially in the Southern hemisphere, infections. Consensus ratios indicated that the most-valued medicinal uses of Euphorbia species are in the treatment of digestive and respiratory complaints, inflammation and injuries, especially by members of Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce. ConclusionsThe present study gives a first indicative overview of Euphorbia species used for health and wellbeing around the world. The exceptional diversity of the genus Euphorbia is not only represented by its growth forms but also by its diverse medicinal uses. Our results highlight the importance of research into medicinal uses of Euphorbia species and their importance as a source of natural products. Furthermore the medicinally highly valuable subgenus Chamaesyce was identified as chemically under-investigated, emphasizing the need for further studies investigating the chemical diversity to which the high medicinal value of Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce can be attributed.

Two new species of Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce (Euphorbiaceae) from Baja California Sur, Mexico and their phylogenetic relationships

Two new species of Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce sect. Anisophyllum are described and illustrated. Both are endemic to the Sonoran Desert of Baja California Sur, Mexico, and were previously determined as Euphorbia polycarpa. Their recognition is highly supported by both molecular and morphological data. Euphorbia vizcainensis occurs in the Vizcaíno and Magdalena subdivisions at elevations from 20 to 250 m. It differs from E. polycarpa in having rugose seeds with transverse ridges (vs. smooth seeds). It is most similar to E. pondii from which it is separated by features of the stipules, involucral appendages, and seeds. Euphorbia cerralvensis is restricted to the Cerralvo Island in the municipality of La Paz of the Central Gulf Coast subdivision, and occurs at elevations from 10 to 300 m. It also differs from E. polycarpa by having seeds with transverse ridges. Morphologically it is very distinct from other Euphorbia species in the region. Phylogenetic evidence suggests that it belongs to a clade with E. dentosa, E. leucophylla, E. petrina, and E. brandegeei, species from which it is distinguished by its suffrutescent ascending habit (vs. herbaceous prostrate habit).

Diversity of stomata and trichomes in <i>Euphorbia</i> L. - I

Foliar epidermal features of 18 species of Euphorbia L. s.l. (Euphorbiaceae) are studied. While the anisocytic and anamocytic stomata are common in herbaceous members (Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce), the paracytic type is predominant in succulent species (Euphorbia proper). The stomatal types, index and frequency, and the types of trichomes are explored on vegetative as well as floral parts to evaluate their possible taxonomic importance.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v20i1.15462Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 20(1): 27-38, 2013 (June)

Three new species of <i>Euphorbia</i> subg. <i>Chamaesyce</i> (Euphorbiaceae) from Bolivia

Three new Bolivian species of Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce are described and illustrated. Euphorbia beckii is known from the Área Natural de Manejo Integrado of Apolobamba, province of Bautista Saavedra, department of La Paz; it belongs to sect. Alectoroctonum and is compared with E. viridis. Euphorbia fuentesii is known from the Kaa-Iya del Gran Chaco National Park, Cordillera province, department of Santa Cruz. It forms part of sect. Anisophyllum, and is most similar to E. catamarcensis. Euphorbia riinae is known from the Parque Nacional Noel Kempff Mercado, in the province of Velasco, department of Santa Cruz. It is a member of sect. Crossadenia subsect. Ephedropeplus and is closely related to the Brazilian Euphorbia gymnoclada.

Revision ofEuphorbiasect.Chylogala(Euphorbiaceae)

Geltman D. V.: Revision of Euphorbia sect. Chylogala (Euphorbiaceae). — Willdenowia 43: 5–12. June 2013. — Online ISSN 1868-6397; © 2013 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem. Stable URL: http//dx.doi.org/10.3372/wi.43.43101After the rearrangement of the system of Euphorbia subg. Esula Pers., E. sect. Chylogala (Fourr.) Prokh. contains four species: E. alaica (Prokh.) Prokh. (mountains of Middle Asia), E. heteradena Jaub. & Spach (Southwest Asia), E. retusa Forrsk. (deserts of North Africa and Southwest Asia) and E. serrata L. (West Mediterranean). This group is revised here. Special attention is given to E. alaica, a poorly known species from Kyrgyzstan and Tadjikistan. Lectotypes are designated for the names Euphorbia coriacea K. Koch, E. megalantha Boiss. and E. megalantha var. denticulata Boiss.