Euphorbia flanaganii, commonly known as Transkei medusa's head, is a succulent plant that belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. It is endemic to South Africa.[2] Due to the breadth of the Euphorbiaceae, little research specific to E. flanaganii has been conducted.
It is believed to be closely related to E. hypogaea and E. procumbens, resulting from a common speciation event. However, the phylogenetic association between the three species remains relatively unreliable, with values of only 53/.66 attributed to the linkage.[3]Euphorbia flanaganii is in subgenus Athymalus,[3][4] which comprises 150 species.
Descriptionedit
Inflorescence
It is an agglomerated, thorny, succulent plant with snake-like branches that has a swollen underground stem. It is a dwarf shrub with a size of 0.02 to 0.05 m in height that is found at an altitude of 30 to 185 meters. Leaves are rather small, only 10 mm long and 1 mm broad. Its branches grow horizontally, up to 400 mm in diameter. It has inflorescence in cyathium with a single, 4 mm long flower per flower stalk that bloom in late summer and autumn.[5]
It has photosynthetic modified stems that lack, or have delayed development of, periderm.[6] Careful observation of E. flanaganii specimens also reveals modified, needle-like leaves, radial geometric symmetry, and a seemingly tuberous above ground root structure.
Species within subgenus Athymalus, including E. flanaganii, are found only in arid regions such as the Arabian Peninsula, the Canary Islands, Madagascar, and South Africa.[3][6] The historical and modern day geographical home of the subgenus, and the diversity level among species in the same region, suggest species in Athymalus are a lineage of early divergence.[3][4] A large speciation event of Euphorbia is believed to have occurred over the course of 3 million to 10 million years ago, due to a significant change in climate, in what are now considered to be modern arid regions; the Athymalus subgenus is believed to have evolved during this period.[3][6][7]
Given the present body of knowledge that pertains to other Euphorbia species found in the same regions as E. flanaganii, and historical evolutionary events, it is highly likely that E. flanaganii is roughly 3–10 million years old as well.[6]
^ abcdePeirson, Jess A.; Bruyns, Peter V.; Riina, Ricarda; Morawetz, Jeffery J.; Berry, Paul E. (2013). "A molecular phylogeny and classification of the largely succulent and mainly African Euphorbia subg. Athymalus (Euphorbiaceae)". Taxon. 62 (6): 1178–1199. doi:10.12705/626.12.
^ abBruyns, P.V.; Mapaya, R.J.; Hedderson, T. (2006). "A new subgeneric classification for Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) in southern Africa based on ITS and psbA-trnH sequence data". Taxon. 55 (2): 397–420. doi:10.2307/25065587. JSTOR 25065587.
^Williams, V.L et al. 2014. Euphorbia flanaganii N.E.Br. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2017.1. Accessed on 2019/02/11.
^ abcdBruyns, P.V.; Klak, C.; Hanáček, P. (2011). "Age and diversity in Old World succulent species of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae)". Taxon. 60 (6): 1717–1733. doi:10.1002/tax.606016.
^Partridge, T.C.; Maud, R.R. (2000). The Cenozoic of southern Africa. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
April 10, 2024
euphorbia, flanaganii, commonly, known, transkei, medusa, head, succulent, plant, that, belongs, family, euphorbiaceae, endemic, south, africa, breadth, euphorbiaceae, little, research, specific, flanaganii, been, conducted, cites, appendix, cites, scientific,. Euphorbia flanaganii commonly known as Transkei medusa s head is a succulent plant that belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae It is endemic to South Africa 2 Due to the breadth of the Euphorbiaceae little research specific to E flanaganii has been conducted Euphorbia flanaganiiCITES Appendix II CITES 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder MalpighialesFamily EuphorbiaceaeGenus EuphorbiaSpecies E flanaganiiBinomial nameEuphorbia flanaganiiN E Br 1915 Synonyms 2 Euphorbia discreta N E Br 1915 Euphorbia ernestii N E Br 1915 Euphorbia franksiae N E Br 1915 Euphorbia gatbergensis N E Br 1915 Euphorbia passa N E Br 1915 Euphorbia woodii N E Br 1915 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution 4 Evolution 5 ReferencesTaxonomy editIt is believed to be closely related to E hypogaea and E procumbens resulting from a common speciation event However the phylogenetic association between the three species remains relatively unreliable with values of only 53 66 attributed to the linkage 3 Euphorbia flanaganii is in subgenus Athymalus 3 4 which comprises 150 species Description edit nbsp InflorescenceIt is an agglomerated thorny succulent plant with snake like branches that has a swollen underground stem It is a dwarf shrub with a size of 0 02 to 0 05 m in height that is found at an altitude of 30 to 185 meters Leaves are rather small only 10 mm long and 1 mm broad Its branches grow horizontally up to 400 mm in diameter It has inflorescence in cyathium with a single 4 mm long flower per flower stalk that bloom in late summer and autumn 5 It has photosynthetic modified stems that lack or have delayed development of periderm 6 Careful observation of E flanaganii specimens also reveals modified needle like leaves radial geometric symmetry and a seemingly tuberous above ground root structure Distribution editEuphorbia flanaganii is native to the east central and southeastern Cape Provinces and southern KwaZulu Natal in South Africa 2 Evolution editSpecies within subgenus Athymalus including E flanaganii are found only in arid regions such as the Arabian Peninsula the Canary Islands Madagascar and South Africa 3 6 The historical and modern day geographical home of the subgenus and the diversity level among species in the same region suggest species in Athymalus are a lineage of early divergence 3 4 A large speciation event of Euphorbia is believed to have occurred over the course of 3 million to 10 million years ago due to a significant change in climate in what are now considered to be modern arid regions the Athymalus subgenus is believed to have evolved during this period 3 6 7 Given the present body of knowledge that pertains to other Euphorbia species found in the same regions as E flanaganii and historical evolutionary events it is highly likely that E flanaganii is roughly 3 10 million years old as well 6 References edit Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2024 01 17 a b c Euphorbia flanaganii N E Br Plants of the World Online Retrieved 6 October 2023 a b c d e Peirson Jess A Bruyns Peter V Riina Ricarda Morawetz Jeffery J Berry Paul E 2013 A molecular phylogeny and classification of the largely succulent and mainly African Euphorbia subg Athymalus Euphorbiaceae Taxon 62 6 1178 1199 doi 10 12705 626 12 a b Bruyns P V Mapaya R J Hedderson T 2006 A new subgeneric classification for Euphorbia Euphorbiaceae in southern Africa based on ITS and psbA trnH sequence data Taxon 55 2 397 420 doi 10 2307 25065587 JSTOR 25065587 Williams V L et al 2014 Euphorbia flanaganii N E Br National Assessment Red List of South African Plants version 2017 1 Accessed on 2019 02 11 a b c d Bruyns P V Klak C Hanacek P 2011 Age and diversity in Old World succulent species of Euphorbia Euphorbiaceae Taxon 60 6 1717 1733 doi 10 1002 tax 606016 Partridge T C Maud R R 2000 The Cenozoic of southern Africa Oxford Oxford University Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Euphorbia flanaganii amp oldid 1196454007, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
