Euphorbia tuberosa, commonly known as '"milkball/melkbol"' or '"wilderamenas"', is a variable geophytic plant of the family Euphorbiaceae, indigenous to the western parts of South Africa.
Euphorbia tuberosa
Euphorbia tuberosa growing in sandy soil near Worcester in the Robertson Karoo
Detail of Euphorbia tuberosa flower, from near Hangklip.Euphorbia tuberosa, growing near Napier, in the Overberg region.Euphorbia tuberosa, slender-leaved form from near Hangklip.
A highly variable species, that has a tuberous underground caudex. Its deciduous leaves are grey-green, often with soft, fine hair.
The leaf shape is lanceolate-to-oblong. Below the leaves' stalks they become narrower. The leaf margins are wavy or crisped, and usually curved upwards.
It is dioecious and its yellow-green 5mm flowers (cyathia) appear over the Winter, on short (1–5 cm), trailing peduncles.[1][2][3]
Related speciesedit
This species is closely related to Euphorbia ecklonii, an Overberg species, which has wider leathery leaves that lie flat on the ground.[4]
It is also closely related to Euphorbia silenifolia, which however has slender, linear, grass-like leaves.[5][6]
A more gracile form of Euphorbia tuberosa is sometimes treated as a separate species, Euphorbia crispa (Haw.) Sweet, distinguished by its very narrow leaves, which also have more strongly wavy/crisped margins and a more prominent midrib.[7]
Distribution and habitatedit
Euphorbia tuberosa is indigenous to the western, winter-rainfall (dry summer) regions of South Africa, from Namaqualand in the north, to Cape Town in the south. In the Little Karoo region, it extends eastwards as far as the town of Matjiesfontein. In the Overberg region, it occurs around the town of Napier, and extends eastwards as far as the town of Riversdale.
Its habitat is usually rocky or sandy soils in exposed areas of renosterveld, fynbos or succulent karoo vegetation.[8]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Euphorbia tuberosa.
euphorbia, tuberosa, commonly, known, milkball, melkbol, wilderamenas, variable, geophytic, plant, family, euphorbiaceae, indigenous, western, parts, south, africa, growing, sandy, soil, near, worcester, robertson, karooscientific, classificationkingdom, plant. Euphorbia tuberosa commonly known as milkball melkbol or wilderamenas is a variable geophytic plant of the family Euphorbiaceae indigenous to the western parts of South Africa Euphorbia tuberosaEuphorbia tuberosa growing in sandy soil near Worcester in the Robertson KarooScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder MalpighialesFamily EuphorbiaceaeGenus EuphorbiaSpecies E tuberosaBinomial nameEuphorbia tuberosaL Contents 1 Description 1 1 Related species 2 Distribution and habitat 3 ReferencesDescription edit nbsp Detail of Euphorbia tuberosa flower from near Hangklip nbsp Euphorbia tuberosa growing near Napier in the Overberg region nbsp Euphorbia tuberosa slender leaved form from near Hangklip A highly variable species that has a tuberous underground caudex Its deciduous leaves are grey green often with soft fine hair The leaf shape is lanceolate to oblong Below the leaves stalks they become narrower The leaf margins are wavy or crisped and usually curved upwards It is dioecious and its yellow green 5mm flowers cyathia appear over the Winter on short 1 5 cm trailing peduncles 1 2 3 Related species edit This species is closely related to Euphorbia ecklonii an Overberg species which has wider leathery leaves that lie flat on the ground 4 It is also closely related to Euphorbia silenifolia which however has slender linear grass like leaves 5 6 A more gracile form of Euphorbia tuberosa is sometimes treated as a separate species Euphorbia crispa Haw Sweet distinguished by its very narrow leaves which also have more strongly wavy crisped margins and a more prominent midrib 7 Distribution and habitat editEuphorbia tuberosa is indigenous to the western winter rainfall dry summer regions of South Africa from Namaqualand in the north to Cape Town in the south In the Little Karoo region it extends eastwards as far as the town of Matjiesfontein In the Overberg region it occurs around the town of Napier and extends eastwards as far as the town of Riversdale Its habitat is usually rocky or sandy soils in exposed areas of renosterveld fynbos or succulent karoo vegetation 8 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Euphorbia tuberosa Euphorbia tuberosa Images Euphorbia tuberosa PlantZAfrica com Description Euphorbia tuberosa cyathia Euphorbia ecklonii Euphorbia silenifolia D Court 2000 Succulent Flora of Southern Africa CRC Press Euphorbia tuberosa E tuberosa distribution SANBI Redlist nbsp This Euphorbia related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Euphorbia tuberosa amp oldid 1195957495, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
