Compilation
Euphorbia implexa
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Name
Identification
Euphorbia implexa Stapf [family EUPHORBIACEAE ] Euphorbia gossypina Pax [family EUPHORBIACEAE ] (stored under name);
Related name
- Euphorbia implexa
- Euphorbia gossypina
Flora
Entry for EUPHORBIA gossypina Pax [family EUPHORBIACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora of Tropical Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of Tropical Africa, Vol 6, Part 1, page 441, (1913) Author: (By J. G. Baker, with additions by C. H. Wright.)
Names
EUPHORBIA gossypina Pax [family EUPHORBIACEAE], in Engl. Jahrb. xix. 119.
EUPHORBIA implexa Stapf [family EUPHORBIACEAE], in Kew Bulletin, 1908, 408.
Information
A bush 2–3 ft. high, formed of a mass of long slender naked succulent interwoven stems and branches, leafy only on the young growth for a short period. Branches ascending or making a right-angle with the stems or main branches or becoming pendulous, 2–3 1/2 lin. thick in the specimens seen, terete, with small crescent-shaped leaf-scars, glabrous. Leaves alternate, whorled at the base of the umbel, sessile, reflexed, soon deciduous, those on the stem 1/2–1 1/4 in. long, 1–2 1/2 lin. broad, lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, acute, narrowed towards the base, the upper sometimes shorter and broader and becoming more elliptic or ovate, those of the whorl usually 3–5 lin. long and 1 1/2–3 1/2 lin. broad, ovate to orbicular, very obtusely rounded to acute and apiculate, but sometimes like those of the stem, all glabrous on both sides. Stipules none. Umbel terminal, simple, with a central shortly pedunculate involucre which is male and deciduous and 4–5 rays 1/2–1 1/4 in. long, each with 1 hermaphrodite involucre and a pair of reflexed elliptic obtuse bracts about 3 lin. long and 2 lin. broad, glabrous. Involucres on peduncles 1 1/2–2 lin. long, broadly and shallowly cup-shaped, about 1/3 in. in diam., glabrous, but with a dome-like mass of very white woolly bracteoles filling the interior, with 5–6 large glands and 5–6 subquadrate lobes, notched or slightly toothed at the top, with a fringe of very fine weak hairs, which appear to arise from the inner surface and are only seen (on dried specimens) when the lobe is placed in water; glands turned outwards, 1 1/2–2 lin. in their greater diam., transversely elliptic to suborbicular, flattish, entire or slightly crenate on the outer margin. Ovary exserted above the dome of woolly bracts, erect, glabrous; styles 1 1/4 lin. long, united at the base, deeply bifid at the apex with revolute tips.
Distribution
German East Africa Mozamb. Dist. Kageyi, on Lake Victoria, Fischer, 514! Masaini, Fischer, 515! Umbugwe and Iraku, on the edge of the Rift, Merker, 127! near a plantation at Dar-es-Salaam, Hedde, 6!Uganda Nile Land Mawokota, 3900 ft., Brown, 414!British East Africa Nile Land between Ribe and the Galla Country, Wakefield!; Nairobi, Allaud, 97!
Notes
Easily recognised by the dome-like white-woolly mass of bracteoles filling the involucre.