| Home | > | List of families | > | Euphorbiaceae | > | Euphorbia | > | persistentifolia |
| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Stout succulent spiny shrub to 2 m or small tree to 3.5 m high.Branches whorled, spreading-ascending, rebranching, acutely 4–5-angled, 2–5 cm in diameter, constricted into segments to 40 cm long; angles sinuate, with tubercles 1–2 cm apart along the margins.Spine shields joined in a whitish horny margin 0.5–2 mm wide; spines 3–7(15) mm long, diverging; prickles minute.Leaves c. 6–10 × 1.6–2.5 cm, narrowly obovate, subsessile, persistent for several months.Cymes solitary, 1–2-forked, peduncle and cyme branches c. 3 mm long; bracts c. 3 mm long, ovate.Cyathia with involucres 3.5–4 × 5–6 mm, funnel-shaped; glands 2–3 mm wide, transversely elliptic, greenish-yellow; lobes c. 2.25 mm long, broadly elliptic, fimbriate.Male flowers 20–25(45): bracteoles c. 3 mm long, fimbriate; pedicels and filaments each c. 2.5 mm long.Female flower: perianth 3-lobed, c. 2 mm in diameter; styles c. 2.5 mm long, spreading, recurved with bifid apices.Capsule to 4 × 7 mm, obtusely lobed, subtruncate, exserted on a recurved pedicel c. 7 mm long.Seeds c. 2.5 × 2 mm, subglobose, smooth, pale brown with irregular blotches. From FZ, Vol 9, Part 5, (2001) Author: S. Carter & L.C. Leach |
| Type location: |
Zambia, Chirundu |
| Notes: | A variable species in habit, leaf size and capsule shape |
| Derivation of specific name: | |
| Habitat: | Escarpment Brachystegia woodland, on rocky slopes |
| Altitude range: | 610 - 1200 m |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | This species occurs mainly along the Zambezi Valley and its Escarpments from below the Victoria Falls to the Mavuradonha Mts |
| Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca): | S |
| Zambian distribution (Provinces): | Lk,S |
| Growth form(s): | Tree, shrub under 2 m. |
| Endemic status: | Near Endemic |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Content last updated: | Tuesday 22 August 2017 |
| Literature: |
Carter, S. & Leach, L.C. (2001). Euphorbiaceae: subfamily Euphorbioideae: tribe Euphorbieae Flora Zambesiaca 9(5) Page 410. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 253. Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 173. |
| Home | > | List of families | > | Euphorbiaceae | > | Euphorbia | > | persistentifolia |