Greater florida spurge

Description

Euphorbia floridana Chapman, Fl. South. U.S. 401. 1860. Herbs, perennial, with slender to moderately thickened rootstock. Stems erect, 20-65 cm. Leaves: petiole absent; blade linear to linear-elliptic or linear-lanceolate, 30-105 - 2-4(-7) mm, chartaceous, base attenuate, rounded, or nearly truncate, apex acute; only midvein evident. Cyathial arrangement: terminal pleiochasial branches 3-5, 3-16 cm, 3-5(-7) times 2-branched; pleiochasial bracts linear-lanceolate or narrowly ovate, 19-55 - 4-12 mm, margins entire, apex acute or acuminate; dichasial bracts usually ovate, lanceolate, or oblong, rarely deltate, 8-21 - 4-14 mm, margins entire, apex acute, acuminate, or rounded with mucronate tip; axillary cymose branches 1-3(-6). Cyathia: peduncle (except for that of 1st cyathium at base of pleiochasia) 2-5 mm (not exceeding dichasial bracts). Involucre campanulate or obconic, 1.6-3.3 - 1.8-3.1 mm, lobes ovate, 0.5-0.7 mm, ciliate, exceeded by glands; glands yellow-green, oblong to trapezoidal, 0.5-0.8 - 0.8-1.2 mm, distal margins deeply erose. Staminate flowers 20. Pistillate flowers: gynophore exserted 2.9-5.3 mm, calyxlike lobes triangular, 0.3-0.7 mm; styles connate 1/3-1/4 length, 1.1-1.7 mm. Capsules oblate-ovoid, 4.6-5.5 - 8.9-9 mm, strongly 3-lobed; columella 3.4-4.2 mm. Seeds brown to blackish, depressed-globose, circular in cross section, 2.8-3 - 3.2-3.6 mm, smooth, base flattened, with punctiform depressions, apex flattened. Flowering and fruiting spring-fall. Xeric pine-oak sandhills, pine scrub, sandy soils; 20-80 m; Ala., Fla., Ga.