| Classification |
| Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order Type: Eudicots-Rosids I
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Family Common Name: Spurge Family
Genera: Euphorbia, Ricinus |
Defining Features: Most distinctive
feature is the milky or colored latex exuded by all species (lacticiferous).
Also of interest is the specialized inflorescence termed a "cyathium".
The family is very diverse in growth forms exploiting various econiches.
For example, some African forms are cacti-like in appearance. There are
three groups included in this family Acalyphoideae, Crotonoideae and Euphorbioideae.
Defining Morphology: Floral
Features: Flowers are actinomorphic and unisexual (monoecious or dioecious).
Inflorescences are determinate in cymose, may vary, but often in a specially
compacted form; the cyathium, which has petal-like bracts (an involucre)
subtending an inflorescence of small flowers arranged so that there is
one female flower surrounded by several male flowers. Ovaries are superior
with axile placentation. Fruit and Seed Features: Dicotyledon. Fruit is
a schizocarp or rarely a berry, drupe or samara. Seeds often with a fleshy
outgrowth and with abundant endosperm. Seeds are explosively dehiscence.
Vegetative Features: Habit as herbs, shrubs, trees or lianas with succulent
stems. Leaves are simple, (rarely compound), and can be alternate, opposite
or whorled. Stipules are present and are often gland-like. Leaves on the
one branch are different in shape and size.
Distribution: Tropical and
in warmer regions with some temperate species.
Economic Use: Agriculturally
as staple tropical crop - Manioc (Manihot esculenta) and
as source of rubber latex (Hevea). They are important as ornamental house
plants such as poinsettia. Also as dyes, purgatives, fish arrow poisons
and timber.
Number of Genera Globally: 320
Number of Species Globally: 6,100
