Euphorbia tannensis

Euphorbia tannensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Euphorbia
Species: E. tannensis
Binomial name
Euphorbia tannensis
Spreng.
Subspecies

E. tannensis subsp. tannensis
E. tannensis subsp. eremophila

Euphorbia tannensis is a species of herb or shrub native to Australia and some Pacific islands.

Description

It grows as an erect annual or perennial herb or shrub, from 10 centimetres to a metre in height, with green or yellow flowers.[1] It often appears spindly due to its leaves being deciduous.[2]

Taxonomy

This species was first published by Curt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel in 1809, based on a specimen collected by Georg Forster in . In 1977 two species, E. eremophila and E. finlaysonii, were submerged within E. tannensis as E. tannensis var. eremophila and E. tannensis var. finlaysonii respectively, these being treated as varieties of a new subspecies, E. tannensis subsp. eremophila.[2][3]

Distribution and habitat

This species is widespread on the Australian mainland, occurring in every mainland state, though only in the far north-west corner of Victoria (Australia).[2] It is widely reported as occurring only in Australia;[4] yet the type specimen was collected on Tanna in what is now Vanuatu, and it has also been recorded in New Caledonia.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Euphorbia tannensis Spreng.". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia.
  2. 1 2 3 Hassall, David (1977). "The genus Euphorbia in Australia". Australian Journal of Botany 25: 429–453. doi:10.1071/BT9770429.
  3. ↑ "Euphorbia tannensis Spreng.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  4. ↑ "Euphorbia tannensis". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).
  5. ↑ Morat, Philippe; Jaffré; Veillon, Jean-Marie. "The flora of New Caledonia’s calcareous substrates". Adansonia. 3 23 (1): 109–127.
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