Herbs, subshrubs, shrubs, trees, or vines [lianas], annual, biennial, or perennial, deciduous or evergreen, monoecious or dioecious; latex present or absent. Leaves alternate, opposite, whorled, or fascicled on short shoots, simple (3-foliolate in Tragia laciniata) [palmately compound]; stipules present or absent; petiole present or absent; blade sometimes palmately lobed, margins entire, subentire, repand, crenate, serrate, or dentate; venation pinnate, palmate, or palmate at base and pinnate distally. Inflorescences unisexual or bisexual, axillary, terminal, or leaf-opposed [cauliflorous], racemes, panicles, spikes, thyrses, cymes, fascicles, or pseudanthia, or flowers solitary. Flowers unisexual; perianth hypogynous; hypanthium absent; sepals 0 or 2–12, distinct or connate basally to most of length; petals 0 or (3–)5(–6), distinct or connate; nectary present or absent; stamens 1–35(–1000), distinct or connate, free; anthers dehiscing by longitudinal slits; pistil 1, (1–)3–5(–20)-carpellate, ovary superior, (1–)3–5(–20)-locular, placentation axile; ovules 1 per locule, anatropous; styles 1–5(–9), distinct or connate, unbranched, 2-fid, or multifid; stigmas 1–32+. Fruits usually capsules, dehiscence septicidal, (usually schizocarpic with cocci separating from persistent columnella, coccus usually dehiscent loculicidally), sometimes schizocarps, drupes, or achenes [berries]. Seeds 1 per locule. Trees, shrubs, or herbs, rarely woody or herbaceous lianas, monoecious or dioecious, indumentum of simple, branched, stellate, or gland-tipped hairs, peltate or glandular scales or stinging hairs, latex often present, clear, white, or colored; roots woody, rarely roots tuberous and stems succulent, sometimes spiny. Leaves alternate or opposite, rarely whorled; stipules usually present, often free, sometimes modified into spines or glands, deciduous or persistent; petioles long to short, sometimes with glands at apex or base; leaf blade simple, sometimes palmately lobed, rarely compound, or reduced to scales, margins entire or toothed, sometimes with distinct glands along margin and/or on surface, venation pinnate or palmate. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, flowers in cymes or fascicles, these often arranged along an elongated axis, branched or unbranched, forming a thyrse, in congested heads, or in a flowerlike cyathium with very reduced flowers enclosed within a ± cupular involucre; bracts sometimes petaloid. Flowers unisexual, within same inflorescence or in separate inflorescences, actinomorphic. Sepals (1-)3-6(-8), free or connate into calyx tube, valvate or imbricate, rarely absent (Euphorbia). Petals free, often reduced or absent. Disk present or absent. Male flowers with disk intrastaminal or extrastaminal, entire to dissected. Stamens one to very many, hypogynous; filaments free or connate; anthers 2(-4)-locular, mostly dehiscing longitudinally, rarely transversely or by pores, introrse or extrorse; rudimentary ovary sometimes present. Female flowers rarely with staminodes; ovary superior, (1-)2-5(-20)-locular; placentation axile; ovules 1 or 2 per locule, anatropous or hemitropous; styles free or connate, entire or lobed, or multifid, lobes erect, horizontal or curved; stigma capitate, linear, fimbriate, fan-shaped or pinnatilobate. Fruit typically a capsule elastically dehiscent into 2-valved cocci from a persistent columella, sometimes a berry or drupe. Seeds 1 or 2 per locule; seed coat thin to indurate, sometimes fleshy to form a sarcotesta; caruncle sometimes present; aril sometimes present; endosperm present or absent; embryo straight to curved or folded; cotyledons usually broader than radical. x = 6-14. Trees, shrubs, or herbs, usually without latex (present in Bischofia); indumentum of simple hairs (branched in Phyllanthus reticulatus), often absent. Leaves alternate, often distichous, sometimes scalelike on main stems; petiole usually short, usually without glands (present in Aporosa); leaf blade simple, margin entire or minutely serrulate (long petioles, 3(-5)-foliolate with toothed margins in Bischofia); venation pinnate, rarely obscurely 3-veined from base. Inflorescences mostly axillary, without visible axis (present in Antidesma, Aporosa, Baccaurea, Bischofia, Richeriella). Male flowers with 2-8 stamens, anthers longitudinally dehiscent (variable in Phyllanthus); female flowers with 2 ovules per locule. Seeds without caruncle, sometimes with fleshy aril or fleshy testa. Trees to shrubs. Leaf blade leathery, grayish when dry, base often asymmetrical. Ovules 1 per locule; stigmas dilated, peltate or reniform. Fruit a relatively large 1-seeded drupe, usually crowned by persistent flaplike stigmas. Seeds without caruncle. Plants with or without latex; indumentum of simple, stellate, scalelike, stinging, or glandular hairs, sometimes absent. Leaves alternate or opposite; leaf blade simple or compound, sometimes deeply divided, margin entire or variously toothed, often with sessile glands near junction with petiole and/or along margins; venation pinnate or palmate. Inflorescences basically thyrsoid, very variable, often with well-defined main axis and/or distinct cymes, rarely a sessile axillary fascicle. Ovules 1 per locule of ovary. Seed sometimes carunculate, sometimes arillate. Fls regular, hypogynous, nearly always unisexual; perianth generally small and inconspicuous, seldom (as in staminate fls of Cnidoscolus) larger and showy, the sep distinct or connate below, in 1 or 2 cycles, or wanting; stamens 1–many, distinct or variously connate; a nectary-disk often present; ovary of (2)3(4) carpels and as many locules, with 1 or 2 pendulous, apical-axile, epitropous ovules per locule, rarely (Crotonopsis) unilocular but apparently with 2 styles; styles distinct, or united below, sometimes branched or fringed; fr typically a capsular schizocarp, but sometimes of diverse other types; seeds commonly carunculate; embryo with 2 ± expanded cotyledons; plants often with milky or colored juice; lvs mostly simple and alternate, but sometimes compound or opposite or whorled; stipules usually present, sometimes reduced to glands. 300/7500, cosmop. Trees, shrubs or herbs, occasionally with milky juice Seeds often with a conspicuous caruncle; endosperm copious, fleshy; embryo straight Fruit a capsule or drupe Leaves alternate or rarely opposite, simple or digitately compound, sometimes reduced, mostly stipulate Flowers unisexual, mostly monoecious Sepals imbricate or valvate, or in very specialized inflorescences much reduced or absent Petals absent or rarely present and sometimes united Stamens 1–1, 000, free or variously connate; anthers 2–4-celled, erect or inflexed in bud, opening lengthwise, rarely by pores Rudimentary ovary often present in the male flowers Ovary mostly 3-celled; styles free or united at the base; ovules solitary or paired, pendulous from the inner angle of the cells Seeds 1–2 per locule, or by abortion solitary in the fruits, attached near or above the middle of the locule, carunculate or not, often myrmecochorous; testa crustaceous to osseous; endosperm usually copious and fleshy, rarely 0; embryo straight, extending for most of the length of the seed; radicle superior; cotyledons usually broad and flat, rarely thick and fleshy or folded Stipules free or connate, sometimes spathaceous, membranaceous, capilliform, glandular or spiny, subpersistent to readily caducous or 0 Leaves usually alternate, sometimes opposite, rarely whorled, occasionally all three, green or scarious and squamiform, commonly petiolate, sometimes sessile, stipulate or exstipulate, simple, lobed or compound, entire or variously toothed, peltate or not, palminerved or penninerved, often with a pair — sometimes with several pairs — of basal glands at or near the petiole-insertion, and/or minutely pellucid-glandular-punctate beneath Dioecious or monoecious often poisonous prostrate, erect or scandent annual, biennial or perennial herbs, shrubs or trees, with the stems succulent or not, spiny or unarmed, sometimes with phylloclades, with or without a milky latex or coloured sap; indumentum 0 or of simple, branched or stellate hairs or peltate scales, the hairs sometimes urticating Calyx in both sexes usually of 3–6-valvate, imbricate or open equal or unequal lobes or free sepals, often dissimilar between the two sexes, rarely the ? calyx spathaceous, sometimes accrescent, minute or 0 Flowers unisexual, usually actinomorphic and small to minute Disc in the ? flowers of 5–6 or occasionally more free extrastaminal and/or intrastaminal glands, rarely the disc annular or cupular and extrastaminal or lobate and central, or else the disc receptacular, domed and aperturate with the stamens arising through the apertures, or disc 0; in the ? flowers hypogynous, annular and flat or cupular, entire or lobate, rarely of separate glands, or 0 Corolla in one or both sexes of 3–6 free or rarely united subvalvate or imbricate petals, or petals minute or 0 Inflorescences terminal, axillary, lateral or leaf-opposed, cymose, paniculate, racemose or spicate, or with the flowers aggregated into involucrate pseudanthia, as in the glanduliferous cyathia of the Euphorbieae, which may themselves be aggregated into pseudopleiochasial super-inflorescences, or else with the flowers fasciculate or solitary in the leaf-axils Fruit usually schizocarpic, dehiscing septifragally and septicidally into 1–4(–20) (but usually 3) bivalved cocci leaving a persistent winged or angled columella, the valves then opening ventrally to allow the seeds to escape, or else the fruit loculicidally dehiscent, usually into 3 septate valves, or all three modes of dehiscence present and ± simultaneous, or else the fruit indehiscent, drupaceous or subdrupaceous, with an epicarp, with or without a fleshy mesocarp and with a paleaceous, crustaceous, ligneous or osseous endocarp, 1–3-or more locular Pistillode often present, variously shaped Stamens (1–)3–100(–1000), the filaments free or connate into a central column, simple or rarely branched, anthers 2(–4)-thecous, dehiscing longitudinally, rarely by pores, erect or inflexed in bud, with the thecae usually parallel and adnate to the connective throughout, sometimes free at the base, occasionally completely free and erect, divaricate or pendulous, rarely with the thecae superposed or laterally fused to form an annulus Staminodes occasionally present, usually subulate, or 0 Ovary superior, sessile or rarely stipitate, 1–4(–20)-locular but most commonly 3-locular; placentation axile, with the ovules solitary or 2 and collateral in each locule and pendulous from its inner angle, anatropous, hemitropous or amphitropous, epitropous, crassinucellate, with a ventral raphe and with the hilar region between the raphe and the epimicropylar obturator, when the latter present; funicle often thickened; styles 1–4(–20), usually 3, free or united, erect or spreading, entire, bifid, multifid or laciniate, with the inner face usually stigmatic throughout and smooth, granulate, papillose or fimbriate and often tinged reddish or purplish Stipules free or connate, sometimes spathaceous, membranaceous, capilliform, glandular or spiny, subpersistent, readily caducous or absent Leaves usually alternate, sometimes opposite, rarely whorled, occasionally all three, green or scarious and squamiform, petiolate or sessile, stipulate or exstipulate, simple, lobed or compound, entire or variously toothed, peltate or not, palminerved or penninerved, often with a pair or several pairs of basal glands at or near the petiole insertion, and/or sometimes minutely pellucid-glandular-punctate beneath Inflorescences terminal, or axillary, lateral or leaf-opposed, cymose or paniculate, or racemose or spicate, or with the flowers aggregated into glanduliferous involucrate pseudanthia (cyathia), which may themselves be aggregated into pseudopleiochasial hyperinflorescences, or into involucrate capitula, or else with the flowers fasciculate or solitary, ramiflorous or cauliflorous Prostrate, erect or scandent, annual biennial or perennial, dioecious or monoecious herbs, shrubs or trees, succulent or not, spiny or unarmed, sometimes poisonous, sometimes with phylloclades, with or without a milky latex or coloured sap Indumentum absent or of simple, branched or stellate hairs or peltate scales, the hairs sometimes urticating Seeds 1–2 per locule, or by abortion 1 per fruit, carunculate or not, often myrmecochorous; sarcotesta sometimes present; sclerotesta thin, crustaceous to thick, osseous; endosperm copious, fleshy, or absent; embryo straight to curved or folded, extending for most of the length of the seed; radicle superior; cotyledons usually broader than the radicle, flat, rarely thick and fleshy or folded Fruit smooth, wrinkled, warty, tubercled, horned or winged, rarely inflated, often schizocarpic, dehiscing septifragally and septicidally into 1–4(20) (but usually 3) bivalved cocci leaving a persistent angled or winged columella, the valves then dehiscing loculicidally, or else fruit loculicidally dehiscent into 3 separate valves, or breaking up irregularly, or else indehiscent, drupaceous or subdrupaceous, with a thin epicarp, with or without a fleshy mesocarp and with a 1–3(more)-locular paleaceous, crustaceous, ligneous or osseous endocarp Ovary superior, sessile or rarely stipitate, 1–4(20)-locular but most commonly 3-locular; placentation axile, with the ovules solitary or paired and collateral in each locule and pendulous from its inner angle, anatropous or hemitropous, rarely orthotropous (Panda), crassinucellate, bi-integumental, hilum between the ventral raphe and the epimicropylar obturator, when present; funicle often thickened; styles (1)3(4)(20), free or connate, erect or spreading, entire, bifid, multifid or laciniate, the inner surface usually stigmatic throughout, smooth, granulate, papillose or fimbriate, often reddish- or purplish-tinged Staminodes absent or occasionally present, usually subulate Stamens (1)3–100(1000), the filaments free or variously connate, simple or rarely branched, anthers erect or inflexed in bud, 2–4-thecous with the thecae usually parallel and adnate to the connective throughout, sometimes free at the base, occasionally completely free and erect, divaricate, horizontal or pendulous, rarely with the thecae superposed or laterally fused to form an annulus, dehiscing by slits longitudinally, obliquely or laterally, less often by pores (not Africa) Pistillode (non-functional ovary) often present, variously shaped Corolla in one or both sexes of 3–6 free or rarely united subvalvate or imbricate petals, or petals minute or absent Disk in the male flowers of 5–6 (occasionally more) free extrastaminal and/or interstaminal glands, less often the disk annular or cupular and extrastaminal or lobed, lobulate and intrastaminal with the stamens enfolded by the lobes, or else the disk receptacular, domed and aperturate with the stamens arising through the apertures, or disk absent; in the female flowers hypogynous, annular, flat or cupular, entire or lobed, rarely of separate glands, usually persistent, or absent Flowers unisexual, usually actinomorphic, small to minute Calyx in both sexes usually of 3–6 valvate, imbricate or open, equal or unequal lobes, or of free sepals, often dissimilar as between the two sexes, rarely the female calyx spathaceous, sometimes accrescent, or minute or absent Arbres, arbustes, suffrutex, lianes ou herbes, parfois plantes charnues ou cactiformes, monoïques ou dioïques; latex blanchâtre assez souvent présent; rarement présence de substance aqueuse ou résineuse; poils de types divers. Feuilles alternes, rarement opposées ou verticillées, simples ou parfois composées-digitées, entières à dentées ou parfois ± profondément découpées, rarement réduites ou nulles, souvent à glandes ou à taches glanduleuses, parfois à disques glanduleux colorés ou à ponctuations translucides; nervation pennée, parfois trinervée à la base ou palmée; stipules presque toujours présentes, caduques ou persistantes, entières à profondément découpées, parfois épineuses. Inflorescences axillaires ou terminales, rarement oppositifeuillées, parfois insérées sur le vieux bois, simples ou composées, principalement en racèmes, en panicules, en épis, en fascicules, en glomérules, en cymes ou en cyathiums, parfois très complexes; bractées généralement présentes, parfois involucrales; bractéoles parfois présentes. Fleurs presque toujours ♂ ♀, généralement actinomorphes et petites, souvent très réduites, à pièces en nombre variable. Fleurs ♂ à pédicelle souvent articulé; périanthe le plus souvent simple, parfois double ou nul; calice à préfloraison imbriquée, valvaire ou ouverte; sépales et pétales libres ou parfois soudés; disque extra-, inter- ou intra-staminal, annulaire, cupuliforme ou à glandes libres, plus rarement nul; réceptacle plan à columnaire, parfois alvéolé-glanduleux; étamines 1-∞; filets libres ou ± longuement soudés en un androphore; anthères à 2(3-4) loges, à déhiscence généralement longitudinale; rudiment d'ovaire présent ou nul. Fleurs ♀ à pédicelle assez souvent accrescent; périanthe le plus souvent simple, parfois double ou nul; calice souvent différent du calice ♂, à préfloraison imbriquée, valvaire ou ouverte; sépales et pétales libres ou rarement soudés, les premiers parfois accrescents autour du fruit; disque généralement hypogyne, annulaire, cupuliforme ou à glandes libres, parfois nul; staminodes parfois présents; ovaire supère, (2)3(4)-loculaire et (2)3(4)-lobé, rarement uni- ou pluriloculaire; styles libres ou ± longuement soudés, entiers ou souvent bifides à bipartites, parfois plusieurs fois découpés ou laciniés; placentation axile; ovules 1 ou 2 par loge, collatéraux, anatropes, pendants, souvent munis d'un obturateur; raphé ventral; micropyle parfois recouvert d'une caroncule. Fruits : capsules septicides à 3 coques bivalves se séparant d'une columelle persistante, ou loculicides à 3 valves garnies en leur milieu des restes des cloisons, parfois aussi drupes, baies ou fruits se séparant en 2-4 coques uniséminées indéhiscentes. Graines parfois caronculées; testa souvent lisse et luisant, parfois finement sculpté ou jaspé; enveloppe externe parfois charnue; albumen huileux, généralement bien développé; embryon droit ou courbé; cotylédons minces, larges et plans, rarement épais, étroits et plissés; radicule dirigée vers le haut. Une des plus importantes familles parmi les phanérogames, comprenant environ 320 genres et plusieurs milliers d'espèces presque toutes tropicales. Environ 100 genres sont représentés en Afrique continentale, dont près de 60 y sont endémiques. En Afrique centrale, les Euphorbiacées sont une des six plus importantes familles en nombre d'espèces: plus de 70 genres, dont 6 introduits, et 400-450 espèces.La plupart des espèces d'Afrique centrale sont des plantes ligneuses du sous-bois ou des strates moyennes des forêts denses humides; plusieurs d'entre elles (appartenant notamment aux genres Bridelia, Croton, Macaranga, Maesobotrya et Mallotus) abondent dans les groupements secondaires ou dégradés. Les espèces de savane sont relativement peu nombreuses. Quelques espèces, surtout parmi le genre Euphorbia, sont cactiformes et caractérisent certains types de végétation.Des inflorescences transformées en balais de sorcière se rencontrent parfois, notamment dans les genres Antidesma, Maesobotrya, Microdesmis et Tetrorchidiun.La 1ère partie des Euphorbiaceae a paru en 1962 dans le volume VIII, 1 : 1-214 de la Flore du Congo et du Rwanda-Burundi; ce travail a malheureusement dû être interrompu pour des raisons d'ordre médical.Le genre Hymenocardia, que certains maintiennent parmi les Euphorbiaceae, est rangé par d'autres parmi les Hymenocardiaceae. Il a été traité comme tel en 1985 (Léonard & Mosango, Fl. Afr. Centr., Hymenocardiaceae: 1-16. 1985).Les genres traités dans ce fascicule appartiennent à la sous-famille des Phyllanthoideae, mais, selon les auteurs, ils ont été classés dans différentes tribus ou sous-tribus de cette sous-famille.Ainsi pour Pax & K. Hoffmann (in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed. 2, 19C: 31-32. 1931) tous les genres traités appartiennent à la tribu des Phyllantheae, sous-tribu des Antidesminae.Hutchinson (Amer. Journ. Bot., 56: 746. 1969), quant à lui, range Martretia parmi les Hymenocardieae et les autres genres parmi la tribu des Antidesmeae. La position du genre Spondianthus n'est pas indiquée, mais, en utilisant la clef des tribus, on arrive automatiquement à le placer également parmi la tribu des Antidesmeae.Selon Webster (Taxon, 24: 594. 1975), le genre Spondianthus est à ranger parmi une tribu particulière, les Spondiantheae, tandis que les Antidesma et les Thecacoris font partie des Antidesmeae et que les Maesobotrya et les Protomegabaria appartiennent à la tribu des Aporuseae. La position des genres Cyathogyne et Martretia n'est pas indiquée.D'après Köhler (Grana Palyn., 6: 41, 69, 104. 1965) et Léonard (Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg., 59: 326. 1989), le genre Martretia mérite de constituer à lui seul une tribu particulière, les Martretieae.Enfin, pour Webster (Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard., 81: 48-52, 130. 1994), Martretia fait partie des ""Incertae Sedis"", alors que tous les autres genres sont rangés cette fois parmi la tribu des Antidesmeae, mais dans 3 sous-tribus différentes: Spondianthus parmi les Spondianthinae, les genres Protomegabaria et Maesobotrya parmi les Scepinae , tandis que les genres Thecacoris (incluant) et Antidesma appartiennent à la sous-tribu des Antidesminae.Caractères végétatifs propres à certaines espèces d'Euphorbiacées d'Afrique centraleIl a paru intéressant de donner ci-après une liste de caractères végétatifs facilitant l'identification de diverses Euphorbiacées d'Afrique centrale. Ces caractères s'appliquent à certaines espèces et pas nécessairement à toutes les espèces des genres cités.Lianes: Dalechampia, Macaranga \t\t\t','\t\t\t'Manniophyton \t\t\t','\t\t\t'Tetracarpidium \t\t\t','\t\t\t'Tragia \t\t\t' Latex présent:'Dichostemma ,'Duvigneaudia ,'Elaeophorbia ,'Euphorbia ,'Monadenium ,'Plagiostyles ,'Sapium ,'Synadenium ,'Tetrorchidium''Tiges succulentes, vertes, subaphylles:'Euphorbia'Rameaux épineux:'Bridelia ,'Macaranga ,'Phyllanthus''\tRhytidome s'exfoliant en lamelles minces recouvrant un tissu pulvérulent rouge: ( \t'Hymenocardia acida'' ) Ecorce exsudant un liquide rouge collant:'Crotonogyne ,'Spondianthus''Rameaux garnis de cicatrices foliaires ± en forme de cercles:'Uapaca'Bourgeons recouverts d'écaillés persistant à la base des rameaux:'Erythrococca'Poils urticants présents:'Tragia'Pétioles de longueur très variable sur le même individu (0-17 cm):'Spondianthus'Feuilles opposées:'Mallotus ,'Oldfieldia ,'Tetrorchidium''Feuilles groupées au sommet des rameaux:'Argomuellera ,'Pycnocoma ,'Spondianthus ,'Uapaca''Feuilles inéquilatérales à la base:''' Drypetes' ,''Microdesmis''Feuilles denticulées à denticules garnis d'une touffe de petits poils caducs:''Maesobotrya'Feuilles dentées à dents munies d'une petite pointe parallèle au limbe:'Excoecaria ,'Sapium''Feuilles à ponctuations translucides:'Cavacoa ,'Grossera ,'Suregada''Feuilles peltées:'Macaranga'Feuilles digitées:'Oldfieldia'Feuilles palmatilobées à palmatipartites:'Jatropha ,'Manihot ,'Manniophyton ,'Ricinodendron''Feuilles trinervées à la base:'Cyttaranthus ,'Discoglypremna ,'Tetracarpidium \t\t\t Feuilles palmatinervées:'Alchornea ,'Macaranga ,'Manniophyton ,'Neoboutonia \t\t\t Feuilles à nervures latérales confluentes en une nervure marginale:'Bridelia'Feuilles à poils étoilés:''' Croton' ,''Crotonogyne' ,''Mallotus' ,''Manniophyton' ,''Mildbraedia' ,''Neoboutonia' ,''Ricinodendron''Feuilles à poils écailleux:'Croton ,'Crotonogyne''Feuilles à face inférieure garnie de disques glanduleux colorés: (' Hymenocardia ), Macaranga ,'Mallotus''Feuilles à face inférieure ponctuée de petites pustules rougeâtres:'Protomegabaria'\tSommet des pétioles garni à la face supérieure \t\t\tde 2(4) glandes disciformes: Croton \t\t\t, Crotonogyne \t\t\t \t\t\tde 2 petites glandes:'\t\t\t'Discoglypremna, Ricinodendron \t\t\t', Spondianthus \t\t\t \t\t\tde 2-5 glandes stipelliformes:'\t\t\t'Alchornea \t\t\t', Dalechampia \t\t\t \t\t\tde 2 petits appendices linéaires:'\t\t\t'Pseudagrostistachys \t\t\t'''''''\t\t\tFeuilles à base de la face inférieure munie de glandes entre les nervures :'\t\t\t'Alchornea'\t\t\tFeuilles à base de la face supérieure munie \t\t\tde 2-4 glandes: Cyttaranthus, Grossera, Pseudagrostistachys \t\t\t \t\t\tde glandes en forme de bouteille: Manniophyton \t\t\t \t\t\tde 2 courts appendices filiformes ou glanduliformes très caducs: MareyaFeuilles à face inférieure garnie de taches glanduleuses submarginales: Duvigneaudia, Excoecaria, Sapiuméparses: Discoglypremna, MaprouneaAntidesminae \t\t\tCette sous-tribu est représentée en Afrique centrale par 7 genres, 23 espèces, 4 sous-espèces (autres que les sous-espèces types) et 1 variété (autre que la variété type).Les genres d'Afrique centrale de cette sous-tribu étant tous dioïques, des confusions fréquentes ont eu lieu entre eux. Aussi nous a-t-il paru indiqué d'établir pour eux 3 clefs génériques distinctes, enrichies de caractères végétatifs pratiques, l'une basée sur les fleurs ♂, l'autre sur les fleurs ♀, la dernière sur les fruits. \t\t\tMercurialinaeCette sous-tribu a été subdivisée en diverses séries par Pax & K. Hoffmann (1919, 1931), dont notamment la série des Bernardiiformes et la série des Wetriariiformes. \t\t\tLa première, dans laquelle le disque des fleurs ♂ est composé de glandes libres situées entre les étamines, comprend les genres Crotonogynopsis, Discoglypremna, Mareya, Mareyopsis et Necepsia. La seconde, dans laquelle les étamines sont insérées dans les alvéoles charnues du réceptacle, comporte les genres Argomuellera et Pycnocoma. \t\t\tLes 2 séries précitées sont représentées en Afrique centrale par 7 genres, 19 espèces et 1 variété (en plus de la variété type). \t\t\tCertains de ces genres étant dioïques, il a paru indiqué d'établir 2 clefs génériques distinctes, enrichies de caractères végétatifs pratiques, l'une basée sur les fleurs ♂, l'autre sur les fleurs ♀ et sur les fruits. SELECTED REFERENCES Punt, W. 1962. Pollen morphology of the Euphorbiaceae with special reference to taxonomy. Wentia 7: 1–116. Radcliffe-Smith, A. 2001. Genera Euphorbiacearum. Kew. Tokuoka, T. 2007. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Euphorbiaceae sensu stricto based on plastid and nuclear DNA sequences and ovule and seed character evolution. J. Pl. Res. 120: 511–522. Webster, G. L. 1967. The genera of Euphorbiaceae in the southeastern United States. J. Arnold Arbor. 48: 303–361, 363–430. Webster, G. L. 1994. Synopsis of the genera and suprageneric taxa of Euphorbiaceae. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 81: 33–144. Webster, G. L. 1994b. Classification of the Euphorbiaceae. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 81: 3–32. Webster, G. L. 2014. Euphorbiaceae. In: K. Kubitzki et al., eds. 1990+. The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. 10+ vols. Berlin etc. Vol. 11, pp. 51–216. Wurdack, K., P. Hoffmann, and M. W. Chase. 2005. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of uniovulate Euphorbiaceae (Euphorbiaceae sensu stricto) using plastid rbcL and trnL-F DNA sequences. Amer. J. Bot. 92: 1397–1420. Trees, shrubs, or herbs, rarely woody or herbaceous lianas, monoecious or dioecious, indumentum of simple, branched, stellate, or gland-tipped hairs, peltate or glandular scales or stinging hairs, latex often present, clear, white, or colored; roots woody, rarely roots tuberous and stems succulent, sometimes spiny. Leaves alternate or opposite, rarely whorled; stipules usually present, often free, sometimes modified into spines or glands, deciduous or persistent; petioles long to short, sometimes with glands at apex or base; leaf blade simple, sometimes palmately lobed, rarely compound, or reduced to scales, margins entire or toothed, sometimes with distinct glands along margin and/or on surface, venation pinnate or palmate. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, flowers in cymes or fascicles, these often arranged along an elongated axis, branched or unbranched, forming a thyrse, in congested heads, or in a flowerlike cyathium with very reduced flowers enclosed within a ± cupular involucre; bracts sometimes petaloid. Flowers unisexual, within same inflorescence or in separate inflorescences, actinomorphic. Sepals (1-)3-6(-8), free or connate into calyx tube, valvate or imbricate, rarely absent (Euphorbia). Petals free, often reduced or absent. Disk present or absent. Male flowers with disk intrastaminal or extrastaminal, entire to dissected. Stamens one to very many, hypogynous; filaments free or connate; anthers 2(-4)-locular, mostly dehiscing longitudinally, rarely transversely or by pores, introrse or extrorse; rudimentary ovary sometimes present. Female flowers rarely with staminodes; ovary superior, (1-)2-5(-20)-locular; placentation axile; ovules 1 or 2 per locule, anatropous or hemitropous; styles free or connate, entire or lobed, or multifid, lobes erect, horizontal or curved; stigma capitate, linear, fimbriate, fan-shaped or pinnatilobate. Fruit typically a capsule elastically dehiscent into 2-valved cocci from a persistent columella, sometimes a berry or drupe. Seeds 1 or 2 per locule; seed coat thin to indurate, sometimes fleshy to form a sarcotesta; caruncle sometimes present; aril sometimes present; endosperm present or absent; embryo straight to curved or folded; cotyledons usually broader than radical. x = 6-14. Trees, shrubs, or herbs, usually without latex (present in Bischofia); indumentum of simple hairs (branched in Phyllanthus reticulatus), often absent. Leaves alternate, often distichous, sometimes scalelike on main stems; petiole usually short, usually without glands (present in Aporosa); leaf blade simple, margin entire or minutely serrulate (long petioles, 3(-5)-foliolate with toothed margins in Bischofia); venation pinnate, rarely obscurely 3-veined from base. Inflorescences mostly axillary, without visible axis (present in Antidesma, Aporosa, Baccaurea, Bischofia, Richeriella). Male flowers with 2-8 stamens, anthers longitudinally dehiscent (variable in Phyllanthus); female flowers with 2 ovules per locule. Seeds without caruncle, sometimes with fleshy aril or fleshy testa. Trees to shrubs. Leaf blade leathery, grayish when dry, base often asymmetrical. Ovules 1 per locule; stigmas dilated, peltate or reniform. Fruit a relatively large 1-seeded drupe, usually crowned by persistent flaplike stigmas. Seeds without caruncle. Plants with or without latex; indumentum of simple, stellate, scalelike, stinging, or glandular hairs, sometimes absent. Leaves alternate or opposite; leaf blade simple or compound, sometimes deeply divided, margin entire or variously toothed, often with sessile glands near junction with petiole and/or along margins; venation pinnate or palmate. Inflorescences basically thyrsoid, very variable, often with well-defined main axis and/or distinct cymes, rarely a sessile axillary fascicle. Ovules 1 per locule of ovary. Seed sometimes carunculate, sometimes arillate. Trees, shrubs or herbs, occasionally with milky juice Seeds often with a conspicuous caruncle; endosperm copious, fleshy; embryo straight Fruit a capsule or drupe Leaves alternate or rarely opposite, simple or digitately compound, sometimes reduced, mostly stipulate Flowers unisexual, mostly monoecious Sepals imbricate or valvate, or in very specialized inflorescences much reduced or absent Petals absent or rarely present and sometimes united Stamens 1–1, 000, free or variously connate; anthers 2–4-celled, erect or inflexed in bud, opening lengthwise, rarely by pores Rudimentary ovary often present in the male flowers Ovary mostly 3-celled; styles free or united at the base; ovules solitary or paired, pendulous from the inner angle of the cells Seeds often with a conspicuous caruncle; endosperm copious, fleshy; embryo straight Fruit a capsule or drupe Leaves alternate or rarely opposite, simple or digitately compound, sometimes reduced, mostly stipulate Flowers unisexual, mostly monoecious Sepals imbricate or valvate, or in very specialized inflorescences much reduced or absent Petals absent or rarely present and sometimes united Stamens 1–1, 000, free or variously connate; anthers 2–4-celled, erect or inflexed in bud, opening lengthwise, rarely by pores Rudimentary ovary often present in the male flowers Ovary mostly 3-celled; styles free or united at the base; ovules solitary or paired, pendulous from the inner angle of the cells Arbres, arbustes, suffrutex, lianes ou herbes, parfois plantes charnues ou cactiformes, monoïques ou dioïques; latex blanchâtre assez souvent présent; rarement présence de substance aqueuse ou résineuse; poils de types divers. Feuilles alternes, rarement opposées ou verticillées, simples ou parfois composées-digitées, entières à dentées ou parfois ± profondément découpées, rarement réduites ou nulles, souvent à glandes ou à taches glanduleuses, parfois à disques glanduleux colorés ou à ponctuations translucides; nervation pennée, parfois trinervée à la base ou palmée; stipules presque toujours présentes, caduques ou persistantes, entières à profondément découpées, parfois épineuses. Inflorescences axillaires ou terminales, rarement oppositifeuillées, parfois insérées sur le vieux bois, simples ou composées, principalement en racèmes, en panicules, en épis, en fascicules, en glomérules, en cymes ou en cyathiums, parfois très complexes; bractées généralement présentes, parfois involucrales; bractéoles parfois présentes. Fleurs presque toujours ♂ ♀, généralement actinomorphes et petites, souvent très réduites, à pièces en nombre variable. Fleurs ♂ à pédicelle souvent articulé; périanthe le plus souvent simple, parfois double ou nul; calice à préfloraison imbriquée, valvaire ou ouverte; sépales et pétales libres ou parfois soudés; disque extra-, inter- ou intra-staminal, annulaire, cupuliforme ou à glandes libres, plus rarement nul; réceptacle plan à columnaire, parfois alvéolé-glanduleux; étamines 1-∞; filets libres ou ± longuement soudés en un androphore; anthères à 2(3-4) loges, à déhiscence généralement longitudinale; rudiment d'ovaire présent ou nul. Fleurs ♀ à pédicelle assez souvent accrescent; périanthe le plus souvent simple, parfois double ou nul; calice souvent différent du calice ♂, à préfloraison imbriquée, valvaire ou ouverte; sépales et pétales libres ou rarement soudés, les premiers parfois accrescents autour du fruit; disque généralement hypogyne, annulaire, cupuliforme ou à glandes libres, parfois nul; staminodes parfois présents; ovaire supère, (2)3(4)-loculaire et (2)3(4)-lobé, rarement uni- ou pluriloculaire; styles libres ou ± longuement soudés, entiers ou souvent bifides à bipartites, parfois plusieurs fois découpés ou laciniés; placentation axile; ovules 1 ou 2 par loge, collatéraux, anatropes, pendants, souvent munis d'un obturateur; raphé ventral; micropyle parfois recouvert d'une caroncule. Fruits : capsules septicides à 3 coques bivalves se séparant d'une columelle persistante, ou loculicides à 3 valves garnies en leur milieu des restes des cloisons, parfois aussi drupes, baies ou fruits se séparant en 2-4 coques uniséminées indéhiscentes. Graines parfois caronculées; testa souvent lisse et luisant, parfois finement sculpté ou jaspé; enveloppe externe parfois charnue; albumen huileux, généralement bien développé; embryon droit ou courbé; cotylédons minces, larges et plans, rarement épais, étroits et plissés; radicule dirigée vers le haut. Une des plus importantes familles parmi les phanérogames, comprenant environ 320 genres et plusieurs milliers d'espèces presque toutes tropicales. Environ 100 genres sont représentés en Afrique continentale, dont près de 60 y sont endémiques. En Afrique centrale, les Euphorbiacées sont une des six plus importantes familles en nombre d'espèces: plus de 70 genres, dont 6 introduits, et 400-450 espèces.La plupart des espèces d'Afrique centrale sont des plantes ligneuses du sous-bois ou des strates moyennes des forêts denses humides; plusieurs d'entre elles (appartenant notamment aux genres Bridelia, Croton, Macaranga, Maesobotrya et Mallotus) abondent dans les groupements secondaires ou dégradés. Les espèces de savane sont relativement peu nombreuses. Quelques espèces, surtout parmi le genre Euphorbia, sont cactiformes et caractérisent certains types de végétation.Des inflorescences transformées en balais de sorcière se rencontrent parfois, notamment dans les genres Antidesma, Maesobotrya, Microdesmis et Tetrorchidiun.La 1ère partie des Euphorbiaceae a paru en 1962 dans le volume VIII, 1 : 1-214 de la Flore du Congo et du Rwanda-Burundi; ce travail a malheureusement dû être interrompu pour des raisons d'ordre médical.Le genre Hymenocardia, que certains maintiennent parmi les Euphorbiaceae, est rangé par d'autres parmi les Hymenocardiaceae. Il a été traité comme tel en 1985 (Léonard & Mosango, Fl. Afr. Centr., Hymenocardiaceae: 1-16. 1985).Les genres traités dans ce fascicule appartiennent à la sous-famille des Phyllanthoideae, mais, selon les auteurs, ils ont été classés dans différentes tribus ou sous-tribus de cette sous-famille.Ainsi pour Pax & K. Hoffmann (in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed. 2, 19C: 31-32. 1931) tous les genres traités appartiennent à la tribu des Phyllantheae, sous-tribu des Antidesminae.Hutchinson (Amer. Journ. Bot., 56: 746. 1969), quant à lui, range Martretia parmi les Hymenocardieae et les autres genres parmi la tribu des Antidesmeae. La position du genre Spondianthus n'est pas indiquée, mais, en utilisant la clef des tribus, on arrive automatiquement à le placer également parmi la tribu des Antidesmeae.Selon Webster (Taxon, 24: 594. 1975), le genre Spondianthus est à ranger parmi une tribu particulière, les Spondiantheae, tandis que les Antidesma et les Thecacoris font partie des Antidesmeae et que les Maesobotrya et les Protomegabaria appartiennent à la tribu des Aporuseae. La position des genres Cyathogyne et Martretia n'est pas indiquée.D'après Köhler (Grana Palyn., 6: 41, 69, 104. 1965) et Léonard (Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg., 59: 326. 1989), le genre Martretia mérite de constituer à lui seul une tribu particulière, les Martretieae.Enfin, pour Webster (Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard., 81: 48-52, 130. 1994), Martretia fait partie des ""Incertae Sedis"", alors que tous les autres genres sont rangés cette fois parmi la tribu des Antidesmeae, mais dans 3 sous-tribus différentes: Spondianthus parmi les Spondianthinae, les genres Protomegabaria et Maesobotrya parmi les Scepinae , tandis que les genres Thecacoris (incluant) et Antidesma appartiennent à la sous-tribu des Antidesminae.Caractères végétatifs propres à certaines espèces d'Euphorbiacées d'Afrique centraleIl a paru intéressant de donner ci-après une liste de caractères végétatifs facilitant l'identification de diverses Euphorbiacées d'Afrique centrale. Ces caractères s'appliquent à certaines espèces et pas nécessairement à toutes les espèces des genres cités.Lianes: Dalechampia, Macaranga \t\t\t','\t\t\t'Manniophyton \t\t\t','\t\t\t'Tetracarpidium \t\t\t','\t\t\t'Tragia \t\t\t' Latex présent:'Dichostemma ,'Duvigneaudia ,'Elaeophorbia ,'Euphorbia ,'Monadenium ,'Plagiostyles ,'Sapium ,'Synadenium ,'Tetrorchidium''Tiges succulentes, vertes, subaphylles:'Euphorbia'Rameaux épineux:'Bridelia ,'Macaranga ,'Phyllanthus''\tRhytidome s'exfoliant en lamelles minces recouvrant un tissu pulvérulent rouge: ( \t'Hymenocardia acida'' ) Ecorce exsudant un liquide rouge collant:'Crotonogyne ,'Spondianthus''Rameaux garnis de cicatrices foliaires ± en forme de cercles:'Uapaca'Bourgeons recouverts d'écaillés persistant à la base des rameaux:'Erythrococca'Poils urticants présents:'Tragia'Pétioles de longueur très variable sur le même individu (0-17 cm):'Spondianthus'Feuilles opposées:'Mallotus ,'Oldfieldia ,'Tetrorchidium''Feuilles groupées au sommet des rameaux:'Argomuellera ,'Pycnocoma ,'Spondianthus ,'Uapaca''Feuilles inéquilatérales à la base:''' Drypetes' ,''Microdesmis''Feuilles denticulées à denticules garnis d'une touffe de petits poils caducs:''Maesobotrya'Feuilles dentées à dents munies d'une petite pointe parallèle au limbe:'Excoecaria ,'Sapium''Feuilles à ponctuations translucides:'Cavacoa ,'Grossera ,'Suregada''Feuilles peltées:'Macaranga'Feuilles digitées:'Oldfieldia'Feuilles palmatilobées à palmatipartites:'Jatropha ,'Manihot ,'Manniophyton ,'Ricinodendron''Feuilles trinervées à la base:'Cyttaranthus ,'Discoglypremna ,'Tetracarpidium \t\t\t Feuilles palmatinervées:'Alchornea ,'Macaranga ,'Manniophyton ,'Neoboutonia \t\t\t Feuilles à nervures latérales confluentes en une nervure marginale:'Bridelia'Feuilles à poils étoilés:''' Croton' ,''Crotonogyne' ,''Mallotus' ,''Manniophyton' ,''Mildbraedia' ,''Neoboutonia' ,''Ricinodendron''Feuilles à poils écailleux:'Croton ,'Crotonogyne''Feuilles à face inférieure garnie de disques glanduleux colorés: (' Hymenocardia ), Macaranga ,'Mallotus''Feuilles à face inférieure ponctuée de petites pustules rougeâtres:'Protomegabaria'\tSommet des pétioles garni à la face supérieure \t\t\tde 2(4) glandes disciformes: Croton \t\t\t, Crotonogyne \t\t\t \t\t\tde 2 petites glandes:'\t\t\t'Discoglypremna, Ricinodendron \t\t\t', Spondianthus \t\t\t \t\t\tde 2-5 glandes stipelliformes:'\t\t\t'Alchornea \t\t\t', Dalechampia \t\t\t \t\t\tde 2 petits appendices linéaires:'\t\t\t'Pseudagrostistachys \t\t\t'''''''\t\t\tFeuilles à base de la face inférieure munie de glandes entre les nervures :'\t\t\t'Alchornea'\t\t\tFeuilles à base de la face supérieure munie \t\t\tde 2-4 glandes: Cyttaranthus, Grossera, Pseudagrostistachys \t\t\t \t\t\tde glandes en forme de bouteille: Manniophyton \t\t\t \t\t\tde 2 courts appendices filiformes ou glanduliformes très caducs: MareyaFeuilles à face inférieure garnie de taches glanduleuses submarginales: Duvigneaudia, Excoecaria, Sapiuméparses: Discoglypremna, MaprouneaAntidesminae \t\t\tCette sous-tribu est représentée en Afrique centrale par 7 genres, 23 espèces, 4 sous-espèces (autres que les sous-espèces types) et 1 variété (autre que la variété type).Les genres d'Afrique centrale de cette sous-tribu étant tous dioïques, des confusions fréquentes ont eu lieu entre eux. Aussi nous a-t-il paru indiqué d'établir pour eux 3 clefs génériques distinctes, enrichies de caractères végétatifs pratiques, l'une basée sur les fleurs ♂, l'autre sur les fleurs ♀, la dernière sur les fruits. \t\t\tMercurialinaeCette sous-tribu a été subdivisée en diverses séries par Pax & K. Hoffmann (1919, 1931), dont notamment la série des Bernardiiformes et la série des Wetriariiformes. \t\t\tLa première, dans laquelle le disque des fleurs ♂ est composé de glandes libres situées entre les étamines, comprend les genres Crotonogynopsis, Discoglypremna, Mareya, Mareyopsis et Necepsia. La seconde, dans laquelle les étamines sont insérées dans les alvéoles charnues du réceptacle, comporte les genres Argomuellera et Pycnocoma. \t\t\tLes 2 séries précitées sont représentées en Afrique centrale par 7 genres, 19 espèces et 1 variété (en plus de la variété type). \t\t\tCertains de ces genres étant dioïques, il a paru indiqué d'établir 2 clefs génériques distinctes, enrichies de caractères végétatifs pratiques, l'une basée sur les fleurs ♂, l'autre sur les fleurs ♀ et sur les fruits. Fls regular, hypogynous, nearly always unisexual; perianth generally small and inconspicuous, seldom (as in staminate fls of Cnidoscolus) larger and showy, the sep distinct or connate below, in 1 or 2 cycles, or wanting; stamens 1–many, distinct or variously connate; a nectary-disk often present; ovary of (2)3(4) carpels and as many locules, with 1 or 2 pendulous, apical-axile, epitropous ovules per locule, rarely (Crotonopsis) unilocular but apparently with 2 styles; styles distinct, or united below, sometimes branched or fringed; fr typically a capsular schizocarp, but sometimes of diverse other types; seeds commonly carunculate; embryo with 2 ± expanded cotyledons; plants often with milky or colored juice; lvs mostly simple and alternate, but sometimes compound or opposite or whorled; stipules usually present, sometimes reduced to glands. 300/7500, cosmop. Seeds 1–2 per locule, or by abortion solitary in the fruits, attached near or above the middle of the locule, carunculate or not, often myrmecochorous; testa crustaceous to osseous; endosperm usually copious and fleshy, rarely 0; embryo straight, extending for most of the length of the seed; radicle superior; cotyledons usually broad and flat, rarely thick and fleshy or folded Stipules free or connate, sometimes spathaceous, membranaceous, capilliform, glandular or spiny, subpersistent to readily caducous or 0 Leaves usually alternate, sometimes opposite, rarely whorled, occasionally all three, green or scarious and squamiform, commonly petiolate, sometimes sessile, stipulate or exstipulate, simple, lobed or compound, entire or variously toothed, peltate or not, palminerved or penninerved, often with a pair — sometimes with several pairs — of basal glands at or near the petiole-insertion, and/or minutely pellucid-glandular-punctate beneath Dioecious or monoecious often poisonous prostrate, erect or scandent annual, biennial or perennial herbs, shrubs or trees, with the stems succulent or not, spiny or unarmed, sometimes with phylloclades, with or without a milky latex or coloured sap; indumentum 0 or of simple, branched or stellate hairs or peltate scales, the hairs sometimes urticating Calyx in both sexes usually of 3–6-valvate, imbricate or open equal or unequal lobes or free sepals, often dissimilar between the two sexes, rarely the ? calyx spathaceous, sometimes accrescent, minute or 0 Flowers unisexual, usually actinomorphic and small to minute Disc in the ? flowers of 5–6 or occasionally more free extrastaminal and/or intrastaminal glands, rarely the disc annular or cupular and extrastaminal or lobate and central, or else the disc receptacular, domed and aperturate with the stamens arising through the apertures, or disc 0; in the ? flowers hypogynous, annular and flat or cupular, entire or lobate, rarely of separate glands, or 0 Corolla in one or both sexes of 3–6 free or rarely united subvalvate or imbricate petals, or petals minute or 0 Inflorescences terminal, axillary, lateral or leaf-opposed, cymose, paniculate, racemose or spicate, or with the flowers aggregated into involucrate pseudanthia, as in the glanduliferous cyathia of the Euphorbieae, which may themselves be aggregated into pseudopleiochasial super-inflorescences, or else with the flowers fasciculate or solitary in the leaf-axils Fruit usually schizocarpic, dehiscing septifragally and septicidally into 1–4(–20) (but usually 3) bivalved cocci leaving a persistent winged or angled columella, the valves then opening ventrally to allow the seeds to escape, or else the fruit loculicidally dehiscent, usually into 3 septate valves, or all three modes of dehiscence present and ± simultaneous, or else the fruit indehiscent, drupaceous or subdrupaceous, with an epicarp, with or without a fleshy mesocarp and with a paleaceous, crustaceous, ligneous or osseous endocarp, 1–3-or more locular Pistillode often present, variously shaped Stamens (1–)3–100(–1000), the filaments free or connate into a central column, simple or rarely branched, anthers 2(–4)-thecous, dehiscing longitudinally, rarely by pores, erect or inflexed in bud, with the thecae usually parallel and adnate to the connective throughout, sometimes free at the base, occasionally completely free and erect, divaricate or pendulous, rarely with the thecae superposed or laterally fused to form an annulus Staminodes occasionally present, usually subulate, or 0 Ovary superior, sessile or rarely stipitate, 1–4(–20)-locular but most commonly 3-locular; placentation axile, with the ovules solitary or 2 and collateral in each locule and pendulous from its inner angle, anatropous, hemitropous or amphitropous, epitropous, crassinucellate, with a ventral raphe and with the hilar region between the raphe and the epimicropylar obturator, when the latter present; funicle often thickened; styles 1–4(–20), usually 3, free or united, erect or spreading, entire, bifid, multifid or laciniate, with the inner face usually stigmatic throughout and smooth, granulate, papillose or fimbriate and often tinged reddish or purplish Stipules free or connate, sometimes spathaceous, membranaceous, capilliform, glandular or spiny, subpersistent to readily caducous or 0 Leaves usually alternate, sometimes opposite, rarely whorled, occasionally all three, green or scarious and squamiform, commonly petiolate, sometimes sessile, stipulate or exstipulate, simple, lobed or compound, entire or variously toothed, peltate or not, palminerved or penninerved, often with a pair — sometimes with several pairs — of basal glands at or near the petiole-insertion, and/or minutely pellucid-glandular-punctate beneath Dioecious or monoecious often poisonous prostrate, erect or scandent annual, biennial or perennial herbs, shrubs or trees, with the stems succulent or not, spiny or unarmed, sometimes with phylloclades, with or without a milky latex or coloured sap; indumentum 0 or of simple, branched or stellate hairs or peltate scales, the hairs sometimes urticating Calyx in both sexes usually of 3–6-valvate, imbricate or open equal or unequal lobes or free sepals, often dissimilar between the two sexes, rarely the ? calyx spathaceous, sometimes accrescent, minute or 0 Flowers unisexual, usually actinomorphic and small to minute Disc in the ? flowers of 5–6 or occasionally more free extrastaminal and/or intrastaminal glands, rarely the disc annular or cupular and extrastaminal or lobate and central, or else the disc receptacular, domed and aperturate with the stamens arising through the apertures, or disc 0; in the ? flowers hypogynous, annular and flat or cupular, entire or lobate, rarely of separate glands, or 0 Corolla in one or both sexes of 3–6 free or rarely united subvalvate or imbricate petals, or petals minute or 0 Inflorescences terminal, axillary, lateral or leaf-opposed, cymose, paniculate, racemose or spicate, or with the flowers aggregated into involucrate pseudanthia, as in the glanduliferous cyathia of the Euphorbieae, which may themselves be aggregated into pseudopleiochasial super-inflorescences, or else with the flowers fasciculate or solitary in the leaf-axils Fruit usually schizocarpic, dehiscing septifragally and septicidally into 1–4(–20) (but usually 3) bivalved cocci leaving a persistent winged or angled columella, the valves then opening ventrally to allow the seeds to escape, or else the fruit loculicidally dehiscent, usually into 3 septate valves, or all three modes of dehiscence present and ± simultaneous, or else the fruit indehiscent, drupaceous or subdrupaceous, with an epicarp, with or without a fleshy mesocarp and with a paleaceous, crustaceous, ligneous or osseous endocarp, 1–3-or more locular Pistillode often present, variously shaped Stamens (1–)3–100(–1000), the filaments free or connate into a central column, simple or rarely branched, anthers 2(–4)-thecous, dehiscing longitudinally, rarely by pores, erect or inflexed in bud, with the thecae usually parallel and adnate to the connective throughout, sometimes free at the base, occasionally completely free and erect, divaricate or pendulous, rarely with the thecae superposed or laterally fused to form an annulus Staminodes occasionally present, usually subulate, or 0 Ovary superior, sessile or rarely stipitate, 1–4(–20)-locular but most commonly 3-locular; placentation axile, with the ovules solitary or 2 and collateral in each locule and pendulous from its inner angle, anatropous, hemitropous or amphitropous, epitropous, crassinucellate, with a ventral raphe and with the hilar region between the raphe and the epimicropylar obturator, when the latter present; funicle often thickened; styles 1–4(–20), usually 3, free or united, erect or spreading, entire, bifid, multifid or laciniate, with the inner face usually stigmatic throughout and smooth, granulate, papillose or fimbriate and often tinged reddish or purplish SELECTED REFERENCES Punt, W. 1962. Pollen morphology of the Euphorbiaceae with special reference to taxonomy. Wentia 7: 1–116. Radcliffe-Smith, A. 2001. Genera Euphorbiacearum. Kew. Tokuoka, T. 2007. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Euphorbiaceae sensu stricto based on plastid and nuclear DNA sequences and ovule and seed character evolution. J. Pl. Res. 120: 511–522. Webster, G. L. 1967. The genera of Euphorbiaceae in the southeastern United States. J. Arnold Arbor. 48: 303–361, 363–430. Webster, G. L. 1994. Synopsis of the genera and suprageneric taxa of Euphorbiaceae. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 81: 33–144. Webster, G. L. 1994b. Classification of the Euphorbiaceae. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 81: 3–32. Webster, G. L. 2014. Euphorbiaceae. In: K. Kubitzki et al., eds. 1990+. The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. 10+ vols. Berlin etc. Vol. 11, pp. 51–216. Wurdack, K., P. Hoffmann, and M. W. Chase. 2005. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of uniovulate Euphorbiaceae (Euphorbiaceae sensu stricto) using plastid rbcL and trnL-F DNA sequences. Amer. J. Bot. 92: 1397–1420. Herbs, subshrubs, shrubs, trees, or vines [lianas], annual, biennial, or perennial, deciduous or evergreen, monoecious or dioecious; latex present or absent. Leaves alternate, opposite, whorled, or fascicled on short shoots, simple (3-foliolate in Tragia laciniata) [palmately compound]; stipules present or absent; petiole present or absent; blade sometimes palmately lobed, margins entire, subentire, repand, crenate, serrate, or dentate; venation pinnate, palmate, or palmate at base and pinnate distally. Inflorescences unisexual or bisexual, axillary, terminal, or leaf-opposed [cauliflorous], racemes, panicles, spikes, thyrses, cymes, fascicles, or pseudanthia, or flowers solitary. Flowers unisexual; perianth hypogynous; hypanthium absent; sepals 0 or 2–12, distinct or connate basally to most of length; petals 0 or (3–)5(–6), distinct or connate; nectary present or absent; stamens 1–35(–1000), distinct or connate, free; anthers dehiscing by longitudinal slits; pistil 1, (1–)3–5(–20)-carpellate, ovary superior, (1–)3–5(–20)-locular, placentation axile; ovules 1 per locule, anatropous; styles 1–5(–9), distinct or connate, unbranched, 2-fid, or multifid; stigmas 1–32+. Fruits usually capsules, dehiscence septicidal, (usually schizocarpic with cocci separating from persistent columnella, coccus usually dehiscent loculicidally), sometimes schizocarps, drupes, or achenes [berries]. Seeds 1 per locule. Stipules free or connate, sometimes spathaceous, membranaceous, capilliform, glandular or spiny, subpersistent, readily caducous or absent Leaves usually alternate, sometimes opposite, rarely whorled, occasionally all three, green or scarious and squamiform, petiolate or sessile, stipulate or exstipulate, simple, lobed or compound, entire or variously toothed, peltate or not, palminerved or penninerved, often with a pair or several pairs of basal glands at or near the petiole insertion, and/or sometimes minutely pellucid-glandular-punctate beneath Inflorescences terminal, or axillary, lateral or leaf-opposed, cymose or paniculate, or racemose or spicate, or with the flowers aggregated into glanduliferous involucrate pseudanthia (cyathia), which may themselves be aggregated into pseudopleiochasial hyperinflorescences, or into involucrate capitula, or else with the flowers fasciculate or solitary, ramiflorous or cauliflorous Prostrate, erect or scandent, annual biennial or perennial, dioecious or monoecious herbs, shrubs or trees, succulent or not, spiny or unarmed, sometimes poisonous, sometimes with phylloclades, with or without a milky latex or coloured sap Indumentum absent or of simple, branched or stellate hairs or peltate scales, the hairs sometimes urticating Seeds 1–2 per locule, or by abortion 1 per fruit, carunculate or not, often myrmecochorous; sarcotesta sometimes present; sclerotesta thin, crustaceous to thick, osseous; endosperm copious, fleshy, or absent; embryo straight to curved or folded, extending for most of the length of the seed; radicle superior; cotyledons usually broader than the radicle, flat, rarely thick and fleshy or folded Fruit smooth, wrinkled, warty, tubercled, horned or winged, rarely inflated, often schizocarpic, dehiscing septifragally and septicidally into 1–4(20) (but usually 3) bivalved cocci leaving a persistent angled or winged columella, the valves then dehiscing loculicidally, or else fruit loculicidally dehiscent into 3 separate valves, or breaking up irregularly, or else indehiscent, drupaceous or subdrupaceous, with a thin epicarp, with or without a fleshy mesocarp and with a 1–3(more)-locular paleaceous, crustaceous, ligneous or osseous endocarp Ovary superior, sessile or rarely stipitate, 1–4(20)-locular but most commonly 3-locular; placentation axile, with the ovules solitary or paired and collateral in each locule and pendulous from its inner angle, anatropous or hemitropous, rarely orthotropous (Panda), crassinucellate, bi-integumental, hilum between the ventral raphe and the epimicropylar obturator, when present; funicle often thickened; styles (1)3(4)(20), free or connate, erect or spreading, entire, bifid, multifid or laciniate, the inner surface usually stigmatic throughout, smooth, granulate, papillose or fimbriate, often reddish- or purplish-tinged Staminodes absent or occasionally present, usually subulate Stamens (1)3–100(1000), the filaments free or variously connate, simple or rarely branched, anthers erect or inflexed in bud, 2–4-thecous with the thecae usually parallel and adnate to the connective throughout, sometimes free at the base, occasionally completely free and erect, divaricate, horizontal or pendulous, rarely with the thecae superposed or laterally fused to form an annulus, dehiscing by slits longitudinally, obliquely or laterally, less often by pores (not Africa) Pistillode (non-functional ovary) often present, variously shaped Corolla in one or both sexes of 3–6 free or rarely united subvalvate or imbricate petals, or petals minute or absent Disk in the male flowers of 5–6 (occasionally more) free extrastaminal and/or interstaminal glands, less often the disk annular or cupular and extrastaminal or lobed, lobulate and intrastaminal with the stamens enfolded by the lobes, or else the disk receptacular, domed and aperturate with the stamens arising through the apertures, or disk absent; in the female flowers hypogynous, annular, flat or cupular, entire or lobed, rarely of separate glands, usually persistent, or absent Flowers unisexual, usually actinomorphic, small to minute Calyx in both sexes usually of 3–6 valvate, imbricate or open, equal or unequal lobes, or of free sepals, often dissimilar as between the two sexes, rarely the female calyx spathaceous, sometimes accrescent, or minute or absent Leaves usually alternate, sometimes opposite, rarely whorled, occasionally all three, green or scarious and squamiform, petiolate or sessile, stipulate or exstipulate, simple, lobed or compound, entire or variously toothed, peltate or not, palminerved or penninerved, often with a pair or several pairs of basal glands at or near the petiole insertion, and/or sometimes minutely pellucid-glandular-punctate beneath Inflorescences terminal, or axillary, lateral or leaf-opposed, cymose or paniculate, or racemose or spicate, or with the flowers aggregated into glanduliferous involucrate pseudanthia (cyathia), which may themselves be aggregated into pseudopleiochasial hyperinflorescences, or into involucrate capitula, or else with the flowers fasciculate or solitary, ramiflorous or cauliflorous Prostrate, erect or scandent, annual biennial or perennial, dioecious or monoecious herbs, shrubs or trees, succulent or not, spiny or unarmed, sometimes poisonous, sometimes with phylloclades, with or without a milky latex or coloured sap Indumentum absent or of simple, branched or stellate hairs or peltate scales, the hairs sometimes urticating Seeds 1–2 per locule, or by abortion 1 per fruit, carunculate or not, often myrmecochorous; sarcotesta sometimes present; sclerotesta thin, crustaceous to thick, osseous; endosperm copious, fleshy, or absent; embryo straight to curved or folded, extending for most of the length of the seed; radicle superior; cotyledons usually broader than the radicle, flat, rarely thick and fleshy or folded Fruit smooth, wrinkled, warty, tubercled, horned or winged, rarely inflated, often schizocarpic, dehiscing septifragally and septicidally into 1–4(20) (but usually 3) bivalved cocci leaving a persistent angled or winged columella, the valves then dehiscing loculicidally, or else fruit loculicidally dehiscent into 3 separate valves, or breaking up irregularly, or else indehiscent, drupaceous or subdrupaceous, with a thin epicarp, with or without a fleshy mesocarp and with a 1–3(more)-locular paleaceous, crustaceous, ligneous or osseous endocarp Ovary superior, sessile or rarely stipitate, 1–4(20)-locular but most commonly 3-locular; placentation axile, with the ovules solitary or paired and collateral in each locule and pendulous from its inner angle, anatropous or hemitropous, rarely orthotropous (Panda), crassinucellate, bi-integumental, hilum between the ventral raphe and the epimicropylar obturator, when present; funicle often thickened; styles (1)3(4)(20), free or connate, erect or spreading, entire, bifid, multifid or laciniate, the inner surface usually stigmatic throughout, smooth, granulate, papillose or fimbriate, often reddish- or purplish-tinged Staminodes absent or occasionally present, usually subulate Stamens (1)3–100(1000), the filaments free or variously connate, simple or rarely branched, anthers erect or inflexed in bud, 2–4-thecous with the thecae usually parallel and adnate to the connective throughout, sometimes free at the base, occasionally completely free and erect, divaricate, horizontal or pendulous, rarely with the thecae superposed or laterally fused to form an annulus, dehiscing by slits longitudinally, obliquely or laterally, less often by pores (not Africa) Pistillode (non-functional ovary) often present, variously shaped Corolla in one or both sexes of 3–6 free or rarely united subvalvate or imbricate petals, or petals minute or absent Disk in the male flowers of 5–6 (occasionally more) free extrastaminal and/or interstaminal glands, less often the disk annular or cupular and extrastaminal or lobed, lobulate and intrastaminal with the stamens enfolded by the lobes, or else the disk receptacular, domed and aperturate with the stamens arising through the apertures, or disk absent; in the female flowers hypogynous, annular, flat or cupular, entire or lobed, rarely of separate glands, usually persistent, or absent Flowers unisexual, usually actinomorphic, small to minute Calyx in both sexes usually of 3–6 valvate, imbricate or open, equal or unequal lobes, or of free sepals, often dissimilar as between the two sexes, rarely the female calyx spathaceous, sometimes accrescent, or minute or absentGeneral Information
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Morphology
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Literature
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Flora of China @ efloras.org
General InformationPlants Of the World Online Portal - FWTA
MorphologyFlore d'Afrique Centrale
MorphologyManual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern US and Canada
General InformationPlants Of the World Online Portal - FTEA
MorphologyFlora of North America @ efloras.org
LiteratureFlora Zambesiaca - descriptions
Morphology
| Name | Language | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spurge Family |
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Lynn J. Gillespie "Euphorbiaceae A. L. Jussieu in Flora of North America @ efloras.org" eFlora. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA., 2017. Web. Accessed February 2018.
