The Euphorbiaceae are characterized
by:
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- succulent habit (often), many resembling cacti, with succulent
stems and leaves modified as spines.
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- unisexual flowers. The plants may be dioecious or
monoecious. A large number of species have inflorescences in which the male flowers
are borne either above or below the female flowers in spikes or racemes.
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- a superior ovary, usually having 3 carpels typically maturing into
a 3-lobed schizocarp
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- a highly modified inflorescence called a cyathium, which consists
of several (to many staminate flowers of a single stamen, and one pistillate flower borne
on an elongating pedicel. These reduced flowers are surrounded by several bracts,
which often bear nectiferous glands or petaloid appendages. The cyathium resembles
and may function as a single flower.
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character description. |
The Euphorbiaceae is a very large family (300 genera, 7500 species)
that is primarily tropical. In the Old World tropics, Euphorbia occupies the
same "niche" as cacti do in the New World. The
family has several economically important species. Rubber is produced from the sap
of Hevea, tung oil from the sap of Vernicia (formerly Aleurites), and
castor oil from the seeds of Ricinus. Cassava (manoic, tapioca) is an
important staple food crop in parts of Africa and Asia. There are a number of
horticultural species as well, most notably poinsettia, crown-of-thorns, and castor-bean. |