Family: Euphorbiaceae
Kingdom: Plantae Rank: Family Parent: Malpighiales Status: Valid
Common Names:
- Euphorbiaceae - English, United States of America
Vegetative Morphology
Habit: Trees, shrubs, herbs, vines, or lianas. One of the most variable families in the Neotropics. One species with the aspect of Cactaceae.
Leaves: Leaves simple or compound, alternate or sometimes subopposite, rarely opposite.
Stipules: Stipules often present, sometimes caducous.
Exudate: Latex white, colored, or clear if present.
Reproductive Morphology
Inflorescence: Inflorescence of various forms and sizes, axillary, terminal, cauliflorous, or ramiflorous.
Flowers: Flowers unisexual, typically actinomorphic, the plants monoecious o dioecious; sepals 3-6, sometimes fused below to form 3-6 lobes, sometimes absent; petals 3-6, reduced, sometimes absent; nectary disk sometimes present; stamens 3-20 or sometimes one or numerous; ovary superior, usually 3-locular, the styles free or fused, each sometimes branched, the placentation axile.
Fruit: Fruit a capsule, usually trivalved or with two, four, or more (up to 20) valves, often explosively dehiscent; some genera with drupes or berries.
Seeds: Seeds 1-2 per locule.
Other
Notes: Plants glabrous or pubescent; some genera with scales on leaves, petioles, and stems.