Variable Sandmat (Euphorbia multiformis)
Description
Euphorbia multiformis is a low-growing and somewhat dwarfed-looking perennial shrub in the Spurge Family, having whitish trunk and thick leaves with acute apices. Taxonomy: Euphorbia multiformis was previously considered synonym of Euphorbia celastroides and the descriptions regarding this species found in botanical literature often refers to celastroides. There remains a considerable confusion surrounding the true identity of this species. Stems: Branches 0.5-2(-3) m long, slender, wiry and nodose (and often decompound), glabrous to pilose or glabrate, flowering branches 1-1.5 mm in diameter. Internodes of a main branch up to 32 (or more) mm long, of branchlets mostly under 20 mm long.Leaves: Opposite, distichous (growing in two vertical rows), elliptic to ovate or obovate, (9-)15-40(-65) mm long, (4-)7-15(-25) mm wide, glabrous to pilose at basal margin, margins entire, apex acute to rounded, retuse, occasionally mucronulate, base rounded, oblique, petioles 1-3 mm long, glabrous to pilose above, stipules acute-triangular, 0.5-1.5(-2) mm long, erose, ciliate.Flowers (Cyathia): Solitary in the leaf axils or 3-10 in cymes on shortened branches, peduncles 0.5-2 mm long, glabrous to pilose; involucre campanulate, 1.5-2.5 mm high, 1.5-3.5 mm wide, glabrous to pilose or villous beneath the glands, glands 4, green to red or purple, glabrous to pilose below; styles red to yellow, bifid 1/2 or more their length, 0.3-1 mm long, glabrous or pubescent; stigmas not thickened.Fruit (capsules: Green to red, 1.5-3 mm long, glabrous to slightly pilose on sutures, glabrate, gynophores recurved, exserted 2-3 mm from involucre, - pilose.Seeds: Ovate, tetragonal, greyish to brown, (1.2-)1.5-2 mm long, rugose.Chromosome number: 2n = 38 (in all varieties)
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Malpighiales
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Family: Euphorbiaceae
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Genus: Euphorbia
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