Euphorbia 
to 0.2 mm long or glabrescent. Stipules narrow, 
subulate or divided into filiform segments, 0.3-0.5 
mm long, often with white, acicular hairs. Petioles 
0.5-0.9 mm long. Leaf blades elliptic, obovate or 
ovate, 3-7 mm long, 1.5-3.5 mm wide, margins 
entire or serrate in upper half or along adaxial edge, 
apex obtuse. Cyathia axillary and scattered or 
occasionally in the upper parts only, 0.5-0.8 mm long, 
0.4-0.6 mm wide. Glands 4, orbicular to oblong, flat 
or concave, 0.1-0.2 mm long, c. 0.1 mm wide. Gland 
appendages red or purple, absent or occasionally 
vestigial, entire. Gynophore 0.7-1.5 mm long, 
pubescent. Capsule 1.3-1.6 mm long, 1.3-1.5 mm 
wide, glabrous or puberulous along the keels. Styles - 
c. 0.2 mm long, glabrous. Seeds brown or creamy 
brown, tetraquetrous, narrow ovoid, 1.2-1.4 mm long, 
0.6-0.9 mm wide, transversely rugose. Fig. 72 
A weed in Qld and the NT; in the DR known only 
from Howard Springs. 
*E. cyathophora J.A.Murray 
Erect annual herb to | m tall. Stems with scattered 
hairs. Stipules minute or absent. Leaves alternate, 
those below the inflorescence opposite, usually 
pink or red with green tips. Petioles 5-55 mm long. 
Leaf blades elliptic to obovate or pandurate, 20-110 
mm long, 10-60 mm wide, upper surface glabrous, 
lower surface glabrous or puberulous, margins 
entire or serrate, apex acute. Cyathia in terminal 
clusters, 2-3 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide, glabrous. 
Gland 1, orbicular, c. 1 mm diam. Gland append- 
ages absent. Gynophore c. 3 mm long. Capsules 
3-4 mm long, 5-6 mm wide, glabrous or puberulous. 
Styles 1-1.4 mm long, glabrous. Seeds brown or grey, 
ovoid or narrow ovoid, 2-2.8 mm long, 2-2.6 mm 
wide, tuberculate. Flowering and fruiting: most 
months. Fig. 72 Dwarf Poinsettia 
Native to central America. Widely cultivated in the 
tropics and often naturalized. In eastern Australia 
widespread in coastal parts of the tropics and 
subtropics. In the Top End known from Nhulunbuy, 
Alyangula and Darwin; on disturbed sites around 
towns. Rare in the DR. : 
*E. heterophylla L. 
Erect annual herb to 1.5 m tall. Stems often with 
scattered hairs. Stipules minute or absent. Leaves 
alternate, those below the inflorescence opposite. 
Petioles 5-40 mm long. Leaf blades elliptic to obovate 
or pandurate, 25-120 mm long, 5-50 mm wide, upper 
surface glabrous, lower surface glabrous or 
puberulous, margins entire or slightly serrate, apex 
acute. Cyathia in terminal clusters, 2-2.5 mm long 
EUPHORBIACEAE 217 
1.5-2.2 mm wide, glabrous. Gland 1, orbicular, c. 1 
mm diam. Gland appendages absent. Gynophore c. 3 
mm long. Capsules 3.5-4 mm long, 5-6 mm wide, 
glabrous. Styles 0.9-1.5 mm long, glabrous. Seeds 
dark brown or grey, broad, tetragonous, c. 3 mm long, 
2-2.5 mm wide, tuberculate. Flowering and fruiting: 
most months. Fig. 72 
Native of tropical America but now widely 
naturalized. In north and eastern Australia, widespread 
in tropical and subtropical coastal regions. Common 
in the Top End and the DR on disturbed sites. 
*E. hirta L. 
Chamaesyce hirta (L.) Millsp. 
Decumbent or erect annual herb to 35 cm tall. Stems 
puberulous and commonly hispid with yellow hairs 
to 1.5 mm long. Stipules narrow subulate, 1-2.5 mm 
long, often divided into filiform segments. Petioles 
1.5-3 mm long. Leaf blades often reddish, elliptic to 
obovate, 13-35 mm long, 9-15 mm wide, upper 
surface glabrous or puberulous, lower surface 
puberulous, margins serrate in upper half and on 
adaxial edge, apex obtuse or acute. Cyathia in dense, 
leafless clusters on reduced lateral branchlets, 
0.5-0.8 mm long; 0.5-0.7 mm wide, puberulous. 
Glands 4, orbicular or oblong, flat, c. 0.1 mm long, 
0.1-0.2 mm wide. Gland appendages white to pink, 
absent or minute, entire or dentate, c. 0.1 mm 
long, 0.1 mm wide. Gynophore 0.5-0.9 mm long, 
glabrous. Capsule 0.9-1.2 mm long, 1.2-1.5 mm 
wide, puberulous or glabrescent. Styles 0.1-0.3 mm 
long, glabrous. Seeds brown or creamy 
brown, tetraquetrous, ovoid, 0.6-0.8 mm long, 
0.4-0.5 mm wide, rugose. Flowering and fruiting: 
most months. Fig. 72 Asthma Plant 
A native of central America, now naturalized 
throughout the tropics. Widespread in tropical and 
subtropical Australia in coastal and inland areas. 
Common in the DR on disturbed sites. The white 
latex is used by Aboriginal people for medicinal 
purposes (Wightman et al., 1992; Smith et al., 1993). 
At one time widely used in Australia for the relief of 
asthma and bronchitis (Everist, 1979). 
E. muelleri Boiss. 
Prostrate perennial herb, producing foliage 
annually from a perennial rootstock. Stems glabrous 
or puberulous. Stipules broad-triangular, 0.2-0.3 mm 
long, often thick with broad purplish margin. 
Petioles 0.4-1.5 mm long. Leaf blades broad obovate 
to orbicular, 4-24 mm long, 4-18 mm wide, glabrous 
or puberulous below, margins entire, apex obtuse, 
often retuse. Cyathia axillary, scattered or in upper 
