Euphorbia phymatosperma, Boiss. & Gaill. Euphorbia myrsinites, L.

56. E. phymatosperma Boiss. & Gaill. View in CoL View at ENA in Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Or. Nov. 3(4): 83 (1859).

Glabrous, glaucous annual 8-12 cm. Leaves c. 6 mm, obovate, obtuse, entire. Ray-leaves elliptical; raylet-leaves ovate-rhombic, mucronulate. Rays 3(-5). Capsule 3-4 mm. Seeds 2-2-5 mm, with 3 transverse depressions on each face. S. Italy, N. Greece. G r It. (N. Africa, S. W. Asia.) Represented in Europe and N. Africa by subsp. cernua (Cosson & Durieu) Vindt , Trav. Inst. Sci. Chérif. ser. bot., 2: 82 (1953).

Sect. Myrsiniteae (Boiss.) Tutin . Herbs. Glands crescentic, with short horns usually dilated and minutely lobed at apex. Bracts between male flowers absent.

57. E. myrsinites L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 461 (1753) View Cited Treatment .

Glabrous, glaucous perennial up to 40 cm. Stems decumbent or ascending, numerous, stout, simple, densely leafy, with 0-3 axillary rays. Leaves obovate to suborbicular, cuspidate or mucronate, rather thick and fleshy. Ray-leaves obovate-spathulate to orbicular, mucronate. Raylet-leaves suborbicular to broadly cordate, mucronate. Rays (1—)5—12, once or twice dichotomous, variable in length. Glands with dilated, often weakly lobed horns. Capsule (4-)5-7 mm, glabrous, smooth or minutely tubercolate. Seeds (2-)3-4 mm, vermiculate-rugose or rarely smooth, greyish-brown. Rocky places. S. Europe, from Islas Baléares to Krym. Al BI Bu Co Cr G r It Ju Rm Rs (K) Si Tu [Cz].

Variable in size, length of rays, and degree o f rugosity o f seed. Populations on some of the Mediterranean islands are nearly homogeneous for these features and have been described as species: E. fontqueriana W. Greuter , Candollea 20: 170 (1965), in Islas Baléares, E. Corsica Req. , Ann. Sci. Nat. 5: 384 (1825), in Corse, and E. rechingeri W. Greuter , Candollea 1XP.VTI (1965), in Kriti. They may merit subspecific rank, but further investigation of the species throughout its range is desirable.