Euphorbia heterophylla L.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Zambezi Private School area, 3 km from Katima Mulilo

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Synonyms:	Euphorbia geniculata Ortega Poinsettia heterophylla (L.) Klotzsch & Garcke
Common names:	Annual wild poinsettia (English) Mexican fire plant (English) Painted Euphorbia (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Introduced
Description:	Erect annual, up to c. 1 m high, often reddish tinged; stems hollow. Leaves ovate,up to 12 cm long, hairless or sparsely hairy around the edges above, hairy especially on the midrib and veins beneath, mostly when young; margin with minute gland-tipped teeth or occasionally more coarsely toothed; petiole c.2 cm long; stipules modified as conspicuous purplish glands. Flowers in terminal and axillary heads. Capsules deeply 3-lobed, c. 5.5mm wide, exserted on a reflexed pedicel up to 6 mm long
Type location:	Tropical America
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	heterophylla: with leaves of different shapes
Habitat:	Mostly in disturbed places
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Nov - Mar
Worldwide distribution:	Pantropical weed, originating from Central America.
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Monday 26 March 2018
Literature:	Carter, S. & Leach, L.C. (2001). Euphorbiaceae: subfamily Euphorbioideae: tribe Euphorbieae Flora Zambesiaca 9(5) Pages 361 - 363. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 17. Drummond, R.B. (1984). Arable Weeds of Zimbabwe Agricultural Research Trust of Zimbabwe, Harare Pages 48 - 49. (Includes a picture). Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 351. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 41. Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 108. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 62. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 57. Troupin, G. (1983). Euphorbiaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume II Page 224. As Euphorbia geniculata

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Flora of Botswana: Euphorbia heterophylla
Flora of Burundi: Euphorbia heterophylla
Flora of Malawi: Euphorbia heterophylla
Flora of Mozambique: Euphorbia heterophylla
Flora of Rwanda: Euphorbia heterophylla
Flora of Zambia: Euphorbia heterophylla
Flora of Zimbabwe: Euphorbia heterophylla

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Euphorbia heterophylla
African Plant Database: Euphorbia heterophylla
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Euphorbia heterophylla
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Euphorbia heterophylla
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Euphorbia heterophylla
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Euphorbia heterophylla
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Euphorbia heterophylla
JSTOR Plant Science: Euphorbia heterophylla
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Euphorbia heterophylla
Plants of the World Online: Euphorbia heterophylla
Tropicos: Euphorbia heterophylla
Wikipedia: Euphorbia heterophylla