Euphorbia xylophylloides
| Euphorbia xylophylloides | |
|---|---|
 | |
| In Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus: | Euphorbia |
| Species: | E. xylophylloides |
| Binomial name | |
| Euphorbia xylophylloides | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Euphorbia xylophylloides is a spurge species from Madagascar that can grow into a tree. Its numbers in the wild are decreasing.
Description
Euphorbia xylophylloides is a tree growing to as much as 20 metres (66 ft) in height with many branches and a wide crown.[3] The overall form of a full grown tree is like a stone pine, umbrella shaped, and is the largest of the spurges that resemble corals.[4] Young branches are green and flattened with a width of as much as 2 centimetres (0.79 in). The true leaves are deciduous, small, just 6.5 millimeters long and 4 mm wide, and found only at the branch tips.[3]
Taxonomy
In 1857 Charles Antoine Lemaire scientifically described a new species that he credited to Adolphe-Théodore Brongniart and named Euphorbia xylophylloides. It is classified in the Euphorbia genus within the Euphorbiaceae family. The species has three synonyms according to Plants of the World Online.[2] The species Euphorbia enterophora was an accepted species until 1954 when Hermann Johannes Heinrich Jacobsen recognized that its similarity to E. xylophylloides.[5] The similar species Euphorbia crassa is sometimes described as a subspecies,[3] but is listed as accepted by Plants of the World Online.[6]
| Name | Year | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euphorbia enterophora Drake | 1899 | species | = het. |
| Tirucalia enterophora (Drake) P.V.Heath | 1996 | species | = het. |
| Tirucalia xylophylloides (Brongn. ex Lem.) P.V.Heath | 1996 | species | ≡ hom. |
| Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym | |||
Range and habitat
Euphorbia xylophylloides is endemic to the island nation of Madagascar. There it is found in the central and southern parts of the island in Antananarivo, Fianarantsoa, Toliara provinces. It grows on inselbergs, areas of isolated rock outcrops, and on sandy soils.[3]
Conservation
When evaluated by the IUCN in 2020, Euphorbia xylophylloides was rated as vulnerable.[1] However, at that time they also separately evaluated the synonym Euphorbia enterophora and rated it as least-concern.[7] Both evaluations found the species to be declining in numbers due to habitat loss from mining, the harvest or destruction of plants by subsistence agriculture, and the collection of plants for horticulture.[1][7]
References
- 1 2 3 Razanajatovo, H. (2020). "Euphorbia xylophylloides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020 e.T137509390A137899513. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T137509390A137899513.en. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
- 1 2 POWO 2026b.
- 1 2 3 4 Eggli & Nyffeler 2023, p. 602.
- ↑ Preston-Mafham 1991, p. 32.
- ↑ Eggli & Nyffeler 2023, p. 601.
- ↑ POWO 2026a.
- 1 2 Rabehevitra, A.D. (2020). "Euphorbia enterophora". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020 e.T44342A153300055. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T44342A153300055.en. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
- Eggli, Urs; Nyffeler, Reto (2023). Dicotyledons: Rosids (Second ed.). Cham, Germany: Springer. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.48631. ISBN 978-3-030-93491-0. OCLC 5036602.
- Preston-Mafham, Ken (1991). Madagascar: A Natural History. Oxford; New York: Facts on File. ISBN 978-0-8160-2403-2. OCLC 23650974. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
- POWO (2026a). "Euphorbia crassa (Cremers) Haev. & Hett". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
- POWO (2026b). "Euphorbia xylophylloides Brongn. ex Lem". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
