Euphorbia myrsinites, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1981, Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae, Cambridge University Press : 221

57. E. myrsinites L. , Sp. Pl. 461 (1753) .

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.