EUPHORBIACEAE
H.M.T.I.Somarathna
EP-1440
Department of Natural Resources
Faculty of Applied Science
Sabaragamuwa University of Srilanka
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Content
• Taxonomy of the Euphorbiaceae
• Introduction
• Characteristic of Euphorbiaceae
• Flower parts
• Economic importance
• Common plants of the family
• References
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Taxonomy of the Euphorbiaceae
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Division : Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
• Class : Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
• Subclass : Rosidae
• Order : Malpighiales
• Family : Euphorbiaceae
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Introduction
• There are about 283 genera and 7,300 species in
this family
• Distribution:
The plants of this family are found throughout the
world. However, they are not found in arctic regions.
In our country the family is represented by several
genera such as, Euphorbia, Ricinus, Phyllanthus, Croton,
Pedilanthus, Manihot.
In the desert regions of Africa and elsewhere the
family is represented by cactus-like plants of different
species of Euphorbia.
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• Habit:
The plants exhibit great variation in their
habit. The plants may be herbs, shrubs or trees.
– Herbs - Euphorbia hirta, E. helioscopica, E. peplus
– Shrubs - Pedilanthus sp., and Jatropha sp
– Tree - Havea brasiliensist (rubber tree),
Phyllanthus emblica (Amla)
Characteristic of Euphorbiaceae
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Characteristic of Euphorbiaceae
• Leaves: spiral, sometimes opposite or
whorled, simple or compound.
• Stipules: large, represented by small
glands, or absent.
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Characteristic of Euphorbiaceae
• Flowers: unisexual, usually actinomorphic,
cymose inflorescences.
• Fruits: capsule or drupe. Seeds often with
conspicuous caruncles.

FLOWER PARTS
• CALYX: reduced or absent, 5 when present,
valvate or imbricate.
• COROLLA: reduced or absent, 5 when present,
valvate or imbricate.
• ANDROECIUM: stamens 5-numerous. Filaments
basally united. Anthers with longitudinal slits
or apical pores. Nectary disc present.
Rudimentary ovary present in male flowers.
• GYNOECIUM: superior, usually 3-locular, with
free or basally united styles.
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FLOWER PARTS

Economic importance
• Source of food: The plant Manihot esculenta at gives
starchy food from its tuberous roots.
• Oils: Some plants give wood oil, artist oil and other
drying oils. These oils are used in paints. These oils
are extracted from the seeds of several species.
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Economic importance
• Lubricant and purgative: Castor oil
• Poisons: The milky juice of many plants like Manillal.
Mercuriolis has deadly poisons. Some are very
dangerous for stomach. Some can cause blindness of
eyes. These are also used to kill some insects.
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v
Economic importance
• Medicinal uses: The fruit of Phyllanthus emblica has
many medicinal uses.
• Rubber: Several species of Hevea, gives common
rubber in their latex.
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Economic importance
• Ornamental plants: The plants of this family have
attractive colours. So they are commonly used as
ornamental plants. Examples: Euphorbia splenden.
Euphorbia pulcherrima,
• Dyes: Chrozophora gives dye.
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Common plants of the family
• Codiaeum variegatum, croton (shrub).
• Leaves: terminally whorled, variegated red-pink-yellow
orange- bronze with green, very variable, narrow to
broad, margins wavy or twisted.
• Trunk: many-stemmed.
• Flowers: inconspicuous;
• Fruits: green, small capsules.
• Uses: ornamental
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Euphorbia antiquorum, daluk (small tree)
• Leaves: very small, fleshy, deciduous
• Trunk: cylindrical; thick, very rough, young branches
whorled, green, fleshy, jointed, 3-winged,; latex milky
• Flowers: greenish yellow
• Fruits: 3-lobed capsule.
• Uses: whole plant-medicinal.
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Hevea brasiliensis, rubber (tree)
• Leaves: compound; leaflets elliptic/ tapering base/ acute
apex; petioles long.
• Trunk: patchy, smooth to slightly rough, greyish white;
branches obliquely angular; latex milky.
• Flowers: white to cream, small
• Fruits: green-brown/ 3-lobed capsule.
• Uses: Wood for furniture, fuel wood, latex-rubber.
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Manihote sculenta, manyokka (shrub)
• Leaves: dark green, each lob oblanceolate with an acute
apex; petiole long.
• Trunk: stems slender, glabrous, erect, leaf scars
prominent; silvery grey to dark brown streaked purple.
• Flowers: very small; terminal panicles.
• Fruits: capsule with 6 longitudinal angled wings.
• Uses: roots, young leaves-edible.
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Phyllanthus emblica, nelli (tree)
• Leaves: 2-ranked, numerous, closely placed, overlapping,
linear to strap-shaped, rounded base; deciduous.
• Trunk: numerous bosses of leaf-bearing branchlets that
resemble pinnate
• Flowers: greenish yellow; male small, numerous, axillary
clusters; female few, nearly sessile.
• Fruits: pale green-yellow, fleshy berry.
• Uses: whole plant-medicinal; fruit-edible
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Key Characters for the
Euphorbiaceae
– Alternate simple leaves
– Petioles long and variable in length
– Latex
– Imperfect Flowers, monoecious plants
– Three-lobed schizocarps
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References
• Mark S. Ashton, Savitri Gunatilleke, Neela de
Zoysa, M.D. Dassanayake, Nimal Gunatilleke and
Siril Wijesundera(1997). A Field Guide to the
Common Trees and Shrubs of Sri Lanka. WHT
Publication (Pvt.) Ltd for the Wildlife Heritage
Trust of Sri Lanka, 95 Cotta Road, Colombo 8, Sri
Lanka. Page; 190 – 211
• http://www.biologydiscussion.com/plants/flower
ing-plants/an-overview-on-euphorbiales-
familyeuphorbiaceae-botany/19597
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