Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Seed morphology in Euphorbia and its taxonomic applications: a case study in São Paulo, Brazil

  • Published:
Brazilian Journal of Botany Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Euphorbia L., with around 2000 species, is the biggest genus of Euphorbiaceae and one of the largest and most diverse genera within Angiosperms. It shows an almost cosmopolitan distribution and notable morphological diversity and is characterized by a pseudanthial inflorescence, the cyathium, which is unique to the genus. Along with its great morphological diversity in growth form, seed characters such as shape, testa ornamentation and presence or absence of caruncle are among its most notable and variable features. Given the potential utility of seed characters for species identification, we set to characterize the seeds from all known species (24) of Euphorbia occurring in the state of São Paulo, using photos and scanning electronic microscopy images. These species belong to three subgenera and seven sections of Euphorbia, and their morphological diversity is discussed in a phylogenetic context according to the most recent classification. Seed characters such as shape, size, testa ornamentation, and presence or absence of caruncle proved to be useful for identification of sections and for distinguishing closely related species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figs. 1–23
Figs. 24–39
Figs. 40–48
Figs. 49–57
Figs. 58–64

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Boissier E (1862) Euphorbieae. In: Candolle ALPP (ed) Prodromus Systematics Universalis Regni Vegetabilis 15(2). Victor Masson, Paris, pp 3–188

  • Bruyns PV, Mapaya RJ, Hedderson T (2006) A new subgeneric classification for Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) in Southern Africa based on ITS and psbA-trnH sequence data. Taxon 55:397–420

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Can L, Küçüker O (2015) Seed morphology and surface microstructure of some Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) taxa distributed in Turkey-in-Europe. Turk J Bot 39:449–457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dorsey BL, Haevermans T, Aubriot X, Morawetz JJ, Riina R, Steinmann VW, Berry PE (2013) Phylogenetics, morphological evolution, and classification of Euphorbia subgenus Euphorbia. Taxon 62:291–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frodin DG (2004) History and concepts of big plant genera. Taxon 53:753–776

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Govaerts R, Frodin DG, Radcliffe-Smith A (2000) World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae (and Pandaceae), vol. 2. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew

  • Hafford DA, Harris WK (2012) A taxonomic revision of Euphorbia section Anisophyllym Roeper (Euphorbiaceae) in Australia. Austrobaileya 8:441–600

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris JG, Harris MW (2001) Plant identification terminology: an illustrated glossary. Spring Lake Publishing, Payson

    Google Scholar 

  • Horn JW, Van Ee BW, Morawetz JJ, Riina R, Steinmann VW, Berry PE, Wurdack KJ (2012) Phylogenetics and the evolution of major structural characters in the giant genus Euphorbia L. (Euphorbiaceae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 63:305–326

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morawets JJ, Riina R, Berry PE, Mayfield MH (2009) Euphorbia seed atlas part 1. Euphorbia World 5:27–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Morawetz JJ, Riina R, Berry PE, Mayfield MH (2010a) Euphorbia seed atlas part 2. Euphorbia World 6:25

    Google Scholar 

  • Morawetz JJ, Riina R, Berry PE, Mayfield MH (2010b) Euphorbia seed atlas part 4. Euphorbia World 6:21

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller Argoviensis J (1874) Euphorbiaceae. In: Martius CFP, Eichler AW (eds) Flora Brasiliensis 11(2). Frid. Fleischer, München, pp 1–752

    Google Scholar 

  • Pahlevani AH, Akhani H (2011) Seed morphology of Iranian annual species of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae). Bot J Linn Soc 167:212–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pahlevani AH, Liede-Schumann S, Akhani H (2015) Seed and capsule morphology of Iranian perennial species of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) and its phylogenetic application. Bot J Linn Soc 177:335–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peirson JA, Bruyns PV, Riina R, Morawetz JJ, Berry PE (2013) A molecular phylogeny and classification of the largely succulent and mainly African Euphorbia subg. Athymalus (Euphorbiaceae). Taxon 62:1178–1199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radcliffe-Smith A (2001) Genera Euphorbiacearum. Kew Publishing, Kew

    Google Scholar 

  • Riina R, Peirson JA, Geltman DV, Molero J, Frajman B, Pahlevani A, Barres L, Morawetz JJ, Salmaki Y, Zarre S, Kryukov A, Bruyns PV, Berry PE (2013) A worldwide molecular phylogeny and classification of the leafy spurges, Euphorbia subgenus Esula (Euphorbiaceae). Taxon 62:316–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salmaki Y, Zarre S, Esser H-J, Heubl G (2011) Seed and gland morphology in Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) with focus on their systematic and phylogenetic importance, a case study in Iranian highlands. Flora 206:957–973

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silva OLM, Cordeiro I, Caruzo MBR (2014) Synopsis of Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Phytotaxa 181:193–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steinmann VW (2013) Three new species of Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce (Euphorbiaceae) from Bolivia. Phytotaxa 114:23–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steinmann VW, Porter JM (2002) Phylogenetic relationships in Euphorbieae (Euphorbiaceae) based on ITS and ndhF sequence data. Ann Missouri Bot Gard 89:453–490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steinmann VW, Caruzo MBR, Silva OLM (2015) Euphorbia In: Lista de Espécies da Flora do Brasil. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. http://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/jabot/floradobrasil/FB17561. Accessed 15 May 2015

  • Thiers B (2015) Index Herbariorum: a global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New York Botanical Garden’s Virtual Herbarium. The New York Botanical Garden. http://sciweb.nybg.org/science2/IndexHerbariorum.asp. Accessed 15 May 2015

  • Wagner B, Morawetz JJ, Riina R, Berry PE, Becker R, Moller A (2010) Euphorbia seed atlas—part 3. Euphorbia World 6:28–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner B, Morawetz JJ, Riina R, Berry PE, Becker R, Moller A (2011a) Euphorbia seed atlas—part 5. Euphorbia World 7:11

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner B, Morawetz JJ, Riina R, Berry PE, Becker R, Moller A (2011b) Euphorbia seed atlas—part 6. Euphorbia World 7:21

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner B, Morawetz JJ, Riina R, Berry PE, Becker R, Moller A (2011c) Euphorbia seed atlas—part 7. Euphorbia World 7:15

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y, Riina R, Morawetz JJ, Haevermans T, Aubriot X, Berry PE (2012) Molecular phylogenetics and classification of Euphorbia subgenus Chamaesyce (Euphorbiaceae). Taxon 61:764–789

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmermann NFA, Ritz CM, Hellwig FH (2010) Further support for the phylogenetic relationships within Euphorbia L. (Euphorbiaceae) from nrITS and trnL-trnF IGS sequence data. Plant Syst Evol 286:39–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zorić L, Merkulov L, Luković J, Boža P (2010) Comparative seed morphology of Trifolium L. species (Fabaceae). Period Biol 112:263–272

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for the scholarship provided to the first author. We are also grateful to Marília Duarte for the discussion on terminology, to Luciana Benatti for the support on producing the SEM images and to the three anonymous reviewers.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Núcleo de Pesquisa Curadoria do Herbário SP, Instituto de Botânica de São Paulo, Avenida Miguel Stéfano 3687, São Paulo, SP, CEP 04045-972, Brazil

    Otávio Luis Marques da Silva & Inês Cordeiro

  2. Departamento de Ciências Exatas e da Terra, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Prof. Artur Riedel, 275, Diadema, SP, CEP 09972-270, Brazil

    Maria Beatriz Rossi Caruzo

Authors
  1. Otávio Luis Marques da Silva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Inês Cordeiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Maria Beatriz Rossi Caruzo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Otávio Luis Marques da Silva.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

da Silva, O.L.M., Cordeiro, I. & Caruzo, M.B.R. Seed morphology in Euphorbia and its taxonomic applications: a case study in São Paulo, Brazil. Braz. J. Bot 39, 349–358 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-015-0228-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-015-0228-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation