Abstract
The ecological life-history of “leafless” spurge,Euphorbia caducifolia Haines, which serves as an indicator of rocky and gravelly habitat in Rajasthan (India) is dealt with here. There appear to be two forms in existence: one with red and the other with green inflorescence, which interbreed freely in nature resulting in different shades of red coloured inflorescence. The plant is suitably adapted to xerophytic conditions, but surprisingly the leaves are borne only in summer when there is acute shortage of water. Flowering starts in January–February and the seeds are dispered by March–April. The seeds do not indicate any dormancy but the percentage of germination from different plants vary remarkably. The optimum germination is achieved between 25°–30°C, beyond which it is retarded. Continuous light hastens germination. The seeds are washed down by rains from the rocky slopes where the plants grow and are buried in mud to a depth where germination does not take place, and hence regeneration of the plant is poor.
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Sen, D.N. LeaflessEuphorbia on Rajasthan rocks, India I. Ecological life-history. Folia geobot. phytotax. 3, 1–15 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02854738
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02854738