Euphorbia tannensis subsp. eremophila (A.Cunn.) D.C.Hassall

Hassall, D.C. (1977) Australian Journal of Botany 25: 439.

Desert Spurge

Usually flowers and fruits as a shrub 1-1.5 m tall but also flowers when smaller.

Stems, petioles and leaves produce copious amounts of white exudate when cut or broken. Leaf blades linear, about 2.5-5.5 x 0.2-0.3 cm, margin toothed, more prominently towards the apex. Petioles about 0.2-0.4 cm long, channelled on the upper surface. Lateral veins difficult to distinguish.

Tepals small, interspersed with four large glands. Stamens +/- arranged in 3 or 4 whorls of five with the innermost whorl maturing first. Anthers interspersed with numerous plumose hairs, filaments jointed. Ovary borne on a stalk about as long as the perianth. Style branches three, each with a bilobed stigma.

Fruits 3-lobed, about 4-5 mm long, stigmas persistent at the apex. Seeds 2.5-4 mm long, testa rough, covered with a thin white or translucent aril. Embryo about 2-2.5 mm long, cotyledons about as long as the radicle but much wider.

Cotyledons oblong, about 9-10 x 3 mm, bluish-green in colour. At the tenth leaf stage: leaves long and narrow, leaf blade about 35-37 x 4 mm. Stem green, entire seedling glabrous. Seed germination time 631 days.

Endemic to Australia and widespread, occurs in WA, NT, CYP, NEQ, CEQ and southwards as far as south-western New South Wales. Altitudinal range in northern Australia from 300-700 m. Commonly grows in open forest but also found in vine thickets and monsoon forest.

This species may be poisonous.