Euphorbia peplus L.
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)
Galarhoeus peplus (L.) Haw.
Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)
petty spurge
Primary Disseminule Type
seed (with or without caruncle)
Description (diagnostics are in brown)
Fruit a three-seeded capsule, oblong to nearly spherical, three-lobed, 1.5–3 mm diameter, smooth, lobes shallowly grooved, keels with 2 slightly winged ridges.
Seed oblong in outline, ± terete to 4-sided, 1–1.5 mm long x 0.8–1 mm wide. Surface dull to mildly sparkly (under magnification), glabrous, cobblestone-like on ridges to minutely pitted in large depressions (seen under magnification), white to gray with large purplish- or brownish-gray pits—2 long pits on ventral side and several small circular pits on dorsal side. Caruncle present or absent, white. A prominent seam (raphe) on the ventral side connects the hilum to a depressed ring in the chalazal area.
Hilum darker than testa, ± round to wedge-shaped grading into the raphe.
Similar Species
Similar Species Comparison Chart
Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)
AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI