Ascension spurge (Euphorbia origanoides)
Facts
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Euphorbiales |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus | Euphorbia (1) |
| Size |
Height: up to 50 cm (2) Diameter: up to 1 m (2) |
Status
Classified as Critically Endangered (CR – B1+B3c) under IUCN Red List categories (3).
Description
These dome-shaped plants are extremely attractive (2). The fleshy stems of the Ascension spurge are crimson in colour and contain a thick milky juice, which is poisonous and can cause blindness if it comes into contact with the eyes (4). The simple leaves are oval in shape and finely toothed at the edges; they are found in pairs at regular intervals along the stems (2). This genus is characterised by its extremely simple flowers. The reproductive shoot (inflorescence) is know as a ‘cyathium’ and consists of a spiral of bracts within which the simple male flowers are located. At the centre of the male flowers sits a single female flower. The structure of the cyathium is such that the cluster of simple flowers actually resembles a true flower from a distance (5).
Range
Habitat
The Ascension spurge is found on some of the driest areas of the island, on larva plains up to 310 metres above sea level (3).
Biology
Very little is known about the natural ecology of the Ascension spurge.
Threats
The small range of its population threatens the Ascension spurge, which is extremely vulnerable to any chance event such as natural disaster or disease. Declines in colonies at Cross Hill have been attributed to the cottony cushion scale insect (Icerya purchasi) which has been introduced to the island (2). This spurge also suffers from competition with the introduced Mexican thorn (Prosopis juliflora), which spreads extremely rapidly (3).
Conservation
Aspects of the ecology of the Ascension spurge are currently under investigation and a cultivated population has been established by Ascension Conservation (3).
Authentication
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk
Bract: modified leaf at the base of a flower.
Endemic: a species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.
Genus: a category used in taxonomy, which is below ‘family’ and above ‘species’. A genus tends to contain species that have characteristics in common. The genus forms the first part of a ‘binomial’ Latin species name; the second part is the specific name.
Inflorescence: the reproductive shoot of the plant, which bears flowers (See http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ksheets/pdfs/flower.pdf for a fact sheet on flower structure).
References
- Walter, K.S. & Gillett, H.J. [eds] (1998) 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants. Compiled by the World Conservation Monitoring Center. IUCN – The World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
- Ashmole, P. & Ashmole, M. (2000) St. Helena and Ascension Island: a natural history. Anthony Nelson, England.
- Gray, A. (2003) Red List Assessment Form. Ascension Conservation.
- Packer, J.E. (1968) The Ascension Handbook: a concise guide to Ascension Island, South Atlantic. Georgetown, Ascension Island.
- Heywood, V.H. (1978) Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
