Euphorbia falcata
L. Sickle-leaved SpurgeErect annual herb to c. 20 cm high, glabrous and glaucous; stems usually simple and stiffly erect below, apically usually with 3–many branches, each forking several times and spreading to c.15 cm diam., forming a dense, umbelliform 'crown'. Cauline leaves alternate, sessile, obovate to spathulate or oblong, mostly 5–25 mm long, 3–6 mm wide, apex obtuse to acute, often shortly apiculate, base cuneate, margins entire; leaves/bracts on fertile branches opposite, obliquely suborbicular to broadly ovate, 3–10(–15) mm long and almost as wide. Cyathia solitary in paired bracts; peduncles to c. 0.5 mm long at anthesis; involucre campanulate, c. 1 mm long; glands lunate, c. 0.5 mm long, with 2 short, often decurved falcate appendages c. 0.3 mm long; female flowers with styles shortly bifid. Capsule ovoid, c. 2 mm long, smooth; seeds flattened-ellipsoid, c.1.5 mm long, pale grey-brown, minutely tuberculate all over, with 4–6 lateral grooves either side of the midline on dorsal and ventral surface, more deeply grooved ventrally; caruncle bead-like, c. 0.3 mm diam., smooth, soft, caducous. Flowers and fruits probably Oct.–Mar. (1 record).
Wim. Also SA, NSW. Native to Europe and western Asia. Currently known only from remnant grassland adjoining cropping land near Rupanyup in the Wimmera.
