Euphorbia tannensis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Malpighiales |
Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
Genus: | Euphorbia |
Species: | E. tannensis
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Binomial name | |
Euphorbia tannensis | |
Subspecies | |
E. tannensis subsp. tannensis |
Euphorbia tannensis is a species of herb or shrub native to Australia and some Pacific islands.
It grows as an erect annual or perennial herb or shrub, from 10 centimetres to a metre in height, with green or yellow flowers.[1] It often appears spindly due to its leaves being deciduous.[2]
This species was first published by Curt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel in 1809, based on a specimen collected by Georg Forster in . In 1977 two species, E. eremophila and E. finlaysonii, were submerged within E. tannensis as E. tannensis var. eremophila and E. tannensis var. finlaysonii respectively, these being treated as varieties of a new subspecies, E. tannensis subsp. eremophila.[2][3]
This species is widespread on the Australian mainland, occurring in every mainland state, though only in the far north-west corner of Victoria (Australia).[2] It is widely reported as occurring only in Australia;[4] yet the type specimen was collected on Tanna in what is now Vanuatu, and it has also been recorded in New Caledonia.[5]