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Euphorbia in Southern Africa - Volume 1 (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2022)
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Euphorbia in Southern Africa - Volume 1 (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2022)
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This book presents a new account of Euphorbia in southern Africa.
Euphorbia is the second largest genus of plants in the world.
Southern Africa enjoys a high diversity in Euphorbia and 170
species occur here naturally. Of these 170 species, 128 or 74% are
endemic. Where most species of Euphorbia in the northern hemisphere
are herbs or shrubs, most of those in southern African are
succulent. These succulents range from small, almost geophytic
forms where the tuber is larger than the above-ground parts to huge
trees 6 to 15 m or more in height. Many of them are spiny. There
are also small numbers of herbaceous species in southern Africa and
many of these are also dealt with here. The last account of the
succulent species for southern Africa was published in 1941 and
much new data has accumulated since then. Our understanding of the
relationships of the species in Euphorbia has also been greatly
enhanced by recent analyses of DNA-data, which led to new and
unexpected results. From this new information an entirely new
classification was developed, in which Euphorbia was divided into
four subgenera. This provides the taxonomic framework for the
presentation of our species here. Around ten new species have been
described and these are presented in detail for the first time.
This monograph is made up of two volumes. Volume 1 contains an
extensive introductory chapter with an overview of the genus in the
region, emphasizing many of its important and distinctive features.
This is followed by Chapter 2, which deals with subgenus Athymalus.
Of the four subgenera, this one is by far the most diverse in
southern Africa, with 80 species. Volume 2 contains Chapters 3
(subg. Chamaesyce, 34 species), 4 (subg. Esula, 11 species) and 5
(subg. Euphorbia, 45 species), as well as an additional Chapter 6
covering the remarkable diversity of subg. Euphorbia in Mocambique.
Each of Chapters 2 to 5 includes a key to all the species, followed
by an account of each of them. This account includes synonymy, a
description, data on distribution and habitat, line-drawings of
floral features and other diagnostic details, notes on how the
species is distinguished from its closest relatives and a brief
history of its discovery. Several colour photographs are included
for each species, illustrating its habitat, vegetative habit and
flowering features, demonstrating key points distinguishing it from
others and often showing its variability. Euphorbia is an important
component of the vegetation in many of the drier parts of southern
Africa. This book is based on a thorough evaluation of the vast
herbarium record for southern African members of Euphorbia, on the
extensive field-work conducted in the region and the wide taxonomic
experience of the author. It is believed that both the professional
botanist and the layman will find much that is new and informative
in this monograph.
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