List of Euphorbiaceae of South Africa

Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family, is a large family of flowering plants (anthophytes) in the order Malpighiales. In common English, they are sometimes called euphorbias, which is also the name of a genus in the family. Most spurges are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti because of convergent evolution.

23,420 species of vascular plant have been recorded in South Africa, making it the sixth most species-rich country in the world and the most species-rich country on the African continent. Of these, 153 species are considered to be threatened. Nine biomes have been described in South Africa: Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, desert, Nama Karoo, grassland, savanna, Albany thickets, the Indian Ocean coastal belt, and forests.

The 2018 South African National Biodiversity Institute's National Biodiversity Assessment plant checklist lists 35,130 taxa in the phyla Anthocerotophyta (hornworts (6)), Anthophyta (flowering plants (33534)), Bryophyta (mosses (685)), Cycadophyta (cycads (42)), Lycopodiophyta (Lycophytes(45)), Marchantiophyta (liverworts (376)), Pinophyta (conifers (33)), and Pteridophyta (cryptogams (408)).

47 genera are represented in the literature. Listed taxa include species, subspecies, varieties, and forms as recorded, some of which have subsequently been allocated to other taxa as synonyms, in which cases the accepted taxon is appended to the listing. Multiple entries under alternative names reflect taxonomic revision over time.

Acalypha Genus Acalypha: Acalypha angustata Sond. indigenous Acalypha capensis (L.f.) Prain & Hutch. indigenous Acalypha caperonioides Baill. indigenous Acalypha caperonioides Baill. var. caperonioides, indigenous Acalypha caperonioides Baill. var. galpinii Prain, indigenous Acalypha ciliata Forssk. indigenous Acalypha depressinerva (Kuntze) K.Schum. indigenous Acalypha ecklonii Baill. endemic Acalypha fimbriata Schumach. & Thonn. indigenous Acalypha glabrata Thunb. indigenous Acalypha glabrata Thunb. var. glabrata, indigenous Acalypha glabrata Thunb. var. pilosa Pax, indigenous Acalypha glabrata Thunb. var. pilosior (Kuntze) Prain, accepted as Acalypha glabrata Thunb. var. pilosa Pax, present Acalypha glandulifolia Buchinger ex Meisn. indigenous Acalypha indica L. indigenous Acalypha indica L. var. indica, indigenous Acalypha ornata Hochst. ex A.Rich. indigenous Acalypha peduncularis E.Mey. ex Meisn. indigenous Acalypha pubiflora Baill. indigenous Acalypha pubiflora Baill. subsp. pubiflora, indigenous Acalypha punctata Meisn. indigenous Acalypha punctata Meisn. var. punctata, indigenous Acalypha punctata Meisn. var. rogersii Prain, indigenous Acalypha schinzii Pax, accepted as Acalypha depressinerva (Kuntze) K.Schum. present Acalypha segetalis Mull.Arg. indigenous Acalypha sonderiana Mull.Arg. indigenous Acalypha villicaulis Hochst. indigenous Acalypha wilmsii Pax ex Prain & Hutch. indigenous Acalypha zeyheri Baill. accepted as Acalypha peduncularis E.Mey. ex Meisn. present

Adenocline Genus Adenocline: Adenocline acuta (Thunb.) Baill. indigenous Adenocline pauciflora Turcz. endemic Adenocline violifolia (Kuntze) Prain, endemic

Alchornea Genus Alchornea: Alchornea hirtella Benth. indigenous Alchornea hirtella Benth. forma glabrata (Mull.Arg.) Pax & K.Hoffm. indigenous Alchornea laxiflora (Benth.) Pax & K.Hoffm. indigenous

Aleurites Genus Aleurites: Aleurites moluccana (L.) Willd. not indigenous, naturalised Aleurites moluccana (L.) Willd. var. moluccana, not indigenous, naturalised

Anisophyllum Genus Anisophyllum: Anisophyllum inaequilaterum (Sond.) Klotzsch & Garcke, accepted as Euphorbia inaequilatera Sond. indigenous Anisophyllum mossambicense Klotzsch & Garcke, accepted as Euphorbia mossambicensis (Klotzsch & Garcke) Boiss. indigenous Anisophyllum mundii Klotzsch & Garcke, accepted as Euphorbia inaequilatera Sond. indigenous Anisophyllum setigerum E.Mey. ex Klotzsch & Garcke, accepted as Euphorbia inaequilatera Sond. indigenous Anisophyllum tettense Klotzsch & Garcke, accepted as Euphorbia tettensis Klotzsch, indigenous

Anthacantha Genus Anthacantha: Anthacantha desmetiana Lem. accepted as Euphorbia heptagona L. indigenous

Arthrothamnus Genus Arthrothamnus: Arthrothamnus bergii Klotzsch & Garcke, accepted as Euphorbia burmanni E.Mey. ex Boiss. indigenous Arthrothamnus brachiatus E.Mey. ex Klotzsch & Garcke, accepted as Euphorbia rhombifolia Boiss. indigenous Arthrothamnus burmanii Klotzsch & Garcke, accepted as Euphorbia burmanni E.Mey. ex Boiss. indigenous Arthrothamnus cymosa Klotzsch & Garcke, accepted as Euphorbia tenax Burch. indigenous Arthrothamnus densiflorus Klotzsch & Garcke, accepted as Euphorbia rhombifolia Boiss. indigenous Arthrothamnus ecklonii Klotzsch & Garcke, accepted as Euphorbia tenax Burch. indigenous Arthrothamnus scopiformis Klotzsch & Garcke, accepted as Euphorbia tenax Burch. indigenous

Breynia Genus Breynia: Breynia disticha J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. not indigenous, cultivated, naturalised, invasive

Caperonia Genus Caperonia: Caperonia stuhlmannii Pax, indigenous

Cavacoa Genus Cavacoa Cavacoa aurea (Cavaco) J.Leonard, indigenous

Cephalocroton Genus Cephalocroton: Cephalocroton mollis Klotzsch, indigenous

Chamaesyce Genus Chamaesyce: Chamaesyce glanduligera (Pax) Koutnik, accepted as Euphorbia glanduligera Pax, indigenous Chamaesyce hirta (L.) Millsp. accepted as Euphorbia indica Lam. present Chamaesyce hypericifolia (L.) Millsp. accepted as Euphorbia hypericifolia L. Chamaesyce inaequilatera (Sond.) Sojak, accepted as Euphorbia inaequilatera Sond. present Chamaesyce livida (E.Mey. ex Boiss.) Koutnik, accepted as Euphorbia livida E.Mey. ex Boiss. indigenous Chamaesyce mossambicensis (Klotzsch & Garcke) Koutnik, accepted as Euphorbia mossambicensis (Klotzsch & Garcke) Boiss. indigenous Chamaesyce neopolycnemoides (Pax & K.Hoffm.) Koutnik, accepted as Euphorbia neopolycnemoides Pax & K.Hoffm. indigenous Chamaesyce prostrata (Aiton) Small, accepted as Euphorbia prostrata Aiton, not indigenous, naturalised Chamaesyce serpens (Kunth) Small, accepted as Euphorbia serpens Kunth, not indigenous, naturalised Chamaesyce tettensis (Klotzsch) Koutnik, accepted as Euphorbia tettensis Klotzsch, indigenous Chamaesyce zambesiana (Benth.) Koutnik, accepted as Euphorbia zambesiana Benth. var. zambesiana, indigenous

Chrozophora Genus Chrozophora: Chrozophora plicata (Vahl) A.Juss. ex Spreng. indigenous

Clutia Genus Clutia: Clutia abyssinica Jaub. & Spach, indigenous Clutia abyssinica Jaub. & Spach var. abyssinica, indigenous Clutia affinis Sond. indigenous Clutia africana Poir. endemic Clutia alaternoides L. indigenous Clutia alaternoides L. var. alaternoides, endemic Clutia alaternoides L. var. angustifolia E.Mey. ex Sond. endemic Clutia alaternoides L. var. brevifolia E.Mey. ex Sond. endemic Clutia alpina Prain, endemic Clutia brevifolia Sond. accepted as Clutia polifolia Jacq. present Clutia cordata Bernh. endemic Clutia daphnoides Lam. endemic Clutia disceptata Prain, endemic Clutia dregeana Scheele, endemic Clutia ericoides Thunb. indigenous Clutia ericoides Thunb. var. ericoides, endemic Clutia ericoides Thunb. var. pachyphylla Prain, endemic Clutia ericoides Thunb. var. tenuis Sond. endemic Clutia govaertsii Radcl.-Sm. endemic Clutia heterophylla Thunb. indigenous Clutia hirsuta (Sond.) Mull.Arg. indigenous Clutia hirsuta (Sond.) Mull.Arg. var. hirsuta, indigenous Clutia hirsuta (Sond.) Mull.Arg. var. robusta Prain, endemic Clutia imbricata E.Mey. ex Sond. endemic Clutia impedita Prain, endemic Clutia katharinae Pax, indigenous Clutia laxa Eckl. ex Sond. indigenous Clutia marginata E.Mey. ex Sond. endemic Clutia monticola S.Moore, indigenous Clutia monticola S.Moore var. monticola, indigenous Clutia nana Prain, indigenous Clutia natalensis Bernh. indigenous Clutia ovalis Sond. endemic Clutia platyphylla Pax & K.Hoffm. endemic Clutia polifolia Jacq. endemic Clutia polygonoides L. endemic Clutia pterogona Mull.Arg. endemic Clutia pubescens Thunb. endemic Clutia pulchella L. indigenous Clutia pulchella L. var. franksiae Prain, endemic Clutia pulchella L. var. obtusata Sond. indigenous Clutia pulchella L. var. pulchella, indigenous Clutia rubricaulis Eckl. ex Sond. endemic Clutia rubricaulis Eckl. ex Sond. var. grandifolia Prain, accepted as Clutia rubricaulis Eckl. ex Sond. present Clutia rubricaulis Eckl. ex Sond. var. microphylla Prain, accepted as Clutia rubricaulis Eckl. ex Sond. present Clutia rubricaulis Eckl. ex Sond. var. tenuifolia Prain, accepted as Clutia rubricaulis Eckl. ex Sond. present Clutia sericea Mull.Arg. endemic Clutia thunbergii Sond. indigenous Clutia tomentosa L. endemic Clutia vaccinioides (Pax & K.Hoffm.) Prain, accepted as Clutia govaertsii Radcl.-Sm. present Clutia virgata Pax & K.Hoffm. indigenous

Croton Genus Croton: Croton bonplandianus Baill. not indigenous, naturalised Croton gratissimus Burch. indigenous Croton gratissimus Burch. var. gratissimus, indigenous Croton gratissimus Burch. var. subgratissimus (Prain) Burtt Davy, indigenous Croton madandensis S.Moore, indigenous Croton megalobotrys Mull.Arg. indigenous Croton menyharthii Pax, indigenous Croton pseudopulchellus Pax, indigenous Croton rivularis Mull.Arg. endemic Croton setigerus Hook. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive Croton steenkampianus Gerstner, indigenous Croton sylvaticus Hochst. indigenous Croton zambesicus Mull.Arg. accepted as Croton gratissimus Burch. var. gratissimus, present

Ctenomeria Genus Ctenomeria: Ctenomeria capensis (Thunb.) Harv. ex Sond. accepted as Tragia capensis Thunb. indigenous Ctenomeria cordata Harv. accepted as Tragia capensis Thunb. indigenous

Dactylanthes Genus Dactylanthes: Dactylanthes anacantha (Aiton) Haw. accepted as Euphorbia tridentata Lam. Dactylanthes globosa Haw. accepted as Euphorbia globosa (Haw.) Sims, indigenous Dactylanthes hamata Haw. accepted as Euphorbia hamata (Haw.) Sweet, indigenous Dactylanthes patula (Mill.) Haw. accepted as Euphorbia patula Mill. indigenous Dactylanthes tuberculata (Jacq.) Haw. accepted as Euphorbia caput-medusae L.

Dalechampia Genus Dalechampia: Dalechampia capensis A.Spreng. indigenous Dalechampia galpinii Pax, indigenous Dalechampia scandens L. indigenous Dalechampia scandens L. var. natalensis (Mull.Arg.) Pax & K.Hoffm. indigenous Dalechampia volubilis E.Mey. ex Baill. accepted as Dalechampia scandens L. var. natalensis (Mull.Arg.) Pax & K.Hoffm. present

Erythrococca Genus Erythrococca: Erythrococca berberidea Prain, indigenous Erythrococca menyharthii (Pax) Prain, indigenous Erythrococca natalensis Prain, indigenous Erythrococca trichogyne (Mull.Arg.) Prain, indigenous Erythrococca trichogyne (Mull.Arg.) Prain var. trichogyne, indigenous

Euphorbia Genus Euphorbia: Euphorbia aequoris N.E.Br. accepted as Euphorbia juttae Dinter, indigenous Euphorbia aeruginosa Schweick. indigenous Euphorbia aggregata A.Berger, endemic Euphorbia aggregata A.Berger var. alternicolor (N.E.Br.) A.C.White, R.A.Dyer & B.Sloane, accepted as Euphorbia ferox Marloth, endemic Euphorbia albanica N.E.Br. endemic Euphorbia albertensis N.E.Br. accepted as Euphorbia decepta N.E.Br. endemic Euphorbia albipollinifera L.C.Leach, endemic Euphorbia albovillosa Pax, accepted as Euphorbia gueinzii Boiss. indigenous Euphorbia alternicolor N.E.Br. accepted as Euphorbia ferox Marloth, indigenous Euphorbia amarifontana N.E.Br. accepted as Euphorbia rhombifolia Boiss. endemic Euphorbia anacantha Aiton, accepted as Euphorbia tridentata Lam. Euphorbia angrae N.E.Br. indigenous Euphorbia anoplia Stapf, endemic Euphorbia arabica Steud. & Hochst. ex Boiss. var. latiappendiculata Pax, accepted as Euphorbia neopolycnemoides Pax & K.Hoffm. indigenous Euphorbia arceuthobioides Boiss. accepted as Euphorbia tenax Burch. endemic