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| leaves and inflorescences--What is the leaf shape here? Also, notice the toothed margins. | inflorescence closeup--in the genus Euphorbia, there is a special kind of inflorescence called a cyathium, which resembles a perfect flower, but actually is composed of separate male and female flowers. Also, notice the lobing on the young fruits. In the Euphorbiaceae, most species have a three-lobed fruit very similar to the ones you see here. |
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| In this species, the leaves nearest the cyathia often develop white (and sometimes reddish) centers. What function might this serve? | more cyathia, with developing fruits |