Family · Rosids
Euphorbiaceae
Spurges, poinsettia, cassava, rubber
Spurge family: diverse plants with milky latex, including poinsettia, rubber tree, cassava and castor oil plant.
- Accepted species
- 6,587accepted names · Kew WCVP
- Genera
- 230accepted genera · Kew WCVP
- Origin
- ≈62 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
- Centre of diversity
- Southern Americamost native species · WGSRPD
Open Euphorbiaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.›
Plants you might know
- Euphorbia (poinsettia)
- Hevea (rubber)
- Ricinus (castor)
- Manihot (cassava)
Largest genera
Euphorbia2,118 spp.
Croton1,129 spp.
Acalypha436 spp.
Macaranga308 spp.
Jatropha178 spp.
Manihot163 spp.
Tragia158 spp.
Dalechampia125 spp.
Mallotus122 spp.
Claoxylon118 spp.
Cnidoscolus93 spp.
Bernardia78 spp.
Argythamnia66 spp.
Trigonostemon60 spp.
Sebastiania56 spp.
Alchornea51 spp.
Erythrococca41 spp.
Mabea39 spp.
Caperonia37 spp.
Excoecaria37 spp.
Cleidion33 spp.
Suregada32 spp.
Ricinocarpos29 spp.
Bertya28 spp.
Stillingia28 spp.
Sapium27 spp.
Gymnanthes26 spp.
Leucocroton26 spp.
Beyeria25 spp.
Plukenetia25 spp.
Chiropetalum24 spp.
Homalanthus23 spp.
Tetrorchidium23 spp.
Microstachys22 spp.
Actinostemon21 spp.
Omphalea20 spp.
Hancea18 spp.
Pycnocoma18 spp.
Argomuellera17 spp.
Codiaeum17 spp.
Bocquillonia16 spp.
Tritaxis16 spp.
Baloghia15 spp.
Conceveiba15 spp.
Astraea13 spp.
Acidocroton12 spp.
Algernonia12 spp.
Blachia12 spp.
Koilodepas12 spp.
Mercurialis12 spp.
Micrococca12 spp.
Amyrea11 spp.
Cnesmone11 spp.
Crotonogyne11 spp.
Endospermum11 spp.
Ptychopyxis11 spp.
Adelia10 spp.
Hevea10 spp.
Blumeodendron9 spp.
Chrozophora9 spp.
The 170 smaller genera are in the interactive tree.
Where it grows
- Southern America2,154
- Africa1,880
- Asia-Tropical1,095
- Northern America872
- Asia-Temperate577
- Australasia272
- Pacific202
- Europe192
Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.
Related families
Euphorbiaceae sits in the order Malpighiales.
- Phyllanthaceaeleaf-flowers2,106
- SalicaceaeWillows, poplars, aspen1,621
- MalpighiaceaeAcerola, barbados cherry1,496
- ViolaceaeViolets, pansies1,309
- PassifloraceaePassionflowers1,083
- ClusiaceaeMangosteen, St John's wort allies910
- OchnaceaeMickey Mouse plant646
- HypericaceaeSt John's wort639
- ChrysobalanaceaeCoco plum548
- Calophyllaceae438
- PodostemaceaeRiverweeds363
- LinaceaeFlax284
- ErythroxylaceaeCoca283
- Putranjivaceae224
- Dichapetalaceaepoison leaf210
- AchariaceaeChaulmoogra180
- RhizophoraceaeMangroves155
- Peraceae107
- Picrodendraceae98
- Humiriaceae67
- ElatinaceaeWaterworts59
- RafflesiaceaeCorpse flower (Rafflesia)50
- Bonnetiaceae38
- Trigoniaceae33