Publication details
Pryšec zapeklitý (Euphorbia saratoi) v České republice
| Title in English | Euphorbia saratoi in the Czech Republic |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Zprávy České botanické společnosti |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://botanospol.cz/cs/zpravy-cbs |
| Keywords | Euphorbia sect. Esula; Euphorbiaceae; neophyte; new records; phytogeography |
| Description | Euphorbia saratoi, a perennial member of Euphorbia sect. Esula, closely resembling E. esula and E. virgata, has often been misidentified or regarded as a hybrid of these two species. The morphological characters described as diagnostic in the literature were tested on plants collected in the Czech Republic. While the hexaploid species E. saratoi and E. esula can generally be distinguished based on morphology, the characters separating E. saratoi and E. virgata are subtle, making identification of some specimens uncertain. Flow cytometry provides a valuable tool for this purpose: E. virgata is diploid, with a genome size of 1.3–1.4 pg, whereas E. saratoi is hexaploid, with a genome size of 3.7–3.9 pg. Examination of herbarium specimens and field research in the Czech Republic confirmed its recent and past occurrence at 128 localities. Euphorbia saratoi grows predominantly in man-made habitats such as railway lines and stations, roadsides, urban waste sites, and stone quarries and its surroundings. It occurs scattered throughout the Czech Republic, from the lowlands to middle elevations. The earliest unambiguous record dates to 1904, but undated herbarium specimens from the isle of Štvanice in Prague and the vicinity of the town of Náměšť nad Oslavou probably originate from the 1850s or 1860s. At some sites, this species has persisted for a long time. It should therefore be considered a naturalised neophyte in the flora of this country. |