Cyathium

The very special glow flowers ( Pseudanthien ) in the genus Euphorbia (Euphorbia ) are referred to as cyathia. A cyathium consists of

• Five (rarely four) Brakteolen. These are small, grown together bracts ( bracts ) that a bechrige perianth ( involucre, Greek: Serving ) form. Your upper corner are free and cover initially as the central locking a camera, the opening of the Involukrums. With these alternate
• Five ( 1-10 ) nectar glands are sometimes melted.
• One at the bottom of Involukrums centrally placed, extremely reduced female flower, which is surrounded and only a short stalked ovary with stylus is
• Five groups ( a group on the basis of each Brakteole ) extremely reduced male flowers, each consisting of only a single, stalked stamens.

The flower- like character of the cyathia is highlighted by brightly colored nectar glands and often by petal -like ( petaloid ) appendage of nectar nozzles or under the cyathia, brightly colored, petaloid bracts. These replace the missing petals of individual flowers. The paired bracts in subfamily Euphorbia, section Goniostema ( Christ's Thorn - relationship ) are called cyathophylls.

The following cross sections through cyathia illustrate its unusual construction.

Legend:

The cyathia are rarely individually, but usually in cymes, racemes second order in cymes, on dichotomously forked stems or in so-called simple cymes with a central and two lateral cyathium cyathia.

In a group of Malagasy species ( E. aureoviridiflora, E. capmanambatoensis, E. iharanae, E. leuconeura, E. neohumbertii, E. viguieri ) there is a tendency to form from the cymes another Pseudanthium. Probably as an adaptation to pollination by birds, the cyathia have specialized: Most cyathia have upright cyathophylls which encircle protective, make the nectar glands thereby but inaccessible. To compensate stand between them bare, sterile cyathia whose sole purpose is to nectar production.

Gallery

The following photos show examples of common forms of inflorescences, cyathia, and their details.

Inflorescences of Euphorbia stellata in so-called simple cymes. The central cyathia are male, the lateral cyathia in the female stage.

Simple cymes in Euphorbia sepulta with already withered central cyathia

Simple cymes in Euphorbia opuntioides with the lateral buds cyathia in the state.

In Euphorbia attastoma the red cyathia appear individually or in small groups

In Euphorbia mafingensis the horseshoe-shaped fused nectar glands mimic in color and smell carrion. Under the cyathium is a pair of green bracts.

Even with Euphorbia echinulata the striking nectar glands are horseshoe-shaped fused

In Euphorbia globosa the cavity of the Involukrums is clearly visible. The nectar glands bear finger-shaped appendage.

In Euphorbia xanti the red-brown nectar glands have white, petal -like appendages

The crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii ) wears a pair of abducted cyathophylls under the cyathium

Close up of a cyathium of Euphorbia milii. Between the nectar glands protrude beyond the tip of the Brakteolen over the opening of Involukrums.

In Euphorbia neohumbertii the couple cyathophylls is wrapped protectively around the cyathia. Clearly visible are the sterile and bare cyathia, which only serve to nectar production.

The cyathia of the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima ) are surrounded by bright red bracts

The cyathia of Euphorbia pulcherrima carry only one or two lip-shaped nectar glands

The bracts of Euphorbia epithymoides are colored bright yellow

The cyathia of Euphorbia epithymoides are bright yellow

The purple bracts of Euphorbia atropurpurea form a striking contrast to the yellow-green nectar glands

The nectaries of Euphorbia lathyris carry two horn -like extensions

The solstice spurge ( Euphorbia helioscopia ) shows an arrangement of scheindoldiger cyathia

Euphorbia peplus has only short-lived true leaves and consists almost exclusively of the scheindoldigen inflorescence with many bracts

• Inflorescence