Euphorbia granulata Forssk. (Euphorbiaceae): A new distributional record for the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India

 Corresponding author: E Srinivas Reddy Copyright © 2025 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0. Euphorbia granulata Forssk. (Euphorbiaceae): A new distributional record for the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India E Srinivas Reddy 1, * and V Madhu 2 1 SRTM University Nandeds Late Shri Uttamrao Rathod Tribal Development & Research Centre, Kinwat, District Nanded, Maharashtra, India. 2 Government Degree college, Echoda, District Adilabad Telangana, India. World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2025, 21(02), 155–157 Publication history: Received on 20 December 2024; revised on 31 January 2025; accepted on 02 February 2025 Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjbphs.2025.21.2.0119 Abstract The present paper deals with a new addition of taxa of flowering plant for the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India. Updated information on nomenclature, correct description and locality is provided. This is a new additional record for this area. Keywords: Euphorbia granulata; Euphorbiaceae; new distributional; Marathwada region; Maharashtra 1. Introduction Euphorbia is a very large and diverse genus of flowering plants, commonly called spurge, in the family Euphorbiaceae. "Euphorbia" is sometimes used in ordinary English to collectively refer to all members of Euphorbiaceae, not just to members of the genus (1). Euphorbias range from tiny annual plants to large and long-lived trees, (2) with perhaps the tallest being Euphorbia ampliphylla at 30 m (98 ft) or more, (3 and 4). The genus has roughly 2,000 members (5 and 6), making it one of the largest genus of flowering plants (7). It also has one of the largest ranges of chromosome counts, along with Rumex and Senecio (8). Euphorbia antiquorum is the type species for the genus Euphorbia (9). It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 in Species Plantarum. Worldwide distribution of Euphorbia granulata Forssk is from Africa East Tropical Africa Kenya, Tanzania, Macaronesia Canary and Cape Verde. Northeast Tropical Africa Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Socotra, Somalia, Sudan, Northern Africa Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Western Sahara, West Tropical Africa Mali, Mauritania and Niger.AsiaTemperate Arabian Peninsula Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Caucasus Transcaucasus, China Xinjiang. Middle Asia Kazakhstan, Kirgizistan, Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Western Asia Afghanistan Iran, Iraq, LebanonSyria, Palestine, Sinai. AsiaTropical Indian Subcontinent Bangladesh, India and Pakistan (10). 2. Material and methods During the floristic survey of Nanded District of Marathwada region, Maharasthra State, India, the plants of interest including the members of Euphorbiaceae were collected. During explorations the focus has been given on the species of Euphorbia. All available species of Euphorbia were brought to the laboratory and identified with the help of available flora and other literature, while going through the cross examination with the other species of Euphorbia, the specimen identified as Euphorbia granulata Forssk. Scrutiny of literatures revealed that this species has been so far reported from World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2025, 21(02), 155–157 156 Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh states from India (11). The critical revise of this specimen and pertinent literatures (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20) and (21). Exposed that the identity of the specimen as E. granulata Forssk. 3. Results and discussion 3.1. Taxonomic Description Herb ephemeral, 6-13 cm tall; indumentum with very short stiff erect hairs. Root fibrous, 0.5-3 mm thick. Stems usually unbranched, occasionally branched at end, usually woody at base, many from base, ascending or prostrate, 2-3 mm thick, internodes conspicuous, glabrous or pilose. Leaves opposite; stipules persistent; petiole extremely short; leaf blade subelliptic, 3-6 × 2-4 mm, glabrous on both surfaces or subglabrous, base extremely obliquely auriculate, margin entire or serrulate, apex rounded. Cyathia single, axillary, peduncle almost absent; involucre turbinate, ca. 1.5 × 1.5-2 mm, white pilose, marginal lobes 5, very small, subtruncate; glands 4, appendages white and unequal, narrow adaxially, but wider than glands abaxially, ca. 2-4 × as wide as gland, irregular, concave or repand. Male flowers many, usually not exserted. Female flower: pedicel long, exserted from involucre; ovary pilose or not; styles very short; stigma ± 2lobed. Capsule 3-angular, ca. 1.5 × 1-1.5 mm, smooth, sometimes pilose. Seeds tetragonal, ca. Figure 1 Habit and flower of Euphorbia granulata Forssk • Flowering & Fruiting: January • Distribution: The native range of this species is N. & • E. Africa, SW. & Central Asia to Indian Subcontinent. • Specimens Examined: Campus area of SRTMU Nandeds Late Shri Uttamrao Rathod Tribal Development and Research Center Kinwat District Nanded Maharashtra State, India. • G. P. S. Location: N “19.5972980, E 78.2080570 • Collected by: E. Srinivas Reddy on dated 8 th January 2016. (Voucher No. 258). 3.2. Medicinal uses The latex is used internally to expel intestinal worms, and externally to treat snakebites and scorpion stings. In Saudi Arabia the latex is taken as a purgative, anthelmintic and diuretic, as well as for its blood purifying properties 4. Conclusion On site studies are necessary to validate the pharmacological properties of the Euphorbia granulate Forssk and its potential therapeutic applications. World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2025, 21(02), 155–157 157 Compliance with ethical standards Acknowledgments The authors express their deep gratitude to Late Dr. Omprakash Rathor, Ex-Principal of Science College, Nanded and Principal & Staff of Government Degree College, Echoda, References [1] "Definition of Euphorbia". Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, Inc. Retrieved 1 Feb 2019. [2] "Euphorbia". Fine Gardening. The Taunton Press, Inc. [3] Brenan, J.P.M.; Greenway, P.J. (1949). Check-lists of the Forest Trees and Shrubs of the British Empire #5 - Tanganyika Territory. Oxford, England: Imperial Forestry Institute. p. 214 (part 2). [4] Flora of China @ efloras.org. [5] Hargreaves, Bruce (n.d.). "Euphorbia ingens in Malawi...etc". Euphorbia Journal. 7: 78 plus diagram p. 63. [6] "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP)". Kew Science. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 16 Apr 2011. [7] "Euphorbia PBI - Project Description". 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