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Which Euphorbia are dioiceous?

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 10:19 am
by mmcavall
Euphorbia obesa is a dioiceous species, which means that male and female flowers occur in separate plants (there are male plants and female plants).

Are there other dioiceous species in Euphorbia?

Where can I find this info?

I am particularly curious about E. stellispina , E. corrida, E. inermis and E. schoenlandii.

So any info about these species would also be great.

Thanks in advance

Re: Which Euphorbia are dioiceous?

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 10:34 am
by Aiko
E. bupleurifolia. I believe this one can even change sex. One of my plants have done so, if I remembered well. They don't flower easily for me, and I don't have this particular plant anymore to check up on this in future flowerings, unfortunately.

Re: Which Euphorbia are dioiceous?

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 10:41 am
by Aloinopsis
Euphorbia stellispina is definitely dioecious.

Re: Which Euphorbia are dioiceous?

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 10:43 am
by mmcavall
Aiko wrote: Sat Jul 06, 2019 10:34 am E. bupleurifolia. I believe this one can even change sex. One of my plants have done so, if I remembered well. They don't flower easily for me, and I don't have this particular plant anymore to check up on this in future flowerings, unfortunately.
Thank you Aiko.
E. bupleurifolia is in the dream list...what a beautiful species! Interesting this about changing sex...

Do you have the species I mentioned above? Are all they monoicous? Thank you again

Re: Which Euphorbia are dioiceous?

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 10:46 am
by mmcavall
Aloinopsis wrote: Sat Jul 06, 2019 10:41 am Euphorbia stellispina is definitely dioecious.
Thank you Aloinopsis! I have five of that and considering swap one with a friend (he would give me an E. knuthii). I was afraid to end up with only males or females.

They are flowering already (the stellispinas) but I have never tried to pollinate them...maybe I should...(any tips?).
Thank you!

Re: Which Euphorbia are dioiceous?

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 10:48 am
by Aloinopsis
I pollinate all of my Euphorbias with forceps. I just pluck the male cyathia completely off and rub it gently on the female cyathia.

I don't use a brush anymore because they don't produce much pollen to begin with, and a brush always manages to retain some of it.

I have also found that by plucking off the entire male cyathia it usually stimulates the plant to produce another one whereas using a brush to take only the pollen itself may not.

Re: Which Euphorbia are dioiceous?

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 12:17 pm
by mmcavall
Aloinopsis wrote: Sat Jul 06, 2019 10:48 am I pollinate all of my Euphorbias with forceps. I just pluck the male cyathia completely off and rub it gently on the female cyathia.

I don't use a brush anymore because they don't produce much pollen to begin with, and a brush always manages to retain some of it.

I have also found that by plucking off the entire male cyathia it usually stimulates the plant to produce another one whereas using a brush to take only the pollen itself may not.
Interesting. I think I must start with knowing to recognize male and female cyathia...

Re: Which Euphorbia are dioiceous?

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 1:00 pm
by Aloinopsis
Here are a couple of my obesa examples.

Most of them look pretty similar across species. It's easier to compare them when you have both right in front of you.

Females have 3 "little yellow things" Each of which will turn into a seed if it is fertilized. Males have a lot of "tiny yellow things."

Males' sexual parts are more loosely attached because they fall off a lot sooner (ouch!) but females stay on for weeks or months as they ripen.

Re: Which Euphorbia are dioiceous?

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 4:48 pm
by mmcavall
Aloinopsis wrote: Sat Jul 06, 2019 1:00 pm Here are a couple of my obesa examples
Just perfect! Thank you very much!

Re: Which Euphorbia are dioiceous?

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 4:51 pm
by Aloinopsis
You're welcome! It's one of those things that seems simple but if you don't have plants right beside you to compare, it can get kind of confusing.

I have actually heard of rare male Euphorbia obesa that have occassional female flowers and are receptive to other males' pollen (gynodioecy) but I have never seen it first-hand.

Re: Which Euphorbia are dioiceous?

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 8:26 am
by kak tus
Frank Vincentz's site should be useful: www.euphorbia.de.

I believe my E. tubiglans changed sex too but I have not successfully hand-pollinated my Euphorbias thus far :(

Re: Which Euphorbia are dioiceous?

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 10:06 am
by mmcavall
kak tus wrote: Mon Jul 08, 2019 8:26 am Frank Vincentz's site should be useful: www.euphorbia.de.

I believe my E. tubiglans changed sex too but I have not successfully hand-pollinated my Euphorbias thus far :(
Thank you, very good site, thanks for sharing!