taxonID	type	description	language	source
03B587AFB442FFA8FF37FAC24574F7C9.taxon	description	Occurrences in Europe and the Mediterranean area: Native throughout the Mediterranean-Macaronesian region and south east Europe, but regarded as an introduced species in central Europe namely in Ukraine, Czeck Republic, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal and Baleares according to DAISIE (2008) and Euro + Med (2006 – 2017). Habitat: Rocky ground at valley sides and dry exposed valley beds. First record: Recorded in historical Maltese literature since Zerapha (1827) from urban areas, but it must have been confused with E. serpens (see discussion above). The first substantiated record of E. chamaesyce in natural habitats from Malta is reported in this account from a small valley side near Salini on the 6 th September 2014. Flowering: June – October. Morphological observations: Two varieties are described and mentioned in some local floras (e. g., Haslam et al. 1977): var. chamaesyce and var. massiliensis (DC.) Thellung (1917: 457). They differ in the shape of the nectary glands (see key below) and only var. chamaesyce has been identified from the material examined. Many authors treat these two taxa as synonyms. Chromosome number: 2 n = 42 (Benedì & Orell 1992)	en	Mifsud, Stephen (2018): Contribution to the flora of the Maltese Islands: Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce and Euphorbia exigua s. l. (Euphorbiaceae). Phytotaxa 372 (2): 153-166, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.372.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.372.2.2
03B587AFB442FFA8FF37FF3A454DFAF9.taxon	description	Occurrences in Europe and the Mediterranean area: Israel, Turkey (European part), Aegean islands, Crete, Greece, Germany, Belgium, Italy, France, Corse, Spain, Balearic Islands, Portugal, Azores, Canary Islands (DAISIE 2008, Euro + Med 2006 – 2017). Introduction in Malta: Remote and uncertain, but presumably as a contaminant in soil of imported agricultural and horticultural products in the past. Habitat: Naturalised in urban areas and commony found between flagstones of paved curbs or paved ground in city squares, roadsides, topsoil of traffic islands, public gardens and parks, planters and sometimes in waste ground of urban areas. It is estimated to represent at least 80 % of the Euphorbia spp. in urban areas in Malta. Invasiveness: Widespread and locally invasive in urban areas but least concern for natural habitats where it has not yet been observed to occur else for very casual examples. First record: Not previously recorded, but probably confused with E. chamaesyce since its first report by Zerapha (1827). Previous records of E. chamaesyce from urban areas are most likely to refer to E. serpens. According to the examination of the few voucher specimens of Euphorbia sp. located at [ARG] on February, 2018, it resulted that none corresponded to E. serpens or E. chamaesyce. Flowering: June – December (can persist all year round when winters are mild, as it was observed in the period 2015 – 2016). Morphological observations: Easily identified from its glabrous fruit (the entire plant is glabrous), the unpitted smooth seeds bearing a narrow longitudinal slit and its rooting at the leaf nodes especially if in contact with humid soil. Moreover, their gently curved leaf rachis with numerous, opposite and closely packed, but evenly spaced leaflets which gradually decrease in size up the leaf, form mats of unique elegant symmetrical patterns by which the trained eye could tell the species even without examining finer details of the fruit and seeds. However the length and the leaf arrangement is very variable and consequently exhibit itself in a dimorphic habit; with some examples shifting away from the normal aspect and deceitfully look as an E. chamaesyce owing to a habit with shorter leaves (4 – 5 cm) and with few variably-sized leaflets. However the important diagnostic characters of the fruit, seed and stipules are constant. According to Tison & Foucault (2014) two varieties are recognised; var. serpens with entire deltate stipules, and var. fissistipula Thellung (1907: 755) with lacerated or deeply lobed stipules. In Malta, both varieties occur, and these two taxa do not seem to deserve a separate taxonomic rank (Pignatti 1982, Pahlevani & Riina 2011, Tison et al. 2015, Euro + Med 2006 – 2017). Chromosome number: 2 n = 22 (Benedì & Orell 1992).	en	Mifsud, Stephen (2018): Contribution to the flora of the Maltese Islands: Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce and Euphorbia exigua s. l. (Euphorbiaceae). Phytotaxa 372 (2): 153-166, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.372.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.372.2.2
03B587AFB441FFABFF37FF3A454DFC81.taxon	description	Occurrences in Europe and the Mediterranean area: An alien species occurring throughout entire Europe according to DAISIE (2008) but according to Euro + Med (2006 – 2017) it occurs only in Crete, Ukraine (including Crimea), France, Spain, and Portugal. Introduction in Malta: Imported from horticulture products, namely potted trees and large plants. Given that it has been first recorded by Borg in 1913 (Sommier & Caruana Gatto 1915), it can be assumed that it had been introduced in Malta sometime close to that date. Habitat: Paved curbs and between flagstones in city squares, roadsides, less frequent in public gardens, parks or planters. Naturalised in urban and suburban areas, locally frequent but generally not common. Invasiveness: Spreading readily in urban areas but not alarming - not observed in natural habitats. First record: 1913 by John Borg cited by Sommier & Caruana Gatto (1915) Flowering period: June – November. Morphological observations: The species is well known and distinct by its deep red markings on the leaf, hence the epithet maculata. However this marking gradually disappears in late-growing individuals, typically from October onwards, and is less prominent in plants which are in the shade. Chromosome number: 2 n = 42 (Benedì & Orell 1992).	en	Mifsud, Stephen (2018): Contribution to the flora of the Maltese Islands: Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce and Euphorbia exigua s. l. (Euphorbiaceae). Phytotaxa 372 (2): 153-166, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.372.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.372.2.2
03B587AFB441FFABFF37FCCA4482F9D1.taxon	description	Occurrences in Europe and the Mediterranean area: Throughout most of south Europe (from the Azores and the Canary islands to Crete and Israel) but apparently missing in north Africa and north Europe (Smith & Tutin 1968, Euro + Med 2006 – 2017, DAISIE 2008). Introduction in Malta: Likely through import of potted plants for horticulture purposes. Habitat: Roadsides, curbs and paved ground, naturalising locally in urban areas, scarce, but possibly misidentified with other closely related species such as E. serpens. Invasiveness: Casual occurrence and naturalised locally in few areas but likely increasing where it is found. Invasive potential low, not observed in natural ecosystems. First record: Not previously recorded, with the exception of Weber & Kendzior (2006) who reported it by mistake (illustration in fact shows a glabrous plant of E. serpens). Observed by the present author at Baħar iċ- Ċaghaq on 18 September 2014. Flowering: June – November. Morphological observations: Density of pilosity varies, but always present as a longitudinal band at the corners of the fruit leaving a glabrous area in between. The seeds with 6 – 7 transversal ridges is very distinctive for the species. Chromosome number: 2 n = 18 (Benedì & Orell 1992).	en	Mifsud, Stephen (2018): Contribution to the flora of the Maltese Islands: Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce and Euphorbia exigua s. l. (Euphorbiaceae). Phytotaxa 372 (2): 153-166, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.372.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.372.2.2
03B587AFB441FFAAFF37F99A454DFDE1.taxon	description	Occurrences in Europe and the Mediterranean area: Aegean islands, Greece, Crete, Belgium (Raab-Straube & Raus 2015, Euro + Med 2006 – 2017), NE Sicily (Sciandrello et al. 2016) and Spain (Raab-Straube & Raus 2015). Introduction in Malta: contaminated soil of imported plants or trees used to decorate roads, traffic islands, hotels and public spaces. Habitat: Naturalised in soil for embellishment at roadsides and traffic islands, large planters, outdoor gardens and terraces. So far not observed on or beside curbs or paved ground. Invasiveness: Weakly invasive, spread readily within the area it occurs but it is not able to disperse. Increased records during last three years are likely cases of new introductions. Not yet encountered in natural ecosystems, strictly urban species. First record: The present record (Marsa, October 2009) is the first one for the Maltese islands. Distribution: Scattered individuals in traffic islands (Manuel Dimech Street, Qormi), soil of embellished areas (e. g. il-Menqa, Marsa; Paradise Bay Hotel, Mellieħa) and large potted plants (Dragonara, St. Julians) Flowering: June – December. Morphological observations: Suberect to erect habit with glabrous leaves and flowers. Leaflets variable in shape and of little diagnostic value, ranging from broadly ovate to narrow-lanceolate with a shallowly serrulate margin, usually lacking red markings. It is closely related to E. nutans Lagasca (1816: 17) and possibly confused with it locally, although the presence of both species in Malta is not excluded. E. hypericifolia differs from E. natans in having fruit up to 1.4 mm high and green (1.5 – 2.0 mm reddish or green in E. nutans); completely glabrous (slightly pubescent at the leaf nodes and base of stem in E. nutans) and usually some stipules are deltate and conspicuous (mostly vestigial or linear in E. nutans). Chromosome number: 2 n = 42 (Benedì & Orell 1992).	en	Mifsud, Stephen (2018): Contribution to the flora of the Maltese Islands: Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce and Euphorbia exigua s. l. (Euphorbiaceae). Phytotaxa 372 (2): 153-166, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.372.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.372.2.2
03B587AFB440FFAAFF37FDEA4574FB0D.taxon	description	Occurrences in Europe and the Mediterranean area: Throughout all the Mediterranean region and south Europe including the United Kingdom and Ukraine (Euro + Med 2006 – 2017). Considered as an alien occurrence in Azores and Belgium (Hyde et al. 2017). Habitat: Drift line zone of sand dunes sometimes escaping in sandy soil of neighbouring fields. This species is very rare and facing extinction in Malta where only two sporadic occurrences in two sites have been reported in the last 10 years, one at Ramla tat-Torri in Marfa, Mellieħa by Tabone (2007) and a new population observed by the author in Comino on June, 2012, both of which have not been seen again in the last six years. Maltese populations have been and are greatly disturbed with sand cleaning activities, over-trampling during summer season and illegal sand dune reclamation by operations related to touristic activities as for example that witnessed by the author at Santa Marija Bay, Comino during the end of Spring of 2017. First record: Zerapha (1827) without any location, while Grech Delicata (1853) reports it from Marsaxlokk. Flowering: June – October. Morphological observations: The population examined from Comino shows typical morphological traits. Chromosome number: 2 n = 24 (Benedì & Orell 1992)	en	Mifsud, Stephen (2018): Contribution to the flora of the Maltese Islands: Euphorbia subg. Chamaesyce and Euphorbia exigua s. l. (Euphorbiaceae). Phytotaxa 372 (2): 153-166, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.372.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.372.2.2
