Euphorbia latifolia Ledeb.

Euphorbia latifolia is similar to E. esula but differs in having broader, elliptic leaves, pedunculate cyathia, glands with obtuse horns, and seeds with differently colored caruncles.

Herbs, perennial, erect, (30-)60-90(-100) cm tall, pale green. Root terete, brown, 15-30 cm × 5-7 mm thick. Stems single or few branched basally, 5-7 mm thick, upper parts many branched, smooth and glabrous; sterile stems present. Leaves alternate; stipules absent; basal scale-leaves many; petiole almost absent; leaf blade broadly elliptic, (2-)4-6.5 × (1-)2-3 cm, base subrounded or cuneate, margin entire [or crenulose at apex], apex rounded; midrib prominent abaxially, lateral veins 11-15 pairs; leaves on sterile branches petiolate, linear-spatulate, 2-4.5 × 0.7-1.5 cm. Inflorescence a terminal pseudumbel, usually also with slender, long pedunculate dichasial cymes from subterminal axils; primary involucral leaves 6-10(-17), similar to normal leaves but smaller, primary rays 6-10(-16), 3-5 cm; cymes twice-forked; cyathophylls 2, ovate-rounded, triangular-ovate, or rounded, 1-1.5 × 1-2 cm, base subtruncate, apex rounded or subrounded. Cyathium stipe short; involucre campanulate, 2-2.5 × 1.5-2 mm, glabrous, lobes ovate-triangular, pilose inside; glands 4, pale brown or brown, crescent-shaped, apex 2-horned, horns obtuse. Bracteoles linear, lacerate. Male flowers many. Female flower: ovary exserted from cup, smooth, glabrous; styles free, persistent; style arms 2-lobed. Capsule ovoid-globose, 4-4.5 × ca. 4 mm, with 3 vertical furrows. Seeds ovoid, 2.5-3 × 1.5-2 mm, yellow-brown; caruncle present, sessile. Fl. and fr. May-Sep.

Xinjiang (Ili He valley, Tacheng) [Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia (Siberia), Tajikistan].

Valleys, meadows, forests, scrub margins; 1000-1500 m.