Rosy-pink or scrub spurge Rosy-pink or scrub spurge

Herbs, perennial, with thickened rootstock. Stems erect or ascending, 15–45 cm. Leaves: petiole indistinct, blade narrowly elliptic, elliptic, narrowly oblong, or obovate, 25–55 × 5–21 mm, thick and fleshy, base attenuate, apex acute or mucronulate; only midvein evident. Cyathial arrangement: terminal pleiochasial branches 3, 7–16 cm, 4–7 times 2-branched; pleiochasial bracts ovate to oblong, 17–31 × 13–14 mm, margins entire, apex acute, often also mucronulate; dichasial bracts ovate or lanceolate, 6–18 × 8–12 mm, margins entire, apex acute, often also mucronate; axillary cymose branches 1–2. Cyathia: peduncle 3.9–6.8 mm. Involucre obconic to campanulate, 2.4–3.6 × 2.5–3.6 mm, lobes ovate to oblong, 0.7–1 mm, ciliate; glands green to yellow, oblong or trapezoidal, 0.9–1.7 × 1.9–2.5 mm, distal margins crenulate-erose. Staminate flowers 25. Pistillate flowers: mature gynophore not seen, styles connate 1/2 length, 3.3–3.6 mm. Mature capsules not seen. Seeds not seen.

Flowering and fruiting spring–summer, rarely fall. Xeric oak and pine scrub, mostly on white sands, disturbed habitats; of conservation concern; 20–50 m; Fla.

Euphorbia rosescens is a narrow-endemic, gap-specialist known only from the southern portion of the Lake Wales Ridge in Highlands County. Based on leaf characteristics, it appears to be most similar to E. telephioides.