Order Euphorbiales

Order Euphorbiales

The largest family in Order Euphorbiales is the Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae), which has about 7,500 species, mostly growing in tropical parts of the world. This Order includes economically important plants like Rubber Hevea brasiliensis and Cassava, which has a starch-rich root used as food in some areas. Some members of Euphorbiales yield valuable oils or medicines. Flowers are often in tight clusters surrounded by showy leaf-like structures (bracts) so that the group of small flowers with the petal-like bracts looks like a single bloom. [CH] {EN}