This proposal on "Leafy Spurges (Euphorbia) of Austria" between Dr. Paul G. Mahlberg of Indiana University Bloomington and Dr. F. Ehrendorfer of the Botanical Garden, University of Austria, Vienna, is jointly approved by NSF and the FWF of Austria under the US- Austria Cooperative Science Program. The investigators will analyze the native spurges of Austria for morphological, chemical, and cytological characters. Dr. Mahlberg will derive extensive data on the taxa of the spurges throughout Austria, while Dr. Ehrendorfer will be able to integrate these data on laticifer composition into his cytotaxonomic studies of the spurges. Dr. Mahlberg hopes to determine the taxonomic affinities of Austrian spurges with those in the US as a prerequisite for an effective proposed biocontrol program to control this weed, now causing significant economic losses in the cattle industry, so that specific predators can be introduced for known populations of host taxa.
