Cypress Spurge

(Euphorbia cyparissias)

 

Color Photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias)

Alien: Native of Europe.

Identification: Flowers small and inconspicuous, contained in a pair of oval green to yellow bracts at the top of the plant. Ovary not hanging from a thin stem. Flower clustered like a cluster of minute plates. Stem with milky sap. Leaves narrow, elongate, closely packed, suggesting a pine tree or other conifer. Plant 0.5 to 1 foot in height.

Distribution: Throughout North America except for the south-central and southwestern states.

Habitat: Cypress Spurge is a weed found in disturbed habitats such as roadsides, vacant lots, and fields.

Flowering period: April to August.

Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias)

Similar Species:

Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula)

The collection of little green, platelike flowers, and the packed, linear leaves are distinctive.

Similar Species