Euphorbia cyparissias L., cypress spurge, euphorbe cyprès
Perennial, with underground rootstocks; most patches are
sterile, and are very small, isolated, and spreading slowly; a
few infestations, composed of fertile plants that set seed,
become quite extensive; stems up to 1 foot (3 dm.) high;
flowering inflorescences yellow; throughout most of our range,
but most common in southeastern Quebec, southern Ontario, and
southward into the eastern United States; roadsides, waste
places, pastures, and open woods; often an escape from older
cemeteries; introduced from Europe as an ornamental.
Euphorbia esula L., leafy spurge, euphorbe ésule
Perennial, spreading mainly by its persistent, vertical and
horizontal underground roots, and much less by seed; stems
erect, from 1 to 3 feet (3 to 9 dm.) high; flowering
inflorescences from green to yellow; locally common throughout
most of our area, particularly the mid-west; widespread, often
very localized; a serious weed in native prairie and rangeland
in the mid-west; grain fields, meadows, pastures, prairie,
rangeland, roadsides, and waste places; introduced from Europe
and Asia.
The milky juice of both of these spurges can cause a dermatitis
in humans. Photosensitization, causing poisoning and death has
occurred in animals after eating these spurges. However, most
poisoning occurs when animals eat contaminated hay. Grazing
animals usually avoid plants growing in the field.
Click on a photo to view an enlarged image.
Weed Name
Photo
Weed Name
Photo
cypress spurge, euphorbe cyprès
cypress spurge, euphorbe cyprès
cypress spurge, euphorbe cyprès (stems from underground rootstocks)
leafy spurge, euphorbe ésule
leafy spurge, euphorbe ésule
leafy spurge, euphorbe ésule (stems from underground rootstocks)
.JPG)