Page author: David Giblin
Euphorbia peplus
petty spurge
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Weed of disturbed ground.

Flowers: May-November

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, wasps

Description:
General:

Glabrous annual, the stem erect, freely branched, 1-3 dm. tall.

Leaves:

Lower leaves alternate, 1-3 cm. long, rhombic-ovate to rhombic-obovate, narrowed abruptly to very slender petioles 3-10 mm. long; floral leaves opposite, short-petiolate, broadly ovate, 10-25 mm. long.

Flowers:

Inflorescence of cymes terminal on the branches; flowers tiny, monoecious, borne in involucres; staminate flowers numerous, naked, each consisting of a single stamen; pistillate flower single and terminal in the involucre; involucres 1-1.5 mm. long, bearing 4 glands with long, slender horns.

Fruits:

Capsule smooth, 2.5 mm. long, separating into three 1-seeded segments.

Accepted Name:
Euphorbia peplus L.
Publication: Sp. Pl. 1: 456. 1753.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
(none provided)
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Euphorbia peplus in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.

WA Flora Checklist: Euphorbia peplus checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Euphorbia peplus information.

E-Flora BC: Euphorbia peplus atlas page.

CalPhotos: Euphorbia peplus photos.

USDA Plants: Euphorbia peplus information.

19 photographs:
Group by