Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Euphorbia cyparissias
cypress spurge
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring in scattered locations on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east across much of North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Roadsides, fields, ditches, wastelots, and other disturbed areas where often escaped from cultivation.

Flowers: May-August

Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, wasps

Description:
General:

Glabrous perennial, the stems 1.5-3 dm. tall, simple below but freely branched above.

Leaves:

Leaves alternate, the lower ones linear, 1-3 cm. long and 1-3 mm. broad; leaves of the axillary upper branches more numerous and narrower.

Flowers:

Inflorescence a many-rayed umbel, the floral bracts broadly ovate-cordate, 12-16 mm. long; 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 about 3 mm. long, bearing 4 reddish-green, horned glands.

Fruits:

Capsules finely warty, separating into three 1-seeded segments.

Accepted Name:
Euphorbia cyparissias L.
Publication: Sp. Pl. 1: 461. 1753.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
(none provided)
Additional Resources:

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

WA Flora Checklist: Euphorbia cyparissias checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Euphorbia cyparissias information.

E-Flora BC: Euphorbia cyparissias atlas page.

CalPhotos: Euphorbia cyparissias photos.

USDA Plants: Euphorbia cyparissias information.

6 photographs:
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