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Weed Gallery

Euphorbia

The flower parts of the Euphorbiaceae family are complex. What looks like a flower petal is made up of the nectar gland and the gland appendage.  The nectar glands attract and reward insects to pollinate.  From the center of the "flower" a single, 3 lobed pod grows out on a stem.  Be careful.  Many Euphorbs have a milky sap that can irritate your skin.

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family

Snow-on-the-Mountain Euphorbia marginata

Each "flower" is 1/4"-3/8" wide, generally 4 large white appendages and one small one.  Clusters of "flowers" are surrounded by bract leaves with white margins making the clusters look 3"-4" wide.  Three lobed seed pod grows out of center of "flower".  Plant 2-6 feet tall.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, July 2004

(Native of Texas)

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family

Poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima

This plant is common at Christmas time.  The large colorful "petals" are actually bracts and can be red, pink, or white.  They surround the small flowers clustered in the center.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, December 2005

(Purchased, native of Mexico)

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family

(one of the many Euphorbia) **zz 21** Scientific Name

Flowers" are about 3/16" wide.  Green nectar glands turn red with age.  Large white gland appendages have scalloped edges.  Three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of the "flower".  Leaves are long and about as thick as the stem.  Broom-like plant grows to about 18" tall.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, July 2004 & May 2005

(Native ?)

Most plants have branches starting 3 cm above the ground.  A few had multiple branches starting at the base.  None in between.

Hunting Similar Species

Very similar   Wright's Spurge Euphorbia wrightii

The key for E. wrightii has multiple branches at ground level.

(Native of Texas)

Height: of the plant is 20-50 cm.  Broom-like perennial with slender stems and branches, ascending.  More than one stem at ground level.

Leaf: blades linear (more than twice as long as broad) with tiny, red, gland-like stipules.

Leaves: at top of plant longer than subtended peduncles

Inflorescence (cyathia): borne in forks of leaves.  Appendages, one per gland.  Blooms spring and summer.

Habitat: calcareous or sandy uplands of western half of Texas

not  Sixangle Spurge Euphorbia hexagona

20" tall, main stem is thicker than others.  Leaves are very thin, clustered near ends.  Green flowers and fruit at ends of stems.

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family

Warty Spurge (Spoonleaf Spurge, Netseed Spurge) Euphorbia spathulata

Flowers are about 1/16" wide.  Bumpy, three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of the flower.  Longest leaves are about 1/4" long.  Plant shown is about 5" tall but can grow to about 2 feet tall.  As the plant grows taller, the lower leaves become larger and are broader near apex (spatulate), like a spatula or a spoon.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2005

(Native of Texas)

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family

Toothed Spurge Euphorbia dentata

These are end of season photos, so the plant isn't at its best.  Leaf arrangement and flower placement reminds me of a green poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima).  "Flowers" are about 1/16" wide with "hairy" white appendages.  "Flowers" are clustered at the top of the stem.  Three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of flower, matte green, about 3/16" wide.  Leaves are variable, up to 3" long but can be ovate or lanceolate, margins blunt teeth.  Plant grows to about 24" tall.

Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, October 2005

(Native of Texas)

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family

(one of the many Euphorbia) **zz 27** Scientific Name

Flowers" are about 1/16" wide on peduncle.  The nectar glands are small, greenish-brown with large white appendages that are not scalloped.   Three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of flower, green with a red blush.  "Flower" base and stems are red.  Longest leaves are about 1/2" long with toothed edge that is tinted red.  Plant shown about 8" tall.

Photo taken in Coleman County, Texas, September 2005

(Native of Texas)

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