Page author: David Giblin
Euphorbia virgata
wolf's milk, leafy spurge
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Noxious weed of disturbed soils

Flowers: May-June

Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bees, wasps

Description:
General:

Perennial from sturdy rhizomes, the stems 2-9 dm. tall, erect, simple below but freely and umbellately branched above, glaucous and usually glabrous.

Leaves:

The main cauline leaves alternate, oblong to linear-oblanceolate, entire, 2-6 cm. long and 2-8 mm. broad, sessile; lower leaves scale-like; floral leaves very broadly cordate-ovate, 12-16 mm. long.

Flowers:

Inflorescence of terminal cymes 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 2-3 mm. long, bearing 4 brownish-green glands with short, divergent horns.

Fruit:

Capsule nearly smooth, separating into three 1-seeded segments.

Accepted Name:
Euphorbia virgata Waldst. & Kit.
Publication: Descr. Icon. Pl. Hung. 2: 176–177, pl. 162. 1804.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Euphorbia esula L., misapplied [HC]
Additional Resources:

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

WA Flora Checklist: Euphorbia virgata checklist entry

OregonFlora: Euphorbia virgata information

E-Flora BC: Euphorbia virgata atlas page

CalPhotos: Euphorbia virgata photos

31 photographs:
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