Seedling
Cotyledons elliptic, hairless. True leaves also elliptic, arranged in spirals (alternate) around stems, hairless.
Mature plant
Stems erect, branched, in clups forming extensive stands, up to 3 feet high at maturity. Stems smooth, hairless, all plant parts contain a milky juice.
Leaves alternate arranged spirally on stems, if corwded appearing opposite. Linear, narrowing at the base, 1 to 3 inches long, narrow, smooth edges, hairless, without stalks. Whorled leaves at stem tips under umbels of flowers. Leaves blue-green up to flowering, then yellowish-green to reddish-green.
Root structure description
Deep, horizontal and vertical, creeping roots. New shoots are produced from buds on roots.
Post senescene
Greenish-yellow, inconspicous, in umbrella-like umbles or scattered along the stems. Flowers are among pairs of floral bracts which are leaf-like, round, with pointed tips. Flowers June and July, with sometimes a second flowering period in September. Seeds in a yellowish cup that explodes when dry, throwing seed several feet.
