Family: Euphorbiaceae
leafy spurge, wolf's-milk
[Euphorbia esula , more...]
Christopher Noll
Aaron Carlson
Bell Museum
Etymology: Euphorbia: for Euphorbus, corpulent Greek physician of Juba II, King of Mauretania. Juba, educated in Rome, and married to daughter of Antony and Cleopatra. From eu, "good" and phorbe, "pasture or fodder," thus giving euphorbos the meaning "well fed."
Plants: erect, perennial, 12"-28" tall, usually hairless forb, milky white sap that can cause skin rashes; stems with usually 7-15 alternate, flowering branches below the main umbel; colony-forming roots to 15' deep
Leaves: bluish-green; alternate stem leaves linear to lance-like; those below the flower umbel shorter and wider, becoming oval
Flowers: green to yellow, no petals or sepals, upper leaves petal-like; inflorescence a 5" wide umbel with opposite leaves; blooms May-Sept.
Habitat: sun; dry; disturbed sites; in light soil
Hazardous: Careful, this plant is hazardous!
Invasiveness: Restricted Invasive - Eradicate!
Conservation Status: Introduced - naturalized; ecologically invasive and noxious weed
Plants: erect, perennial, 12"-28" tall, usually hairless forb, milky white sap that can cause skin rashes; stems with usually 7-15 alternate, flowering branches below the main umbel; colony-forming roots to 15' deep
Leaves: bluish-green; alternate stem leaves linear to lance-like; those below the flower umbel shorter and wider, becoming oval
Flowers: green to yellow, no petals or sepals, upper leaves petal-like; inflorescence a 5" wide umbel with opposite leaves; blooms May-Sept.
Habitat: sun; dry; disturbed sites; in light soil
Hazardous: Careful, this plant is hazardous!
Invasiveness: Restricted Invasive - Eradicate!
Conservation Status: Introduced - naturalized; ecologically invasive and noxious weed
Invasive And Exotic Species of North America: Descriptions, management issues, warnings, photos, etc. WIS DNR-Bureau of Endangered Resources: Detailed information on Wisconsin invasive species including decription, habitats, control methods Atlas of the Wisconsin Prairie and Savanna Flora: by T.S. Cochrane & H.H. Iltis: habitat, distribution infomation / flowering and fruiting times USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos University of Wisconsin - Green Bay: Invasive Plants: Photos, descriptions, information Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas: Descriptions, photos, management help, etc.
Aaron Carlson
Steve C. Garske
Steve C. Garske
Robert Bierman
Keir Morse
Kenneth J. Sytsma
Steve C. Garske
Derek Anderson
Steve C. Garske
Steve C. Garske
Christopher Noll
Christopher Noll
Christopher Noll
Derek Anderson
Kurt Stüber
Botanical Illustration
