| cypress spurge |
USDA PLANTS Symbol: EUCY2 USDA ARS GRIN: 316678 ITIS: 28061 NAPIS: PBVAGBD |
| Euphorbia cyparissias L. | |
|
Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Euphorbiales: Euphorbiaceae |
|
Cypress spurge is a short (up to 12 in. [30.5 cm] tall) herbaceous, perennial plant that invades open disturbed areas throughout the United States. Leaves are small (up to 1 in. [2.5 cm] long), numerous, alternate or whorled, bright green, and linear in shape. Yellow-green, inconspicuous flowers are in a cyme at the top of the plant. Flowers mature to red. All parts of the plant exude a white, milky sap when broken. Cypress spurge produces an extensive underground root system, allowing this plant to reproduce with lateral root buds. It can invade open disturbed areas such as fields, pastures, agricultural land, roadsides, and yards. Cypress spurge reduces the forage value of pastures, contaminates hayfields, and can displace native vegetation. Cypress spurge is native to Europe and western Asia. It was first introduced into the United States in the mid 1800s as an ornamental. |
|
Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
- Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service
- Invasive Plant Atlas of New England - University of Connecticut
- Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States - USDA Forest Service
| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Plant(s); Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); close up of fruiting structure Richard A. Casagrande, University of Rhode Island, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); in flower Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Field; Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Diagram or Graphic; Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 2: 474. USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
Taxonomic References:
- USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Invasive Listing Sources:
- Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
- Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group
- Faith Campbell, 1998. Plants that Hog the Garden: Invasive Plants in the United States. Fine Gardening Online
- Hoffman, R. & K. Kearns, Eds. 1997. Wisconsin manual of control recommendations for ecologically invasive plants. Wisconsin Dept. Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources. Madison, Wisconsin. 102pp.
- John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
- Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2005
- New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, 2004
- Rhode Island Natural History Society,
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- Colorado Noxious Weeds
- Connecticut Noxious Weeds
- Massachusetts Noxious Weeds
Partners
