Mid-Atlantic Invaders Tool

cypress spurge

Euphorbia cyparissias

L.

Taxon, Habit: Plant, Forb

Habitat: Terrestrial

U.S. Nativity: Introduced

Species Synonym(s): None

Common Name(s): None

Family: Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family)

Family Synonym(s): None

Native Range (GRIN):

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Plant

Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control

Fruit

Richard A. Casagrande, University of Rhode Island

Flower

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

Plant

Steve Dewey, Utah State University

Flower

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

Flower

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

Plant

Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control

Fruit

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

Field

Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control

Root

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut

Plant

USDA NRCS PLANTS Database , USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Description

Appearance
Euphorbia cyparissias grows up to 12 in. (30.5 cm) tall. This herbaceous, perennial plant invades open disturbed areas throughout the United States. All parts of the plant exude a white, milky sap when broken.
Foliage
The leaves are small, up to 1 in. (2.5 cm) long. The leaves are numerous, alternate or whorled, bright green, and linear in shape.
Flowers
Yellow-green, inconspicuous flowers are in a cyme at the top of the plant. Flowers mature to red.
Fruit
The fruit is three lobed and contains 1-3 egg shaped smooth gray seeds that measure 0.06-0.08 in. (1.5-2 mm). Euphorbia cyparissias produces large clonal colonies through an extensive underground root system, that allows this plant to reproduce with lateral root buds.
Ecological Threat
Euphorbia cyparissias can invade open disturbed areas such as fields, pastures, agricultural land, roadsides, and yards. It is toxic to livestock so infestations reduce the forage value of pastures and contaminates hayfields. It can form huge infestations displacing native vegetation. This plant is native to Europe and western Asia. It was first introduced into the United States in the mid 1800s as an ornamental.

Uses

Landscape Ornamental Use (GRIN): Yes

All Uses (GRIN): Ornamental, Potential seed contaminant

Distribution Map (EDDMapS)

Wetland Indicator

Summary: cypress spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias) is a Terrestrial species.

Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain (AGCP):

Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain regions

No Data

Eastern Mountains and Piedmont (EMP):

Mid-Atlantic Piedmont and Mountain regions

No Data

Northcentral and Northeast (NCNE):

Northern parts of PA and NJ (and beyond)

No Data


Legend (data from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

OBL (Obligate wetland): Almost always occurs in wetlands (estimated probability > 99%) under natural conditions

FACW (Facultative wetland): Usually occurs in wetlands (estimated probability 67% - 99%), but occasionally found in non-wetlands

FAC (Facultative): Equally likely to occur in wetlands (estimated probability 34% - 66%) or non-wetlands

FACU (Facultative upland): Usually occur in non-wetlands (estimated probability 67% - 99%), but occasionally found in wetlands (estimated probability 1% - 33%)

UPL (Obligate upland): Occur almost always (estimated probability > 99%) in non-wetlands under natural conditions

Taxonomic Rank

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Euphorbiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Euphorbia
Subject: Euphorbia cyparissias L.

Resources