Euphorbia cyparissias

Cypress spurge

Euphorbiaceae Potential hazards — see below 47,138 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Euphorbia cyparissias, the cypress spurge, is a species of plant in the genus Euphorbia. It is native to Europe and was introduced to North America in the 1860s as an ornamental plant. Natural habitat types include dunes, pannes, coastal headlands and grasslands. In North America it is commonly found in the dry, gravelly soil of roadsides, pastures, and meadows. Cypress spurge thrives in open, disturbed areas.

Description

A short hairless herb. It grows 30 cm tall. It has rhizomes and keeps growing from year to year. It often forms tufts. The stems usually branch from the base. The leaves are narrow and crowded. They are alternate and do not have teeth. The leafy shoots are like young pine trees. The flower umbels have 9-18 rays. The bracts are rounded and greenish-yellow. The capsule is 3 mm long. The seeds are grey. Bruce French

Traditional Uses

Caution: All Euphorbias or spurges have irritating sap and many have chemicals that can cause cancer.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

While the roots have sometimes been used as a purgative, it can be poisonous if taken in quantity, and animals can be poisoned by eating hay containing it. Contact with the sap can cause skin reactions.

Distribution

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in grassy and rocky places. It is often on calcareous soils. It is rare at sea level. Tasmania Herbarium.

Where It Grows

Australia, Europe*, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Slovenia, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed or by cuttings.

Notes

There are about 2000 Euphorbia species. Most Euphorbias have sap which irritates the skin.

Also Known As

Cipresasti mleček

References (6)

Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 120
Curtis, W.M., 1993, The Student's Flora of Tasmania. Part 3 St David's Park Publishing, Tasmania, p 632
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 100
Ryan, S., 2008, Dicksonia. Rare Plants Manual. Hyland House. p 102
Sp. pl. 1:461. 1753

Show all 6 references