cypress spurge
Euphorbia cyparissias
When the plant is attacked, it releases a sticky white latex that can glue the mouthparts of small insects shut.
- Scientific name
- Euphorbia cyparissias
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Malpighiales › Euphorbiaceae › Euphorbia
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Dry, stony grasslands, meadows, and disturbed roadsides with well-drained soil.
- Diet
- Photosynthetic (Sunlight, CO2, and soil nutrients).
- Range
- Europe, North America, Siberia
- Size
- 20 to 40 cm in height
- Lifespan
- Perennial (5-10+ years via rhizomes)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Invasive species management in non-native ranges; habitat loss in native ranges.
- Safe to approach?
- DANGEROUS: Contains a milky latex (sap) that is highly irritating to skin and eyes. Do not pick or break stems. If contact occurs, wash skin immediately with soap and water. If sap enters eyes, flush with water and seek urgent medical attention. Do not ingest.
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.
Photo: Douglas Goldman, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/3915e8dc-d863-412b-9c6a-cb11d10e0e62.md