Euphorbia esula L.

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Euphorbiaceae

• Scientific Name

  Euphorbia esula L.

• Description

  Species Description - Strong-rooted, vigorously colonial perennial, erect, 3–7 dm, glabrous, usually with numerous alternate flowering branches below the umbel; cauline lvs linear to lance-linear or narrowly oblanceolate, mostly 3–8 cm × 3–8 mm, obtuse to mucronate, essentially 1-nerved, the lateral veins very obscure, leaving the midrib at an angle of 15–35°; lvs subtending the umbel shorter and broader, lanceolate to ovate, those of the umbel opposite, broadly cordate or reniform; rays of the primary umbel mostly 7–15; fr 3–3.5 mm, finely granular; seeds ellipsoid, 2–2.5 mm; 2n=20, 60, 64. Native of Eurasia, widely established in N. Amer. from New England to the Pacific, s. to Md., Ind., Io., and Colo. Summer. (Tithymalus e.; Galarhoeus e.; Euphorbia intercedens; E. podperae; E. virgata, at least as applied to N. Amer. plants)

• Common Names

  leafy spurge