Herbs, perennial or biennial, with taproot. Stems erect, unbranched or branched, 10–100 cm, glabrous. Leaves: petiole absent; blade linear, linear-lanceolate, oblongelliptic, or obovate, 4–50 × 2–10 mm, base obtuse or truncate, margins finely serrulate, apex acute, obtuse, or truncate, sometimes mucronulate, surfaces glabrous; venation inconspicuous, only midvein prominent. Cyathial arrangement: terminal pleiochasial branches 2–5, each 1–5 times 2-branched; pleiochasial bracts lanceolate, elliptic or ovate, similar in size to distal leaves; dichasial bracts distinct, ovate to subreniform, base cuneate to cordate, margins finely serrulate, apex acute, obtuse, or rounded, sometimes mucronulate or cuspidate; axillary cymose branches 0–7. Cyathia: peduncle 1–3 mm. Involucre cupulate to slightly turbinate, 1.1–2 × 1.3–1.5 mm, glabrous or puberulent; glands 4, elliptic to trapezoidal, 0.6–0.8 × 1–2 mm; horns slightly convergent to divergent, 1–2 mm. Staminate flowers 15–20. Pistillate flowers: ovary glabrous; styles 1–1.8 mm, 2-fid. Capsules depressed-globose, 2.5–3 × 3–4.5 mm, deeply 3-lobed; cocci rounded to subangular, smooth, glabrous; columella 1.9–2.3 mm. Seeds pale gray, subovoid, 1.6–2.4 × 1.3–1.8 mm, smooth; caruncle boatshaped, 0.4–0.6 × 0.4–0.6 mm.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting spring–summer.
Habitat: Edges of cultivated fields and woodlands, roadsides, waste areas, pastures, coastal bluffs, dunes, riparian areas.
Elevation: 0–300 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Introduced; Calif., Europe, also in Mexico, s Africa, Australia

Discussion

Euphorbia terracina is native to the Mediterranean region of Europe. This species is invasive and spreading rapidly, displacing native coastal scrub in southern California, and has been listed as a noxious weed by that state.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

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