Summary ⁸

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.

Description ⁹

The plant reaches a maximum height of 10 to 80 cm (4 to 31 ¹⁄₂ in). Its petal-like bracts are usually green-yellow, maturing to purple or red from May to August. The mature fruit explodes, spreading seeds up to 5 m (16 ft). The plant also reproduces through lateral root buds, which allow it to spread densely. It can be identified by its leaves, which are small and linear, measuring up to 4 cm (1.6 in) long by only 1 to 2 mm (¹⁄₃₂ to ³⁄₃₂ in) wide.

Ecology ⁹

This plant is considered a noxious weed in many places, including Colorado in the United States. Like some other non-native plants, it invades the habitat of native species. It is known to be harmful to cattle and horses, but not sheep. It can be difficult to control. Biological pest control methods have been attempted, involving the release of several European insect species in North America. Certain flea beetles have been effective, but there are concerns about the release of non-native insects into the region.

Parasites of this species include Uromyces pisi-sativi, a fungus.

Associations ¹⁰

Foodplant / parasite
telium of Melampsora euphorbiae parasitises live stem of Euphorbia cyparissias

Foodplant / saprobe
immersed pseudothecium of Mycosphaerella euphorbiae is saprobic on dead stem of Euphorbia cyparissias
Remarks: season: 5

Foodplant / saprobe
immersed apothecium of Naeviopsis tithymalina is saprobic on dead stem of Euphorbia cyparissias

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / saprobe
subepidermal, gregarious pycnidium of Phomopsis coelomycetous anamorph of Phomopsis euphorbiae is saprobic on dead stem of Euphorbia cyparissias
Remarks: season: 4-6

Foodplant / parasite
pycnium of Uromyces pisi-sativi parasitises live Euphorbia cyparissias

Foodplant / pathogen
hypophyllous telium of Uromyces scutellatus infects and damages live, deformed leaf of Euphorbia cyparissias

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Rudolf Schäfer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/schaefer-rudolf/6875099884/
2. (c) CameliaTWU, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/cameliatwu/6842394368/
3. (c) Rudolf Schäfer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/schaefer-rudolf/7021204345/
4. (c) Rudolf Schäfer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/schaefer-rudolf/6875099678/
5. (c) Bernard DUPONT, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/berniedup/8342679308/
6. (c) HermannFalkner/sokol, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/hermannherbarium/5344181866/
7. (c) HermannFalkner/sokol, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/hermannherbarium/5343572273/
8. Adapted by Bea Steinemann from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia_cyparissias
9. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia_cyparissias
10. (c) BioImages, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/22917363

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• African Plants - a photo guide
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Calflora
• CalPhotos
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Go Botany
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• Jepson eFlora
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• NBN Atlas
• New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
• OregonFlora.org
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online
• 日本のレッドデータ検索システム
• 植物和名−学名インデックス YList

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