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Most Excellent Weed Gallery

The Euphorbs - Miscellaneous

              

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Texas Queen's Delight (Texas Toothleaf) Stillingia texana
Upright plant branches from base with stems 12"-18" tall. Flower spike about 2" long male and female flowers are separated. Fruit, usually 2-3, three sided pods grow at the base of the flower spike. As they mature the spike falls off. When the fruit ripens it falls of leaving a triangular base. Strap-like leaves grow in a spiral up the stem. They are 2"-3" long with serrated edges. Stems have milky sap. Stems turn red in autumn. This plant was used as a cathartic, diuretic, and emetic. The root was used to treat skin ulcerations after taking mercury to treat syphilis.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2004, May-June 2005
Ripe fruit photo taken in Taylor County, Texas, October 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, etc.)

              

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Branched Noseburn Tragia ramosa
Linear leaves about 1/2" long with crinkly toothed edges. Leaves, stalks, and fruit covered in long hairs, that can cause skin irritation. Male and female flowers are separate but on the same plant. Flowers are about 1/16" wide. Flower parts remain attached to fruit. Plant 6"-8" tall.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, April 2006
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Shackelford, Coleman, Brown, Runnels, Coke)

Similar Species

Betonyleaf Noseburn Tragia betonicifolia
Single stem with short branches. Lower leaves: long heart-shaped with deep teeth. Upper leaves: long spear-shaped with deep teeth. Long flower spike grows opposite a leaf. Hairy green pods. Hairs on plant can cause skin irritation.
(Native of Texas, rare - Brown)

Shortspike Noseburn Tragia brevispica
Bushy from short single stem. Heart-shaped leaves with deep teeth mostly farther out on stems. Tiny cluster of white flowers grows opposite a leaf.
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Callahan, Coleman, Brown, Coke)

Netleaf Noseburn Tragia urticifolia
Small upright plant, single main stem, leaves widely alternate. Spear-shaped leaves have deep veins with sharp teeth. Flower spike grows opposite a leaf. Tiny green/white flowers. Hairy green pods. Hairs on plant can cause skin irritation.
(Native of Texas - Brown)

Other Species in My Area

Hill Country Silverbush Argythamnia aphoroides
Small bush with upright stems. Flower spikes from leaf nodes produce one three-sided "tomato" per spike.
(Native of Texas - Brown)

Low Silverbush Argythamnia humilis
Single stem of alternating leaves. Flower spike from leaf node. Large flower are nearly perpendicular to stem. Flower "petals" are green.
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Shackelford, Callahan, Coleman, Brown, Nolan)

Tall Silverbush Argythamnia mercurialina
Several vertical stems from base with alternating leaves. Flower spike from leaf node. Tiny flowers.
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Jones, Shackelford)

New Mexico Silverbush Argythamnia neomexicana
Several vertical stems from base with alternating leaves. Flower is not on spikes, from leaf node. Flower "petals" are green/white. Fuzzy three-sided "tomato".
(Native of Texas - Coleman, Coke)

Plateau Silverbush Argythamnia simulans
Single stem of alternating leaves. Flower spike from leaf node. Several three-sided "tomatoes" per spike.

(Native of Texas - Taylor, Brown)