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Most Excellent Weed Gallery

The Euphorbs - Euphorbia Genus

        

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Snow-on-the-Mountain Euphorbia marginata
Each "flower" is 1/4"-3/8" wide, generally 4 large white appendages and one small one. Clusters of "flowers" are surrounded by bract leaves with white margins making the clusters look 3"-4" wide. Three lobed seed pod grows out of center of "flower". Plant 2-6 feet tall.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, July 2004
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Jones, Shackelford, Callahan, Coleman, Brown, Coke)

     

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima
This plant is common at Christmas time. The large colorful "petals" are actually bracts and can be red, pink, or white. They surround the small flowers clustered in the center.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, December 2005
(Purchased, native of Mexico)

Similar Native Species

Fire-on-the-Mountain Euphorbia cyathophora
Leaves are variable: narrow or wide, entire or sharply lobed. Leaf base is pink/red when plant is in bloom.
(Native of Texas - Coke)

Mexican Fireplant Euphorbia heterophylla
Leaves are variable: narrow or wide, entire or sharply lobed. Leaf base is orange/red when plant is in bloom.
(Native of Texas - Coleman)

                 

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Wright's Spurge Euphorbia wrightii
Flowers" are about 3/16" wide. Green nectar glands turn red with age. Large white gland appendages have scalloped edges. Three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of the "flower". Leaves are long and about as thick as the stem. Broom-like plant grows to about 18" tall.
Most plants have branches starting 3 cm above the ground. A few had multiple branches starting at the base. None in between.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, July 2004, May 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Runnels, Coke, Nolan, Fisher)

Similar Species

Flowering Spurge Euphorbia corollata
(Native of east Texas - not listed in my area)

        

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Warty Spurge (Spoonleaf Spurge, Netseed Spurge) Euphorbia spathulata
Flowers are about 1/16" wide. Bumpy, three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of the flower. Longest leaves are about 1/4" long. Plant shown is about 5" tall but can grow to about 2 feet tall. As the plant grows taller, the lower leaves become larger and are broader near apex (spatulate), like a spatula or a spoon.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, etc.)

Similar Species

Tinted Woodland Spurge Euphorbia commutata
Leaves around flowers overlap. Green flower "petals" have two "horns".
(Native of Texas, rare - Taylor)

Wedgeleaf Spurge Euphorbia longicruris
Small vertical plant, small spade-like leaves along stem, larger circle of leaves around flowers.
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Shackelford, Callahan, Brown, Nolan)

        

Euphorbiaceae - Spurge family
Toothed Spurge Euphorbia dentata
These are end of season photos, so the plant isn't at its best. Leaf arrangement and flower placement reminds me of a green poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). "Flowers" are about 1/16" wide with "hairy" white appendages. "Flowers" are clustered at the top of the stem. Three lobbed seed pod grows out of center of flower, matte green, about 3/16" wide. Leaves are variable, up to 3" long but can be ovate or lanceolate, margins blunt teeth. Plant grows to about 24" tall.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, October 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Callahan, Brown, Coke)

Similar Species

David's Spurge Euphorbia davidii
Upright plant, little or no branching, with a crown of flowers then fruit. Long narrow leaves, shallow scallop, can turn red.
(Introduced - Taylor, Callahan, Brown)