eggleaf spurge
(Euphorbia oblongata)
This species is Introduced in the United States
ORIGIN: Eurasia
GROWTH TRAITS: An herbaceous and perennial, exuding a white latex sap when torn. Flowers are inconspicuous, yellow, and surrounded by yellowish-green, showy bracts. Seeds are brown, round, smooth, and can be propelled several feet from the plant upon drying. Eggleaf spurge is erect, reaching heights of 3’ (0.9 m) from a woody, branched taproot. It has alternate, lance-shaped, green leaves up to 2½” long (6 cm) with very fine teeth along all margins. Stems are often densely hairy. Flowering occurs summer through fall.
REPRODUCTION: Species spread by seed, root fragments, and root crown budding. Seeds are typically short-lived but can be viable for up to eight years.
HABITAT: Capitalizes on disturbance and can be found from moist meadows to dry hillsides.
LOOK-ALIKES: Many species of Euphorbia resemble eggleaf and myrtle spurge. The majority of those which occur in the Northwest are exotic. These species can be differentiated by comparing the toothed leaf margins of eggleaf spurge and succulent leaves of myrtle spurge to features of other exotic and native Euphorbia, which often lack these traits. Carnation spurge is similar to eggleaf spurge, but has hairless stems. Pre-flowering myrtle spurge can resemble pre-flowering Dalmatian toadflax shoots, but myrtle spurge has a leaning habit and latex sap.
CITATIONS:
Winston, R.L., Andreas, J.E., Milan, J., DesCamp, W., Randell, C.B., and M. Schwarzländer. 2014. New Invaders of the Northwest. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. FHTET-2014-12. Retrieved from https://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/technology/pdfs/FHTET-2014-12_NW_New_Invaders.pdf
GROWTH TRAITS: An herbaceous and perennial, exuding a white latex sap when torn. Flowers are inconspicuous, yellow, and surrounded by yellowish-green, showy bracts. Seeds are brown, round, smooth, and can be propelled several feet from the plant upon drying. Eggleaf spurge is erect, reaching heights of 3’ (0.9 m) from a woody, branched taproot. It has alternate, lance-shaped, green leaves up to 2½” long (6 cm) with very fine teeth along all margins. Stems are often densely hairy. Flowering occurs summer through fall.
REPRODUCTION: Species spread by seed, root fragments, and root crown budding. Seeds are typically short-lived but can be viable for up to eight years.
HABITAT: Capitalizes on disturbance and can be found from moist meadows to dry hillsides.
LOOK-ALIKES: Many species of Euphorbia resemble eggleaf and myrtle spurge. The majority of those which occur in the Northwest are exotic. These species can be differentiated by comparing the toothed leaf margins of eggleaf spurge and succulent leaves of myrtle spurge to features of other exotic and native Euphorbia, which often lack these traits. Carnation spurge is similar to eggleaf spurge, but has hairless stems. Pre-flowering myrtle spurge can resemble pre-flowering Dalmatian toadflax shoots, but myrtle spurge has a leaning habit and latex sap.
CITATIONS:
Winston, R.L., Andreas, J.E., Milan, J., DesCamp, W., Randell, C.B., and M. Schwarzländer. 2014. New Invaders of the Northwest. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. FHTET-2014-12. Retrieved from https://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/technology/pdfs/FHTET-2014-12_NW_New_Invaders.pdf
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Lists - This map identifies those states that have this species on their invasive species list or law.
Invasive Listing Sources
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Superorder: Rosanae |
| Order: Malpighiales |
| Family: Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus: Euphorbia |
| Euphorbia oblongata |
References
Common Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.