Leafy
Spurge - Euphorbia esula
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Description
This is a knee-high perennial herb that grows back each year from roots.
These roots can be up to 20 feet deep and thus make irradiation efforts
difficult. It has small leaves along its stalk. On top of the stalk are
yellow-green heart-shaped bracts that each enclose a small flower. Upon
maturation of the seed capsules are spring-loaded and able to throw seeds
up to 15 feet.
Interesting facts
Like other euphorbs, this plant contains a milky sap that can cause blisters
or dermatitis if it contacts the skin. Thus, protection should be worn
when handling these plants.
Several insects have been used for biocontrol including a stem/root boring
beetle, a shoot-tip gall midge, a stem-boring moth, and three root defoliating
flea beetles. These insects have however, not proven them selves reliable
in the field and more efforts are needed to control this plant.
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Links to more information
Specie's
Account - Everything you ever wanted to know about Leafy Spurge AND
the scientific documentation to back it up. If you want to see the original
data, they are referenced on this summary article.