Cypress Spurge

Cypress Spurge

Taxobox
name = "Euphorbia cyparissias"



image_width = 250px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Malpighiales
familia = Euphorbiaceae
genus = "Euphorbia"
species = "E. cyparissias"
binomial = "Euphorbia cyparissias"
binomial_authority = L.

Cypress Spurge is a plant in the genus "Euphorbia", which is native to Europe and was introduced to North America in the 1860s by the colonists as an ornamental plant. It is sometimes called "Graveyard weed" as it is often seen in country graveyards. In its natural setting, Cypress Spurge thrives in dunes, pannes, coastal headlands and grasslands; in North America it is commonly found in the dry, gravelly soil of roadsides, pastures, and meadows. Cypress Spurge thrives in open, disturbed areas rather than forests or highly cultivated soil.It reproduces by seeds and also by the very well developed underground roots. It usually has a height of 10-80 cm (6-12 inches). Its petal-like bracts are usually green-yellow, maturing to purple or red from May to August. Cypress Spurge grows a fruit that, when mature, explodes to spread seeds up to 16 feet. However the plant also reproduces through lateral root buds which allows it to spread quick and densely. It can be easily identified by its leaves, which are small and linear (they have a length of 2-4 cm and a width of 1-2 mm).

When broken, cypress spurge, like all spurges, emits a milky sap which, folklore has it, may cure warts. Other sources allege that the milky juice of the plant is toxic and causes irritations on contact with the skin. The sap may also irritate the eyes, mouth, and gastro-intestinal tract.

This plant is considered a noxious weed in many places, including the state of Colorado. Like most non-native plants, it infringes upon the growth of native species. The Spurge is known to be harmful to cattle and horses, but not sheep. The hardy Spurge can be difficult to control; several species of European insects were released in North America in this effort. Certain beetles and fleas have been found to be effective, but those may pose even more risk to native plants than the removal of the cypress spurge itself.

Ecology

parasites:
* "Uromyces pisi-sativi"


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  • cypress spurge — siauralapė karpažolė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Karpažolinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, vaistinis nuodingas augalas (Euphorbia cyparissias), paplitęs Europoje ir pietvakarių Azijoje. atitikmenys: lot. Euphorbia cyparissias angl. cypress… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • cypress spurge — noun Old World perennial having foliage resembling cypress; naturalized as a weed in the United States • Syn: ↑Euphorbia cyparissias • Hypernyms: ↑spurge • Member Holonyms: ↑Euphorbia, ↑genus Euphorbia * * * noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • cypress spurge — a perennial herb, Euphorbia cyparissias, of Eurasia, having small, greenish yellow flowers in dense clusters. [1700 10] * * * …   Universalium

  • spurge — /sperrj/, n. any of numerous plants of the genus Euphorbia, having a milky juice and flowers with no petals or sepals. Cf. spurge family. [1350 1400; ME < MF espurge, n. deriv. of espurgier to cleanse < L expurgare. See EX 1, PURGE] * * * One of… …   Universalium

  • spurge cypress — kochija statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Balandinių (Chenopodiaceae) šeimos augalų gentis (Kochia). atitikmenys: lot. Kochia angl. mock cypress; spurge cypress; summer cypress vok. Kochia; Radmelde; Sommerzypresse rus. кохия; прутняк lenk.… …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

  • mock cypress — kochija statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Balandinių (Chenopodiaceae) šeimos augalų gentis (Kochia). atitikmenys: lot. Kochia angl. mock cypress; spurge cypress; summer cypress vok. Kochia; Radmelde; Sommerzypresse rus. кохия; прутняк lenk.… …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

  • summer cypress — kochija statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Balandinių (Chenopodiaceae) šeimos augalų gentis (Kochia). atitikmenys: lot. Kochia angl. mock cypress; spurge cypress; summer cypress vok. Kochia; Radmelde; Sommerzypresse rus. кохия; прутняк lenk.… …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

  • cypressspurge — cypress spurge n. A perennial European ornamental plant (Euphorbia cyparissias) having numerous narrow leaves and flower clusters with petaloid bracts. * * * …   Universalium

  • Euphorbia cyparissias — Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked) …   Wikipedia

  • Euphorbia — cf. serrata Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae …   Wikipedia

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