OregonFlora species comparison

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Euphorbia lathyris

Euphorbia cuphosperma

caper spurge, gopher plant, mole plant
Habit Herbs or subshrubs biennial, 1.5–12 dm; stems erect, glabrous, glaucous.
Leaves

opposite, narrowly oblong to ovate or subcordate, 30–150 × 5–30 mm, bases clasping;

margins entire;

tips acute;

surfaces glabrous.

Inflorescences

involucres bell-shaped, 2.5–4 mm;

glands 2-horned; horns rounded and short.

Fruits

spherical, 5–15 mm.

Seeds

round, 4–6 mm, wrinkled or with shallow reticulate markings.

Euphorbia lathyris

Euphorbia cuphosperma
Distribution
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Disturbed areas. Flowering May–Jul. 0–500 m. Col, CR, Est, Sisk, WV. CA, ID, WA; scattered across North America; Asia, Europe. Exotic.

Euphorbia lathyris is our only member of the genus to have only opposite leaves. It is sometimes planted in gardens based on the unsubstantiated belief it may deter moles and gophers.
Source Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 645
Stephen Meyers
Sibling taxa
E. crenulata, E. cyparissias, E. dentata, E. esula, E. helioscopia, E. myrsinites, E. oblongata, E. peplus, E. spathulata
E. crenulata, E. cyparissias, E. dentata, E. esula, E. helioscopia, E. lathyris, E. myrsinites, E. oblongata, E. peplus, E. spathulata
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from OregonFlora.



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