FNA: Euphorbia agraria vs. Euphorbia serrata

	Euphorbia agraria	Euphorbia serrata
	urban spurge	saw tooth spurge, saw-tooth or tooth or serrate spurge, serrate spurge
Habit	Herbs, perennial, with slender, spreading rootstock.	Herbs, perennial, with thick rootstock.
Stems	erect or ascending, unbranched or branched, 30–90 cm, glabrous.	erect, branched, 10–70 cm, glabrous.
Leaves	petiole absent; blade oblong-elliptic, 20–65 × 9–20 mm, base truncate to auriculate, margins entire, apex obtuse to rounded, surfaces glabrous; venation conspicuously pinnate, midvein prominent.	petiole absent; blade lanceolate, ovate-lanceolate, linear, or linear-lanceolate, 10–70 × 2–20 mm, base acute or obtuse, margins irregularly serrate, apex acute to obtuse, surfaces glabrous; venation inconspicuous, only midvein prominent.
Involucre	campanulate, 2.2–3 × 1.8–2 mm, glabrous; glands 4, crescent-shaped; 0.6–1 × 1–2 mm; horns slightly divergent to convergent, 0.1–0.2 mm.	campanulate, 2–4 × 1.2–3 mm, glabrous; glands 4–5, elliptic, ovate, or suborbiculate, 1.2–1.8 × 1.5–2.7 mm; horns absent or slightly divergent, 0–0.6 mm.
Staminate flowers	15–20.	20–40.
Pistillate flowers	ovary glabrous; styles 1.2–2 mm, 2-fid.	ovary glabrous; styles 1–2 mm, 2-fid.
Capsules	globose, 2–2.8 × 2.2–2.7 mm, 3-lobed; cocci rounded, smooth except finely granulate toward abaxial line, glabrous; columella 2.1–2.7 mm.	subovoid, 4.5–6 × 4–5 mm, 3-lobed; cocci rounded, smooth occasionally slightly puncticulate, glabrous; columella 4–4.5 mm.
Seeds	gray or whitish, ovoid-oblong, 2–2.1 × 1.2–1.3 mm, smooth; caruncle ± rounded and flattened, 0.8 × 0.6 mm.	grayish, cylindric, 2.5–3.1 × 1.7–2 mm, smooth or slightly dotted; caruncle subconic, lobed, 1–1.5 × 0.5–1 mm.
Cyathial	arrangement: terminal pleiochasial branches 8–15, 1–2 times 2-branched; pleiochasial bracts similar in shape but shorter and narrower than distal leaves; dichasial bracts distinct, rhombic to reniform, base obtuse, margins entire, apex obtuse, mucronate; axillary cymose branches 12–23.	arrangement: terminal pleiochasial branches 3–5, each 1–3 times 2-branched; pleiochasial bracts ovate-lanceolate, usually shorter and wider than distal leaves; dichasial bracts distinct, ovate or deltate, base obtuse to cordate, margins irregularly dentate, apex acute, or obtuse, mucronate; axillary cymose branches 0–3.
Cyathia	peduncle 0–2 mm.	peduncle 1–5 mm.

	Euphorbia agraria	Euphorbia serrata
Phenology	Flowering and fruiting spring–summer.	Flowering and fruiting spring–fall.
Habitat	Grasslands, roadside banks, pastures.	Waste places, disturbed sites, roadsides, fields, pastures.
Elevation	200–1600 m. (700–5200 ft.)	0–300 m. (0–1000 ft.)
Distribution	KS; MT; NE; NY; PA; WA; WY; AB; SK; Europe [Introduced in North America] [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]	CA; Europe; Atlantic Islands (Macaronesia) [Introduced in North America] [BONAP county map]
Discussion		Euphorbia serrata, native to the western Mediterranean region of Europe and Macaronesia, is listed as a noxious weed by the state of California. In the flora area, it has been found in coastal counties from Sonoma to Monterey counties; attempts to eradicate it may have been successful. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source	FNA vol. 12, p. 298.	FNA vol. 12, p. 309.
Parent taxa	Euphorbiaceae > Euphorbia > subg. Esula	Euphorbiaceae > Euphorbia > subg. Esula
Sibling taxa	E. aaron-rossii, E. abramsiana, E. acuta, E. albomarginata, E. alta, E. angusta, E. antisyphilitica, E. arizonica, E. astyla, E. austrotexana, E. bicolor, E. bifurcata, E. bilobata, E. blodgettii, E. bombensis, E. brachycera, E. capitellata, E. carunculata, E. chaetocalyx, E. chamaesula, E. cinerascens, E. commutata, E. conferta, E. cordifolia, E. corollata, E. crenulata, E. cumulicola, E. cuphosperma, E. curtisii, E. cyathophora, E. cyparissias, E. davidii, E. deltoidea, E. dendroides, E. dentata, E. discoidalis, E. eriantha, E. exigua, E. exserta, E. exstipulata, E. falcata, E. fendleri, E. florida, E. floridana, E. garberi, E. georgiana, E. geyeri, E. glyptosperma, E. golondrina, E. gracillima, E. graminea, E. helioscopia, E. helleri, E. heterophylla, E. hexagona, E. hirta, E. hooveri, E. humistrata, E. hypericifolia, E. hyssopifolia, E. indivisa, E. innocua, E. inundata, E. ipecacuanhae, E. jaegeri, E. jejuna, E. laredana, E. lasiocarpa, E. lata, E. lathyris, E. longicruris, E. lurida, E. macropus, E. maculata, E. marginata, E. meganaesos, E. melanadenia, E. mendezii, E. mercurialina, E. mesembrianthemifolia, E. micromera, E. misera, E. missurica, E. myrsinites, E. nephradenia, E. nutans, E. oblongata, E. ocellata, E. ophthalmica, E. ouachitana, E. parishii, E. parryi, E. pediculifera, E. peplidion, E. peplus, E. perennans, E. pergamena, E. pinetorum, E. platyphyllos, E. platysperma, E. polycarpa, E. polygonifolia, E. polyphylla, E. porteriana, E. prostrata, E. pubentissima, E. purpurea, E. radians, E. rayturneri, E. revoluta, E. roemeriana, E. rosescens, E. schizoloba, E. serpens, E. serpillifolia, E. serrata, E. serrula, E. setiloba, E. simulans, E. spathulata, E. stictospora, E. strictior, E. telephioides, E. terracina, E. tetrapora, E. texana, E. theriaca, E. thymifolia, E. tithymaloides, E. trachysperma, E. trichotoma, E. vallis-mortae, E. velleriflora, E. vermiculata, E. villifera, E. virgata, E. wrightii, E. yaquiana	E. aaron-rossii, E. abramsiana, E. acuta, E. agraria, E. albomarginata, E. alta, E. angusta, E. antisyphilitica, E. arizonica, E. astyla, E. austrotexana, E. bicolor, E. bifurcata, E. bilobata, E. blodgettii, E. bombensis, E. brachycera, E. capitellata, E. carunculata, E. chaetocalyx, E. chamaesula, E. cinerascens, E. commutata, E. conferta, E. cordifolia, E. corollata, E. crenulata, E. cumulicola, E. cuphosperma, E. curtisii, E. cyathophora, E. cyparissias, E. davidii, E. deltoidea, E. dendroides, E. dentata, E. discoidalis, E. eriantha, E. exigua, E. exserta, E. exstipulata, E. falcata, E. fendleri, E. florida, E. floridana, E. garberi, E. georgiana, E. geyeri, E. glyptosperma, E. golondrina, E. gracillima, E. graminea, E. helioscopia, E. helleri, E. heterophylla, E. hexagona, E. hirta, E. hooveri, E. humistrata, E. hypericifolia, E. hyssopifolia, E. indivisa, E. innocua, E. inundata, E. ipecacuanhae, E. jaegeri, E. jejuna, E. laredana, E. lasiocarpa, E. lata, E. lathyris, E. longicruris, E. lurida, E. macropus, E. maculata, E. marginata, E. meganaesos, E. melanadenia, E. mendezii, E. mercurialina, E. mesembrianthemifolia, E. micromera, E. misera, E. missurica, E. myrsinites, E. nephradenia, E. nutans, E. oblongata, E. ocellata, E. ophthalmica, E. ouachitana, E. parishii, E. parryi, E. pediculifera, E. peplidion, E. peplus, E. perennans, E. pergamena, E. pinetorum, E. platyphyllos, E. platysperma, E. polycarpa, E. polygonifolia, E. polyphylla, E. porteriana, E. prostrata, E. pubentissima, E. purpurea, E. radians, E. rayturneri, E. revoluta, E. roemeriana, E. rosescens, E. schizoloba, E. serpens, E. serpillifolia, E. serrula, E. setiloba, E. simulans, E. spathulata, E. stictospora, E. strictior, E. telephioides, E. terracina, E. tetrapora, E. texana, E. theriaca, E. thymifolia, E. tithymaloides, E. trachysperma, E. trichotoma, E. vallis-mortae, E. velleriflora, E. vermiculata, E. villifera, E. virgata, E. wrightii, E. yaquiana
Synonyms	Tithymalus agrarius	Galarhoeus serratus, Tithymalus serratus
Name authority	M. Bieberstein: Fl. Taur.-Caucas. 1: 375. (1808)	Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 459. (1753)
Web links	Local floras: WA Local Web sites: Flora NW, KS Wildflowers, PNW Herbaria WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search	Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search

Euphorbia serrata

urban spurge

saw tooth spurge, saw-tooth or tooth or serrate spurge, serrate spurge

Habit

Herbs, perennial, with slender, spreading rootstock.

Herbs, perennial, with thick rootstock.

Stems

erect or ascending, unbranched or branched, 30–90 cm, glabrous.

erect, branched, 10–70 cm, glabrous.

Leaves

petiole absent;

blade oblong-elliptic, 20–65 × 9–20 mm, base truncate to auriculate, margins entire, apex obtuse to rounded, surfaces glabrous;

venation conspicuously pinnate, midvein prominent.

petiole absent;

blade lanceolate, ovate-lanceolate, linear, or linear-lanceolate, 10–70 × 2–20 mm, base acute or obtuse, margins irregularly serrate, apex acute to obtuse, surfaces glabrous;

venation inconspicuous, only midvein prominent.

Involucre

campanulate, 2.2–3 × 1.8–2 mm, glabrous;

glands 4, crescent-shaped; 0.6–1 × 1–2 mm;

horns slightly divergent to convergent, 0.1–0.2 mm.

campanulate, 2–4 × 1.2–3 mm, glabrous;

glands 4–5, elliptic, ovate, or suborbiculate, 1.2–1.8 × 1.5–2.7 mm;

horns absent or slightly divergent, 0–0.6 mm.

Staminate flowers

15–20.

20–40.

Pistillate flowers

ovary glabrous;

styles 1.2–2 mm, 2-fid.

ovary glabrous;

styles 1–2 mm, 2-fid.

Capsules

globose, 2–2.8 × 2.2–2.7 mm, 3-lobed;

cocci rounded, smooth except finely granulate toward abaxial line, glabrous;

columella 2.1–2.7 mm.

subovoid, 4.5–6 × 4–5 mm, 3-lobed;

cocci rounded, smooth occasionally slightly puncticulate, glabrous;

columella 4–4.5 mm.

Seeds

gray or whitish, ovoid-oblong, 2–2.1 × 1.2–1.3 mm, smooth;

caruncle ± rounded and flattened, 0.8 × 0.6 mm.

grayish, cylindric, 2.5–3.1 × 1.7–2 mm, smooth or slightly dotted;

caruncle subconic, lobed, 1–1.5 × 0.5–1 mm.

Cyathial

arrangement: terminal pleiochasial branches 8–15, 1–2 times 2-branched;

pleiochasial bracts similar in shape but shorter and narrower than distal leaves;

dichasial bracts distinct, rhombic to reniform, base obtuse, margins entire, apex obtuse, mucronate;

axillary cymose branches 12–23.

arrangement: terminal pleiochasial branches 3–5, each 1–3 times 2-branched;

pleiochasial bracts ovate-lanceolate, usually shorter and wider than distal leaves;

dichasial bracts distinct, ovate or deltate, base obtuse to cordate, margins irregularly dentate, apex acute, or obtuse, mucronate;

axillary cymose branches 0–3.

Cyathia

peduncle 0–2 mm.

peduncle 1–5 mm.

Euphorbia serrata

Phenology

Flowering and fruiting spring–summer.

Flowering and fruiting spring–fall.

Habitat

Grasslands, roadside banks, pastures.

Waste places, disturbed sites, roadsides, fields, pastures.

Elevation

200–1600 m. (700–5200 ft.)

0–300 m. (0–1000 ft.)

Distribution

KS; MT; NE; NY; PA; WA; WY; AB; SK; Europe [Introduced in North America]

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

CA; Europe; Atlantic Islands (Macaronesia) [Introduced in North America]

[BONAP county map]

Discussion

Euphorbia serrata, native to the western Mediterranean region of Europe and Macaronesia, is listed as a noxious weed by the state of California. In the flora area, it has been found in coastal counties from Sonoma to Monterey counties; attempts to eradicate it may have been successful.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source

FNA vol. 12, p. 298.

FNA vol. 12, p. 309.

Parent taxa

Euphorbiaceae > Euphorbia > subg. Esula

Sibling taxa

E. aaron-rossii, E. abramsiana, E. acuta, E. albomarginata, E. alta, E. angusta, E. antisyphilitica, E. arizonica, E. astyla, E. austrotexana, E. bicolor, E. bifurcata, E. bilobata, E. blodgettii, E. bombensis, E. brachycera, E. capitellata, E. carunculata, E. chaetocalyx, E. chamaesula, E. cinerascens, E. commutata, E. conferta, E. cordifolia, E. corollata, E. crenulata, E. cumulicola, E. cuphosperma, E. curtisii, E. cyathophora, E. cyparissias, E. davidii, E. deltoidea, E. dendroides, E. dentata, E. discoidalis, E. eriantha, E. exigua, E. exserta, E. exstipulata, E. falcata, E. fendleri, E. florida, E. floridana, E. garberi, E. georgiana, E. geyeri, E. glyptosperma, E. golondrina, E. gracillima, E. graminea, E. helioscopia, E. helleri, E. heterophylla, E. hexagona, E. hirta, E. hooveri, E. humistrata, E. hypericifolia, E. hyssopifolia, E. indivisa, E. innocua, E. inundata, E. ipecacuanhae, E. jaegeri, E. jejuna, E. laredana, E. lasiocarpa, E. lata, E. lathyris, E. longicruris, E. lurida, E. macropus, E. maculata, E. marginata, E. meganaesos, E. melanadenia, E. mendezii, E. mercurialina, E. mesembrianthemifolia, E. micromera, E. misera, E. missurica, E. myrsinites, E. nephradenia, E. nutans, E. oblongata, E. ocellata, E. ophthalmica, E. ouachitana, E. parishii, E. parryi, E. pediculifera, E. peplidion, E. peplus, E. perennans, E. pergamena, E. pinetorum, E. platyphyllos, E. platysperma, E. polycarpa, E. polygonifolia, E. polyphylla, E. porteriana, E. prostrata, E. pubentissima, E. purpurea, E. radians, E. rayturneri, E. revoluta, E. roemeriana, E. rosescens, E. schizoloba, E. serpens, E. serpillifolia, E. serrata, E. serrula, E. setiloba, E. simulans, E. spathulata, E. stictospora, E. strictior, E. telephioides, E. terracina, E. tetrapora, E. texana, E. theriaca, E. thymifolia, E. tithymaloides, E. trachysperma, E. trichotoma, E. vallis-mortae, E. velleriflora, E. vermiculata, E. villifera, E. virgata, E. wrightii, E. yaquiana

E. aaron-rossii, E. abramsiana, E. acuta, E. agraria, E. albomarginata, E. alta, E. angusta, E. antisyphilitica, E. arizonica, E. astyla, E. austrotexana, E. bicolor, E. bifurcata, E. bilobata, E. blodgettii, E. bombensis, E. brachycera, E. capitellata, E. carunculata, E. chaetocalyx, E. chamaesula, E. cinerascens, E. commutata, E. conferta, E. cordifolia, E. corollata, E. crenulata, E. cumulicola, E. cuphosperma, E. curtisii, E. cyathophora, E. cyparissias, E. davidii, E. deltoidea, E. dendroides, E. dentata, E. discoidalis, E. eriantha, E. exigua, E. exserta, E. exstipulata, E. falcata, E. fendleri, E. florida, E. floridana, E. garberi, E. georgiana, E. geyeri, E. glyptosperma, E. golondrina, E. gracillima, E. graminea, E. helioscopia, E. helleri, E. heterophylla, E. hexagona, E. hirta, E. hooveri, E. humistrata, E. hypericifolia, E. hyssopifolia, E. indivisa, E. innocua, E. inundata, E. ipecacuanhae, E. jaegeri, E. jejuna, E. laredana, E. lasiocarpa, E. lata, E. lathyris, E. longicruris, E. lurida, E. macropus, E. maculata, E. marginata, E. meganaesos, E. melanadenia, E. mendezii, E. mercurialina, E. mesembrianthemifolia, E. micromera, E. misera, E. missurica, E. myrsinites, E. nephradenia, E. nutans, E. oblongata, E. ocellata, E. ophthalmica, E. ouachitana, E. parishii, E. parryi, E. pediculifera, E. peplidion, E. peplus, E. perennans, E. pergamena, E. pinetorum, E. platyphyllos, E. platysperma, E. polycarpa, E. polygonifolia, E. polyphylla, E. porteriana, E. prostrata, E. pubentissima, E. purpurea, E. radians, E. rayturneri, E. revoluta, E. roemeriana, E. rosescens, E. schizoloba, E. serpens, E. serpillifolia, E. serrula, E. setiloba, E. simulans, E. spathulata, E. stictospora, E. strictior, E. telephioides, E. terracina, E. tetrapora, E. texana, E. theriaca, E. thymifolia, E. tithymaloides, E. trachysperma, E. trichotoma, E. vallis-mortae, E. velleriflora, E. vermiculata, E. villifera, E. virgata, E. wrightii, E. yaquiana

Synonyms

Tithymalus agrarius

Galarhoeus serratus, Tithymalus serratus

Name authority

M. Bieberstein: Fl. Taur.-Caucas. 1: 375. (1808)

Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 459. (1753)

Web links

Local floras: WA
Local Web sites: Flora NW, KS Wildflowers, PNW Herbaria
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist (observations)
USDA Plants Database
LBJ Wildflower Center
SEINet
Plants of the World Online
Encyclopedia of Life
Wikipedia
Google Image Search

Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).

Choose a data source: Flora of North America, UW Burke Herbarium

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Euphorbia agraria

Euphorbia serrata

Euphorbia agraria

Euphorbia serrata