Ontario Weeds: Sun spurge
Return to the Ontario Weeds Gallery
Excerpt from Publication 505, Ontario Weeds,
Order this publication
Table of Contents
Name: Sun spurge Euphorbia helioscopia
L.,
Other Names: euphorbe réveille-matin,
Wartweed, réveille-matin, herbe aux verrues
Family: Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae)
General Description: Annual, reproducing
only by seed.
Sun spurge, viewed from above.
Stems & Roots: Very similar to Petty
spurge but differs from it by usually being taller (5-60cm, 2-24in.
high) and coarser with larger leaves (1-5cm, 2/5-2in. long), by having
a whorl of 5 leaves at the tip of the stem and 5 main branches to
the inflorescence umbel
Flowers & Fruit: And by having seeds
which are egg-shaped to nearly spherical, 2-2.5mm (1/12-1/10in.) in
diameter, black and roughened by a network of prominent vein-like
ridges over the entire surface.
Habitat: Sun spurge has nearly the same
distribution in Ontario as Petty spurge and occupies similar habitats.
Related Links
... on general Weed
topics
... on weed identification, order OMAFRA
Publication 505: Ontario Weeds
... on weed control, order OMAFRA
Publication 75: Guide To Weed Control
For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca