Euphorbia nutans

Euphorbia nutans is a species of Euphorbia known by the common names eyebane and nodding spurge. It is native to much of the United States, Eastern Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and Venezuela.

Euphorbia nutans
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Euphorbia
Species:
E. nutans
Binomial name
Euphorbia nutans
Synonyms[1]
  • Chamaesyce nutans (Lag.) Small
  • Tithymalus nutans (Lag.) Samp
  • Euphorbia preslii Guss.
  • Euphorbia refracta Lowe
  • Euphorbia trinervis Bertol.
  • Chamaesyce preslii (Guss.) Arthur
  • Chamaesyce lansingii Millsp.
  • Euphorbia gibraltarica Wolley-Dod
  • Euphorbia pseudonutans Thell.
  • Euphorbia lansingii (Millsp.) Brühl

It is reportedly naturalized in parts of Europe as well as in the Middle East, Japan, and New Zealand.[1] It has also been introduced to California.[2] It can be a noxious weed in areas where it has been introduced.[3] As a weed it generally occurs on disturbed ground, or in ornamental flower beds.

Description

Euphorbia nutans is an annual herb growing erect with pairs of oblong leaves along its stems. The leaf may be up to 3.5 centimetres (1.4 in) long, hairy or hairless, and finely toothed.

The inflorescence may be solitary or borne in clusters. Each inflorescence is a cyathium, with flat white or red appendages surrounding the actual flowers. At the center of the array of appendages are several staminate flowers surrounding one pistillate flower. The latter develops into a fruit, which is a capsule about 2 millimetres (0.079 in) wide.

References
  1. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. Calflora: Euphorbia nutans
  3. USDA Plants Profile


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