Description ⁵

Leafy Spurge is a deep-rooted perennial with tiny greenish-yellow flowers. When the plant is injured, a milky white sap will flow out that may cause severe irritation to human skin. The plant mainly multiplies by growing shoots from the extensive root system. It may also grow from seed. Leafy Spurge is considered noxious throughout most of its range including BC and Alaska.

Range in Yukon ⁵

Known only from the vicinity of Dawson City.

Similar Species ⁵

Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias), which is a non-invasive garden plant in Haines, Alaska.

Ecological Impact ⁵

This invasive plant can form large monospecific stands. Most grazing animals avoid it.

Control ⁵

Leafy Spurge is extremely difficult to remove once established due to its extensive root system, making it one of the top 10 invasive plants in North America. Plants require depletion of nutrient reserves in the root system, prevention of seed production and prevention of dispersal. Burning and mowing are ineffective. Annual herbicide application and hand-pulling may deplete the root system. Rhizomes and flowering plants must be disposed of through burning.

For more information visit: Yukon Invasive Species Council

Sources and Credits

1. (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.biopix.com/photos/JCS-Euphorbia-esula-63059.JPG
2. (c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/zharkikh/7225447674/
3. (c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/plant_diversity/4031384669/
4. (c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/74738817@N07/27932631753/
5. (c) L.G. Johanson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNaturalist.ca taxon page
• Atlas of Living Australia
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• eFloras.org
• Flora Digital de Portugal
• Flora of North America
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Go Botany
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• NBN Atlas
• OregonFlora.org
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Taxonomic notes on Euphorbia esula (Euphorbiaceae)
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online

Range Map

(c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)

iNaturalist.ca Map