Flowering Spurge

Euphorbia corollata

yoo-FOR-bee-uh  kor-uh-LAH-tuh

Synonyms of Euphorbia corollata (22) (Updated on 12-22-22 from Plants of the World Online): Agaloma arundelana (Bartlett) Nieuwl. (1912), Agaloma corollata (L.) Raf. (1838), Agaloma joorii (Norton) Nieuwl. (1912), Agaloma marilandica (Greene) House (1921), Agaloma olivacea (Small) Nieuwl. (1912), Euphorbia arundelana Bartlett (1911), Euphorbia corollata var. glauca Millsp. (1898), Euphorbia corollata var. grandiflora Boiss. (1862), Euphorbia corollata var. hirsuta Macnab (1835), Euphorbia corollata var. joorii Norton (1898), Euphorbia corollata var. molle Millsp. (1898), Euphorbia corollata var. subpetiolata Boiss. (1862), Euphorbia corollata var. viridiflora Farw. (1923), Euphorbia discolor Bertol. (1851)(Nom. illeg.), Euphorbia marilandica Greene (1898), Euphorbia olivacea Small (1898), Galarhoeus corollatus (L.) Haw. (1812), Tithymalopsis arundelana (Bartlett) Small (1913), Tithymalopsis corollata (L.) Klotzsch & Garcke (1859), Tithymalopsis corollata (L.) Small (1903), Tithymalopsis joorii (Norton) Small (1903), Tithymalopsis olivacea (Small) Small (1903)

Euphorbia corollata L. is the accepted scientific name for the Flowering Spurge. The species and genus were named and described by Carl von Linnaeus in the first volume of the first edition of Species Plantarum in 1753.

As of 12-22-22 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists 2,087 species of Euphorbia. The genus is a member of the plant family Euphorbiaceae with a total of 227 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made by POWO. The number of species in the genus and genera in the family fluctuates often.

The distribution map above of Euphorbia corollata is from Plants of the World Online. Areas in green are where the species is native and purple is where it has been introduced. The map on the USDA Plants Database is similar.  

The map on iNaturalist shows where members have made observations. Anyone can join and it is a great website to confirm and share your observations. The maps on iNaturalist and continually updated as members post new observations.

THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING AND TO HELP WITH A BETTER POSITIVE ID.

I first observed the Euphorbia corollata in the pasture on September 8, 2018, but took better photos in 2019. Euphorbia corollata is a perennial that grows up to around 3’ in height. Common names include Flowering Spurge, Prairie Baby’s Breath, Wild Spurge. They are a native of Missouri and the mid to eastern half of North America. As with other members of the plant family Euphorbiaceae, plants contain a milky sap that may cause eye and skin irritation with some people.

Flowering spurge grows in most well-drained soils and can be found in prairies, pastures, glades, and along roads and train tracks. Plants have excellent drought tolerance and develop a deep taproot and caudex.

There are photos taken in 2022 at the bottom of the page… I will likely rearrange the photos once updates are finished.

Plants produce one or more stems that are unbranched except toward the top where the inflorescences occur. Each stem is light green, round, and normally smooth (glabrous) but may have fine hairs (pubescent).

Leaves grow in an alternate fashion along the stems and in a whorl of 3 or more under the inflorescence at the top of the stem. The leaves in and near the inflorescence may grow in an opposite manner.

Stems terminate in a panicle of flowers up to ¾’ long and 1′ across. Euphorbia corollata is monoecious so separate male (staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers are produced on the same plant. Male flowers have several stamens, while female flowers have an ovary with a tripartite style. The petaloid bracts are obovate in shape and are slightly notched at their tips. The branches and pedicels of the inflorescence are light green, smooth (glabrous), and round (terete). Pairs of small leafy bracts up to ½” long occur at the bases of pedicels and where the branches divide.  There is no floral fragrance.

Photos of the ovaries from 2022 are at the bottom of the page.

This panicle has a somewhat flat-headed appearance because lower flowers have longer peduncles. Each flower has a tiny cup-like cyathium containing the reproductive organs, 5 white petaloid bracts, and 5 green glandular appendages at the bases of these bracts.

The alternate stem leaves are widely spreading to ascending, linear-oblong to oblong in shape, up to 2 1/2″ long x 1/2″ across, have smooth margins, rounded or blunt at the tip, are sessile or nearly so (either no petiole or they may be very short). Leaves may be hairless (glabrous) or may have a few short hairs (strigose) at the apex of the leaf. Leaves have prominent central veins.

Flowers are visited and pollinated by a number of species or bees, butterflies, and flies. Cattle and other mammals avoid eating this plant because of its toxic latex sap. However, birds, including Wild Turkey, Greater Prairie Chicken, Bobwhite Quail, Mourning Dove, and Horned Lark eat the seeds.

Photos taken in 2022 are at the bottom of the page.

I have enjoyed photographing and learning about the many wildflowers growing on the family farm and in other areas. The farm in Windsor, Missouri in Pettis County (Henry County is across the street, and Benton and Johnson aren’t far away). I have grown over 500 different plants and identified over 250 species of wildflowers (most have pages listed on the right side of the page. I am not an expert, botanist, or horticulturalist. I just like growing, photographing, and writing about my experience. I rely on several websites for ID and a horticulturalist I contact if I cannot figure them out. Wildflowers can be somewhat variable from location to location, so sometimes it gets a bit confusing. If you see I have made an error, please let me know so I can correct what I have written.

I hope you found this page useful and be sure to check the links below for more information. They were written by experts and provide much more information. Some sites may not be up-to-date but they are always a work in progress. If you can, I would appreciate it if you would click on the “Like” below and leave a comment. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. You can also send an email to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com. I would enjoy hearing from you especially if you notice something is a bit whacky.

FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES)
TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF MISSOURI (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF NORTH AMERICA (GENUS/SPECIES)
WORLD FLORA ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
DAVE’S GARDEN
MISSOURI PLANTS
MSU-MIDWEST WEEDS AND WILDFLOWERS
iNATURALIST
WILDFLOWER SEARCH
USDA PLANTS DATABASE
ILLINOIS WILDFLOWERS
MINNESOTA WILDFLOWERS
LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER
KANSAS WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES
PFAF (PLANTS FOR A FUTURE)
GO BOTANY
USDA FOREST SERVICE
FRIENDS OF THE WILDFLOWER GARDEN

NOTE: The data (figures, maps, accepted names, etc.) may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates. Some websites have hundreds and even many thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and it can be hard to keep with as well. Some of the links may use a name that is a synonym on other sites. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is the most reliable and up-to-date plant database and they make updates on a regular basis. I make updates “at least” once a year and when I write new pages or add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂

PHOTOS TAKEN IN 2022