Flower ID: IMG_8484.JPG-08-15-2023 Flower name (scientific): Euphorbia maculata Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) yoo-FOR-bee-ah mak-yuh-LAH-tuh (or mak-yoo-LAY-tah or mac-you-LAY-ta) Flower name (common): Spotted Spurge Family name (common): Spurge Family name (scientific): Euphorbiaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Named for Euphorbus, Greek physican to Juba II, King of Mauretania. From the Greek eu, for well, and phorbe, pasture or fodder, hence, euphorbos reads literally well-fed. Specific epithet: Latin for spotted, refers to the reddish-brown spots or streaks that are sometimes on the leaves. Common name origin: Spurge derives from the old French espurge meaning to purge. Spurge is a common name for plants that when cut or bruised, secrete a milky latex that has purgative or medicinal applications. The latex is toxic. Spotted refers to the reddish-brown coloration that may be present on some of the leaves. Flower description: Size: 0.05 to 0.1 inches (1 to 3 mm) Petal count: 4 (these are petal-like appendages). Flower has no petals or sepals. Color: white Other: flower arrangement, None Plant description: Size: 1 to 4 inches (3 to 10 cm) in height, up to 18 inches in length. Forms a mat. Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple Size: Leaves up to 1.8 cm long and to about 5 to 8 mm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, oblong-ovate to ovate-elliptic or oblong-elliptic (FNA), oblong to oblong-ovate (MB) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): June to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual Habitat: Disturbed sites, roadsides, railroads, waste ground, sandy soil, sun, dry. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Euphorbia glyptosperma (Ridge-seed Spurge) and Euphorbia geyeri (Geyer's Spurge) have some similarity to Euphorbia maculata. E. glyptosperma and E. geyeri both have stems that are hairless while E. maculata has stems that are hairy. Euphorbia prostrata (Prostrate Spurge) also has stems that are hairy, but is usually not mat forming, and lacks a red splotch on the leaves. The are very few observations of E. prostrata in Wisconsin. E. maculata usually has a red splotch on at least some of the leaves. Ethnobotany: Latitude: 44.794538 Longitude: -91.494952 Altitude: 249.30 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) In Canada: (BC, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na