Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_6480.JPG-05-28-2021
Flower name (scientific): Euphorbia virgata Waldstein & Kitaibel PY: 1803. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) yoo-FOR-bee-ah vir-GAY-tuh
Flower name (common): Leafy 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 twiggy, streaked, or long and slender.
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.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.04 to 0.1 inches (1 to 3 mm)
     Petal count: 0
     Color: yellow
     Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-umbel
Plant description:
     Size: 12 to 24 inches (30 to 61 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple
     Size:
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, blade linear to linear-oblanceolate or linear-oblong (FNA)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced, invasive/Restricted in Wisconsin
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon
Bloom time (typical): May to September
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Disturbed areas, fields, roadsides, waste areas, sun, dry.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): Euphorbia cyparissias (Cypress Spurge) has some resemblance to Euphorbia virgata. The former has smaller leaves, 5 to 30 mm long and 0.5 to 3 mm wide, whereas E. virgata has leaves 40 to 90 mm long and 3 to 12 mm wide. E. cyparissias is a smaller plant, typically 6 to 14 inches tall, whereas E. virgata is typically 12 to 28 inches tall.
Ethnobotany:
Latitude: 44.802407
Longitude: -91.499907
Altitude: 244.50
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Dane, Door, Douglas, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Ozaukee, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Walworth, Washington, Waupaca) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): Not listed
Wetland Status (MW): Not listed