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Leafy Spurge (esula spurge)
Euphorbiaceae,
the spurge family
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Background
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 Leafy
spurge was brought to the U.S. from Eurasia about 1897. A milky latex exists
in all parts of the plant that can produce blisters and dermatitis in
humans, cattle, and horses and may cause permanent blindness if rubbed into
the eye. Protection is needed when handling leafy spurge. It spreads both by
seed and creeping roots and grows in may environmental conditions. |
Description
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Leafy spurge is a perennial weed with roots often
exceeding 20 feet in depth. Plants develop from pinkish root buds from any
depth. Leaves are narrow and up to 4 inches long. Stems grow up to 3 feet in
height, and in midsummer are tipped by several pairs of show, yellowish
green heart-shaped bracts (each up t0 1/3-inch across), which enclose a
small flower. Stems and leaves exude a milky latex when touched, throwing
seeds as far as 15 feet. |
Distribution
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 Found
throughout the West. |
Control
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Biological control agents (several stem/root boring beetles, a short tip
gall midge, and a stem boring moth, 3 root/defoliating flea beetles) have
been inconsistent in Idaho. Sheep and goats have been used to check the rate
of spread of leafy spurge. Herbicides are available for control. |
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© 1999 University of Idaho:
Text and photographs for these pages from Idaho's Noxious Weeds, by
Robert H. Callihan and Timothy W. Miller (revised by Don W. Morishita
and Larry W. Lass).
Please contact: Ag Publishing, University of Idaho, Moscow,
Idaho 83844-2240; 208 882-7982 visit the Resources for Idaho website at
http://info.ag.uidaho.edu, for more information about this or other
publications.
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