Spurge, spotted (Euphorbia maculata)

A prostrate summer annual that often forms dense mats that may reach 16 inches in diameter. All parts of the plant emit a milky sap when broken. Seedlings have cotyledons that are oval, green above and tinted maroon below. Mature plants have opposite leaves that are egg shaped in outline and usually without hairs but sometimes long hairs may occur. Leaves often have a maroon spot on the upper leaf surface. Leaves occur on short petioles and leaf margins may be finely toothed (often indistinguishable) near the leaf apex. Stems branch out from a central point and are densely hairy and pink to red in color.

IPM1007, revised June 2007