Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula, Sp. Pl.: 461 (1753))

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 461 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Euphorbia

Vegetable: False

Observations: Azores to Temp. Eurasia

Description

Leafy spurge, scientifically known as Euphorbia esula, is a persistent and invasive perennial plant belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family. First described in 1753 by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus, this species is documented in his seminal work, “Species Plantarum” (Sp. Pl.: 461).

Native to temperate regions of Eurasia, from the cool climates of the Azores to the vast expanses of temperate Europe and Asia, leafy spurge has since become a widely recognized nuisance in several parts of the world. Its aggressive growth and adaptability to various environmental conditions make it particularly problematic for agricultural and natural ecosystems.

Leafy spurge exhibits an extensive root system that can reach depths of over 4.5 meters, making it highly resilient to dry conditions. The plant’s characteristic greenish-yellow flowers typically bloom from late spring to early summer, grouped in clusters at the ends of its branched stems. One of its defining features is the milky latex sap it exudes when any part of the plant is broken, which can cause skin irritation on contact.

Due to its invasive nature, leafy spurge has garnered significant attention from conservationists and land managers. It competes aggressively with native flora, often resulting in reduced biodiversity and altered habitats. Control efforts include mechanical removal, chemical treatments, and biological control agents such as certain insects that specifically target the plant.

Understanding and managing leafy spurge is crucial to preserving native plant communities and ensuring the health of ecosystems where this tenacious plant has made its presence known.

Common Names

Deu: esels-wolfsmilch, ruten-wolfsmilch
Dan: langbladet vortemælk
Eng: leafy spurge, spurge, wolf’s milk, wolf’s-milk, hungarian spurge
Fra: euphorbe ésule, euphorbe âcre
Nld: heksenmelk, heksenmelk subsp. esula, heksenmelk subsp. tommasiniana
Swe: vargtörel, bredbladig vargtörel
Cym: fflamgoed ganghenddail, llaeth blaidd, llaethlys deiliog
En: Leafy spurge, Wolf’s-milk, Wolf’s milk, Spurge, Hungarian spurge, Faitour’s Grass, Faitours-grass
Ar: فربيون ورقي
Az: Acı südləyən
Ca: Lleteresa de séquia, Lletrera de séquia, Lleteresa de sèquia
Zh: 乳浆大戟
Cs: Pryšec obecný
Da: Langbladet vortemælk
Nl: Heksenmelk, Heksenmelk subsp. esula, Heksenmelk subsp. tommasiniana, Heksenwolfsmelk
Et: Kibe piimalill
Fi: Kenttätyräkki
Fr: Embranchée, “Euphorbe ésule, Euphorbe feuillue, Euphorbe âcre”, Euphorbe ésule, Euphorbe âcre
Gl: Leiterena frondosa
De: Ruten-Wolfsmilch, Esels-Wolfsmilch, Scharfe Wolfsmilch, Teufelsmilch
It: Euforbia acre, Euforbia di Tommasini
Pl: Wilczomlecz lancetowaty
Pt-br: Leiteira-folhosa
Ru: Молочай острый
Sk: Mliečnik obyčajný
Sv: Vargtörel, Bredbladig vargtörel
Zh-tw: 乳漿大戟
Zh-hant: 乳漿大戟
Cy: Llaethlys deiliog, Fflamgoed Ganghenddail, Llaeth Blaidd

Synonyms

• Euphorbion esulum ((L.) St.-Lag.)
• Galarhoeus esula ((L.) Rydb.)
• Keraselma esula ((L.) Raf.)
• Tithymalus esula ((L.) Hill)
• Euphorbia esula var. genuina (Boiss.)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Altay (native)
• Amur (native)
• Austria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Chita (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Iran (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kamchatka (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Korea (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Qinghai (native)
• Sakhalin (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Denmark (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Leaf

Taken Feb 19, 2021 by elisabeth le hasif (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 13, 2021 by Cristian Zanella Cristian Zanella (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 14, 2022 by Jo Welch (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 18, 2022 by Riccardo Marsalli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 26, 2017 by Pablo Llorens Martín De La Sierra (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken May 13, 2021 by Cristian Zanella Cristian Zanella (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 13, 2021 by Cristian Zanella Cristian Zanella (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2022 by Zo W (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 14, 2021 by Hanna Bujnowska (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 21, 2019 by Lili Minimé (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken May 18, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 24, 2022 by Blue Bottle (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 16, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 1, 2021 by sarah garcia (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 18, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Dec 20, 2021 by Darion Stroyan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Daniel MATHIEU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 9, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Florence Tornare (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Daniel MATHIEU (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 18, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jul 4, 2022 by Zsofi (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 16, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 18, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 7, 2019 by Audrey Dujardin (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Jul 15, 1998 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken May 6, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 11, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 4, 2019 by Sorin Trinca (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:346448-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/8203538)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Euphorbia esula L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 7

Bloom months: [‘may’, ‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’]

Soil nutriments: 4