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Myrtle Spurge - Euphorbia myrsinites
Other Names:
Donkey-tail Spurge, Creeping Spurge, Blue Spurge,
Tithymalus myrsinites
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Non-native Species Global Rank :
GNR
State Rank :
SNA
(see State Rank Reason below)
C-value :
Agency Status USFWS :
USFS :
BLM :
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State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
Euphorbia myrsinites grows in gardens of urban landscapes in various locations of Montana. This plant was introduced for cultivation into many portions of the USA and Canada (Riina, Geltman, Peirson, and Berry in Flora of North America (FNA) 2016). In Montana it became a trendy garden plant in the 2000s. As a preventative measure Beaverhead County placed it on their county noxious weed list [https://beaverheadcounty.org/departments/weed-district/] because in some states it has locally escaped from cultivation (Riina, Geltman, Peirson, and Berry in FNA 2016). As of 2021 escapes of Euphorbia myrsinites into urban-wildland environments have not been documented in Montana. A conservation status rank is not applicable (SNA) because the plant is exotic (non-native) in Montana and is not a suitable target for conservation activities.Euphorbia myrsinites growing in a native or natural habitat in Montana should be reported to the appropriate County Weed Coordinator.
General Description
PLANTS : Herbaceous plants that are usually perennial, but sometimes biennial. Stems are succulent, erect to trailing, branched or unbranched, and 15-40 cm tall. Plants grow from a taproot. They produce a white, milky sap which is toxic if ingested. Source: Riina, Geltman, Peirson, and Berry in FNA 2016LEAVES : Succulent (fleshy) leaves are alternate on the stem, glabrous, and appear veinless. Leaf stem (petiole) is absent or up to 2 mm long. Blades are obovate, obovate-oblong, lanceolate, orbiculate, or suborbiculate in shape, 2-30 mm x 3-17 mm. Leaf base is truncate or attenuate. Leaf margins are entire or finely denticulate. Leaf apex is acute to obtuse with an abrupt point (cuspidate or mucronate). Source: Riina, Geltman, Peirson, and Berry in FNA 2016INFLORESCENCE : A terminal umbel of yellow-green, ovate bracts containing inconspicuous flowers that lack petals and sepals. The bracts are 2-12 mm long. Above the bracts, the true flowers are green and occur within a cup-like involucre called a cyathium (plural is cyathia). Each cyathium usually contains two seed (female) flowers and 6-12 (male) pollen flowers. Glands with horns are thick with rounded, dilated tips, 0.5-0.9 mm. Fruit is a capsule, more or less globose, unlobed, smooth, and 5-7 mm. Source: Riina, Geltman, Peirson, and Berry in FNA 2016
Phenology
Plants flower and fruit from spring to summer (Riina, Geltman, Peirson, and Berry in FNA 2016).
Diagnostic Characteristics
Myrtle Spurge is glaucous blue with an interesting architectural shape (Mahr 2009). Trailing stems spiral with a density of closely-set leaves; each leaf is waxy, fleshy, and pointed (Mahr 2009).
Range Comments
Plants are found in gardens through much of Canada and the USA. in FNA 2016). It is assumed that FNA's distribution is based on herbarium specimens that document where the plant has escaped into more natural habitats; however, the source information for Montana could not be found. Because Myrtle Spurge has not been documented in Montana within natural or native habitats, MTNHP has not developed a range map.
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 5
(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version)
Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Habitat
Myrtle Spurge is found in gardens and yards; however, in some areas of the US and Canada plants have escaped cultivation. In many western states and provinces of Canada, Myrtle Spurge has been found in scrub-oak communities, open ground near forests, and shrub-steppe areas (Riina, Geltman, Peirson, and Berry in FNA 2016). It also has been found on dry gravelly or sandy soil of roadsides and disturbed areas (Giblin et al. [eds.] 2018). Euphorbia myrsinites growing in a native or natural habitat in Montana should be reported to the appropriate County Weed Coordinator.
Ecology
PLANT GROWTH in FNA 2016). In harsh weather leaves die back to the root crown (Mahr 2009). In milder climates plants can become evergreen (Mahr 2009).INSECTS & PATHOGENS
Reproductive Characteristics
SEEDS in FNA 2016).LIFE CYCLE
Management
To prevent re-seeding or invasion, plants should be dead headed before seeds mature (Mahr 2009). Seedlings can be pulled or hoed to reduce populations (Mahr 2009). Larger plants are more difficult to remove or thin (Mahr 2009).
Stewardship Responsibility
References
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