Euphorbia cyparissias (Cypress spurge)

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Euphorbia cyparissias L.

Cypress spurge, spurge

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Malpighiales	A broad group encompassing 16,000 species
Family	Euphorbiaceae	Euphorbia or spurge family
Genus	Euphorbia	An extremely diverse-looking genus of mostly tropical and subtropical succulent plants. For Euphorbus, corpulent Greek physician of Juba II, King of Mauretania. Literally, “euphorbia” means “well-fed”
Species	cyparissias	Derivded from Greek kuparisso, “spurge;” spurge in turn means “to purge,” for which some species were sometimes used

About plant names...

I think of Euphorbias as being plants, often cactus-like in appearance, from tropical and subtropical climes. But there are many members of this genus, like cypress spurge, that are at home in temperate climates. This plant was introduced as an ornamental to North America from Europe, and it is now naturalized throughout much of North America. In many areas it is considered an invasive.

Identification: Plants are 4-31" (10-80 cm) in height. They are topped by a ball or dome of "flowers" (really bracts, or specialized leaves). New flowers are greenish yellow or yellow, becoming purple or red as they age. Leaves are small and very narrow, needlelike, ¾-1½" (2-4 cm) × ¹/₃₂-¹/₁₆" (1-2 mm).

Edibility: Poisonous Skull & Crossbones Plants emit a milky sap when broken that irritates eyes, mouth, and skin.