Nodding Spurge, Spotted Spurge

Euphorbia nutans Lag.

[also called Chamaesyce nutans (Lag.) Small]

Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family)

▲ young plant

▲ ▼ young plants

▲ ▼ close-up of stems and leaves

▲▼ close up of stems

▲ ▼ mature, flowering plants

▲ flowers, fruit and leaves

▲ mature flowering plant

▲ nodding spurge plant with purple spots on leaves

Nodding Spurge: 

·        summer annual plant, growing 10-30” tall with arching branches

·        leaves oval,  usually with some hairs, and with small teeth along margins

·        sometimes leaves are spotted, so sometimes this is called spotted spurge, but a prostrate spurge species is also called spotted spurge

·        similar hyssopleaf sandmat or hyssop spurge, has larger flower clusters and smaller leaves with less teeth and hairs on the leaves

·        has milky sap if stems or leaves are broken

·        found in cultivated fields, pastures, roadsides, gardens, non-crop areas