# Spotted spurge (*Euphorbia maculata*) Spotted spurge is a small plant with pretty green leaves and tiny yellow flowers. It grows close to the ground and can be found in many places, making it easy to spot in gardens and fields. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Spotted spurge](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Chamaesyce.jpg&width=800) Photo: Hardyplants at English Wikipedia, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chamaesyce.jpg) ## Appearance The Spotted spurge is a low-growing plant with reddish, branching stems that spread along the ground. Its small, oval leaves have a distinctive dark reddish-purple spot in the center. Tiny, inconspicuous greenish-white flowers cluster where the leaves meet the stems. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malpighiales - **Family:** Euphorbiaceae - **Genus:** Euphorbia ## Interesting facts - Each plant can produce thousands of microscopic seeds. - It's related to the beautiful poinsettia plant! - Its seeds can shoot out like tiny cannons when ripe! - Spurge sap was once used in folk medicine to "purge." ## Special abilities - **Sap Shield:** Spotted spurge has a milky white sap that helps it defend against hungry animals trying to eat it. - **Ground Hugger:** Spotted spurge can grow flat along the ground, which helps it stay cool and survive being walked on. - **Rapid Recruiter:** Spotted spurge can produce many seeds quickly, helping it spread and colonize new open areas fast. - **Rooted Resilience:** Spotted spurge has a deep taproot that helps it find water and survive in dry, poor soils. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-15 cm - **Spread:** 15-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.1-0.2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to Fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Parasitizes:** Spurge rust (*Uromyces euphorbiae*) — Causes rust-colored spots and damage on spurge leaves. - **Eats:** Brown stink bug (*Euschistus servus*) — Feeds on sap from its stems and developing seeds. - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits its tiny, inconspicuous flowers for nectar. ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not touch the sap, as it can make your skin itchy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Spotted spurge? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Spotted spurge? 5-15 cm ### How wide does Spotted spurge spread? 15-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Spotted spurge? 0.1-0.2 cm ### When does Spotted spurge bloom? Summer to Fall ### Is Spotted spurge edible? No ### Is Spotted spurge toxic? Mild ### What is Spotted spurge's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Bok Tower Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bok-tower-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Eakin Community Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/eakin-community-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/humboldt-alexander-von-park) — Illinois, US · Park - [South Hadley Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-hadley-canal) — Massachusetts, US · Historic Site - [Clover Bend Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clover-bend-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/falls-of-the-ohio-national-wildlife-conservation-area) — Indiana, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Spotted spurge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/spotted-spurge) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Spotted spurge: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-spurge)