# steppe spurge (*Euphorbia seguieriana*)

Steppe spurge is a unique plant that grows in dry places. It has thick, green stems and small, yellow flowers that bloom in the summer. This plant is great at surviving in tough conditions!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![steppe spurge](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Euphorbia_seguieriana_-_inflorecences_-_Jardin_Botanique_Henri_GAUSSEN.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Euphorbia_seguieriana_-_inflorecences_-_Jardin_Botanique_Henri_GAUSSEN.jpg)

## Appearance

The steppe spurge is an upright, bushy plant with slender stems and narrow, bluish-green leaves. Its small, inconspicuous flowers are surrounded by bright, showy lime-green to yellow-green bracts, making it visually distinct from plants with traditional petals.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Malpighiales
- **Family:** Euphorbiaceae
- **Genus:** Euphorbia

## Interesting facts

- Its "flowers" are actually tiny, hidden inside bright green leafy cups!
- Some people call it "gopher spurge" because they believe it keeps gophers away!
- The plant's scientific name, Euphorbia, comes from an ancient Greek doctor!
- Watch out! Its seeds can explode from their capsules and fly surprisingly far!

## Special abilities

- **Root Spreader:** Steppe spurge can spread through underground stems called rhizomes, helping it form new clumps and thrive in its habitat.
- **Dry Land Survivor:** Steppe spurge has adapted to store water in its leaves and stems, allowing it to survive in very dry, arid environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-70 cm
- **Spread:** 20-40 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits tiny flowers for nectar.
- **Eats:** spurge hawkmoth (*Hyles euphorbiae*) — Larvae specialize on spurge leaves.
- **Pollinates:** buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Gathers pollen and nectar from its blooms.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [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.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [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.
- [Steppe](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/steppe): This habitat trait describes species found in steppes, which are dry, treeless grasslands characterized by extreme seasonal temperature variations and low precipitation.
- [Toxic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/toxic): Toxic organisms contain substances that are poisonous and can cause adverse effects upon exposure.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Be careful not to touch the sap, as it can irritate your skin.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify steppe 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 steppe spurge?

30-70 cm

### How wide does steppe spurge spread?

20-40 cm

### How big are the flowers on steppe spurge?

0.2-0.3 cm

### When does steppe spurge bloom?

Late spring to mid-summer

### Is steppe spurge edible?

No

### Is steppe spurge toxic?

Moderate

### What is steppe spurge's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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*)

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Source: [Steppe Spurge: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/steppe-spurge)