wood spurge
ExplorePlants
wood spurge
Euphorbia amygdaloides
Wood spurge is a cheerful green plant with bright yellow flowers. It grows in gardens and woodlands, and it can be a fun surprise to find while exploring nature!
Habitat: Woodlands
Appearance
The wood spurge has distinctive lime-green to yellow-green bracts surrounding its tiny true flowers, forming a bright cup-shaped structure. Its upright stems are often reddish, contrasting with the dark green, spoon-shaped leaves arranged in rosettes.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderMalpighialesFamilyEuphorbiaceaeGenusEuphorbia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Each tiny flower is actually a complex structure with male and female parts in one!
Its sap, called latex, was once used as a traditional wart remover!
Some insects, like the Spurge Hawk-moth, are immune to its toxic sap!
This plant can bloom even in deep shade, brightening up forest floors!
Special abilities
Ability
Sap Shield
Wood spurge has a milky, sticky sap that acts like a protective shield, irritating predators who try to eat it.
Ability
Sun Tracker
Its leaves can subtly turn to follow the sun, helping it soak up maximum energy for growth.
Ability
Seed Flinger
Wood spurge can forcibly fling its seeds away, launching them far from the parent plant to find new homes.
Ability
Ant Ally
Wood spurge has special fatty parts on its seeds that attract ants for dispersal.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-80 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 1-2 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Moderate
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
eats
Spurge Hawk-moth
Hyles euphorbiae
Larvae specialize on spurge leaves, tolerating its toxic sap.
symbiotic with
Red wood ant
Formica rufa
Disperses its seeds, attracted by a fatty elaiosome.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Ornamental
Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Do not touch the sap, as it can irritate your skin. Always explore plants with an adult!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is wood spurge?
30-80 cm
How wide does wood spurge spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on wood spurge?
1-2 cm
When does wood spurge bloom?
Spring
Is wood spurge edible?
No
Is wood spurge toxic?
Moderate
What is wood spurge's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is wood spurge pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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