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Toothed Spurge Euphobiaceae, the spurge family
BACKGROUND: Toothed spurge is native to the Great Plains region. It spreads by seed and grows under a wide range of environmental conditions. A milky latex exists in all parts of the plant that can produce blisters and dermatitis in humans, cattle, and horses and may cause permanent blindness if rubbed into the eye. Protection is needed when handling toothed spurge.
DESCRIPTION: Toothed spurge is an annual up to 3 feet tall. Leaves are up to 3 inches long, ovate to linear, coarsely toothed, mostly opposite, hairy, and often dotted with a few purplish red spots. Stems are many branched and generally curve up- wards. Both stems and leaves exude a milky latex when broken. The inconspicuous flowers are borne in late summer, followed by 3-sided, turban-shaped, l/4-inch, smooth, green fruits. Seeds are rough, bumpy, oval, and gray.
DISTRIBUTION: Toothed spurge is widely established from Massachusetts to Virginia and west to Arizona, but only limited locations in Idaho have
been reported.
CONTROL: No biological control agents are available for toothed spurge, but herbicides are available to provide control.