Toothed Spurge

Euphorbia dentata

 

Summer annual plant with diamond-shaped leaves with toothed margins

·        leaves sometimes have purplish color or speckling on them

·        upright growing

·        greenish flowers at stem tips

·        has milky sap

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

Toothed spurge is an erect annual with hairy leaves that often have at least one dark red spot. Toothed spurge can reach 2 feet in height. The flower occurs in clusters at the ends of each branch. They are relatively inconspicuous and have no petals. All parts of the plant emit a milky sap when broken. This weed is found primarily in pastures, rangeland, and other non-crop areas. It can also be troublesome in cultivated crop ground.

Since toothed spurge is an annual plant, hand pulling, hoeing, or cultivation before seed stage can be successful.