Plant · GBIF taxon 3070346
Nodding Spurge
Euphorbia nutansAlso known as Eyebane
Nodding spurge is an adaptable annual herb recognizable by its slender, arching stems and paired leaves often marked with central reddish smudges. Clusters of tiny specialized flowers called cyathia droop gently at the branch tips, edged by delicate white petal-like appendages. When wounded, the plant leaks a caustic milky latex that protects its foliage from foraging insects and browsing mammals.
AnnualSun-lovingPioneer
Licensed referenceno rights reserved, uploaded by Evan Barker · cc0
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
- Euphorbia flea beetles
- Spurge leaf miners
ThreatsIntensive agricultural herbicide application and repeated deep tilling
HabitatsPastures, roadsides, disturbed soils, cultivated fields, and railway beds
Life spanAnnual (single growing season)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderMalpighiales
- FamilyEuphorbiaceae
- GenusEuphorbia
- SpeciesEuphorbia nutans
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Milky sap irritates skin and eyes and is toxic if ingested; wear gloves when handling.
- Why it is dangerous
- Broken tissue exudes latex containing diterpene esters that cause painful skin blisters, intense eye inflammation, and livestock poisoning.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by its branching, reddish stems that weep white latex when snapped, paired serrate leaves, and nodding flower heads.
- What to do
- Wear garden gloves when pulling plants, wash skin immediately after contact, and keep livestock away from heavy infestations.
Responsible observation
- Weeding Safety: Wear protective gloves and avoid touching eyes when clearing this plant by hand.
- Field ID: Check for asymmetric leaf bases and arching stem tips to confirm identification.
Same Genus (c) nmoorhatch, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by nmoorhatch · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
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