Euphorbia cyparissias L.
cypress spurge
Glabrous, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial. Stems somewhat woody toward base, up to 50 cm high, branched or not at base, usually with some non-flowering branches. Lvs alternate, exstipulate, sessile, entire, linear, acute, (5)-10-20-(25) mm long. Terminal umbel with numerous rays, usually a few axillary rays arising below; lvs subtending rays like stem lvs, somewhat broadened at base; rays sometimes secondarily branched but usually forming a simple or once-compound dichasium; lvs subtending ray-branches and cyathia reniform to suborbicular, not connate, yellowish or becoming reddish. Glands elliptic; horns very short, slender. Capsule smooth, slightly granulate on rounded keels. Seeds smooth, rounded, grey, 1.5-1.75 mm long.
N.: established at several localities in Wellington Province, also collected once from Hastings; S.: known from Seddon (Marlborough) and Culverden (Canterbury) only.
Europe 1914
Pasture, stony ground.
Poisonous (Connor 1977).
Cypress spurge is only occasionally cultivated and not common as a naturalised plant either.
