We’re back for another round of I spy in the Sea to Sky! Can you guess the species?
My flowers are small and greenish-yellow,
with linear leaves, angled and narrow.
I ooze a white sap so you better be cautious,
I’ll give you a rash and make you feel nauseous.
If you guessed Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias), you are correct!
This flowering perennial is originally from Europe and was introduced to North America as an ornamental plant in the 1860s. In fact, it was widely planted in cemeteries, giving it the nickname of graveyard weed. Since escaping cultivation, Cypress Spurge has become highly invasive in British Columbia. You can spot this invasive species in meadows, pastures, road edges, cemeteries, and rights-of-ways. It also thrives in dunes, coastal headlands, and grasslands.
Cypress Spurge (C. O’Brien)
The plant can grow 15-30 cm tall, with numerous bright green linear leaves located alternately along the stem and clusters of small, yellow-greenish flowers. Flowers bear a resemblance to satellite dishes, with protruding glands centred on cup-shaped bracts. Note, Cypress Spurge looks very similar to Leafy Spurge, another invasive species in the Sea to Sky region. However, the latter species is much taller, with wider leaves.
Cypress Spurge has several ecological impacts. For instance, it destroys native grasslands, displaces forage for wildlife and livestock, decreases nutrients in the soil, and reduces native plant biodiversity.
Cypress Spurge also produces a toxic, milky sap that can irritate the eyes, mouth, skin and gastrointestinal tract. Indeed, the plants’ roots were once used as a purgative, hence its genus name, Spurge. Additionally, the toxic latex is poisonous to horses and cattle if ingested. Take caution when removing the species; be sure to wear proper protection, such as gloves and long sleeves, and dispose of the species in the garbage, NOT the compost bin. For more detailed management tips, click here.
As SSISC’s Species Priority List denotes, we look to eradicate Cypress Spurge in Squamish and Whistler and prevent its establishment in Pemberton. That means there is still a chance to remove this nasty weed from the Sea to Sky! Think you’ve spotted Cypress Spurge? Report it here.
Don’t forget to check out our monthly I Spy in the Sea to Sky contest! Details below.
I Spy in the Sea to Sky Contest
Guess the invasive species in our I spy in the Sea to Sky, posted every Monday, June through August, to enter the giveaway. Once a month, one lucky commenter will win a packet of native flowers seed mix.
Contest Rules:
- Comment your guess on either Instagram or Facebook to enter
- 1 entry per person per post
- Anyone can play, but only residents of the Sea to Sky region are eligible to win
- Entry will close at 11:59 PM PST on the last day of each month (in this case June 30th)
- Winners will be announced on the first business day of the next month (July 5th) and contacted via their platform of entry
- This giveaway is in no way sponsored or endorsed by Instagram or Facebook
Good luck!
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