Download Euphorbia cyathophora

Weeds of Australia - Biosecurity Queensland Edition Fact Sheet
Euphorbia cyathophora
Scientific Name
Euphorbia cyathophora Murr.
Synonyms
Euphorbia heterophylla L. (misapplied)
Euphorbia heterophylla L. var. cyathophora (Murr.) Griseb.
dense infestation near a beach (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Common Names
catalina, dwarf poinsettia, fire on the mountain, fire-on-the-mountain, Mexican fire
plant, painted leaf, painted poinsettia, painted spurge, painted-leaf, painted-leaf spurge,
poinsettia, summer poinsettia, wild poinsettia
dense infestation along a waterway (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Origin
Native to tropical North America (i.e. the USA and eastern Mexico) and possibly also
Central America (i.e. Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama), the
Caribbean and South America (i.e. Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina and Chile).
Cultivation
Painted spurge ( Euphorbia cyathophora) is widely cultivated, particularly in the warmer
parts of Australia, for its attractive reddish-coloured floral leaves.
Naturalised Distribution
This species has a widespread, but scattered, distribution throughout much of Australia.
It is most common in the coastal districts of Queensland and northern New South
Wales, scattered in the Northern Territory and in the northern and western parts of
Western Australia, and present in the coastal districts of central New South Wales. Also
naturalised on several offshore islands (i.e. Lord Howe Island, Christmas Island, Norfolk
Island, the Cocos Islands and the Coral Sea Islands) and sparingly naturalised on the
Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.
habit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Naturalised in many other parts of the world, including on numerous Pacific islands (e.g.
Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New
Caledonia, Niue, Palau and Wake Island).
Habitat
habit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
This species is a weed of disturbed sites, waste areas, roadsides, creek banks (i.e.
riparian areas) and plantation crops (e.g. sugar cane and pineapples) in tropical, subtropical and warmer temperate environments. However, it is most abundant as a weed
of coastal environs and offshore islands.
Habit
A short-lived (i.e. annual) herbaceous plant with an upright (i.e. erect) habit. It usually
only grows to approximately 70-90 cm in height.
Distinguishing Features
a short-lived upright herbaceous plant usually less than 1 m tall.
its stems and leaves have a milky sap.
its leaves are often fiddle-shaped and are usually alternately arranged along
the stems.
the leaves just below the 'flowers' have reddish-pink coloured bases (i.e. they
appear to be 'painted') and can easily be mistaken for large petals at a
distance.
fiddle-shaped upper leaves (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
its inconspicuous greenish-coloured 'flowers' are borne at the tips of the
branches.
close-up of immature fruit developing from the large threelobed ovaries (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Stems and Leaves
The upright (i.e. erect) stems are 3-5 mm thick and their side-branches, when
present, are often produced in pairs. Stems and branches are green in colour and
mostly hairless (i.e. glabrous). The stems and leaves also exude a caustic milky sap (i.e.
latex) when broken or damaged.
The leaves are oppositely arranged towards the base of the plant, alternately arranged
along most of the stem, and are then oppositely arranged again on the uppermost parts
of the stems and branches (i.e. where the flowers are produced). These leaves (2-10 cm
long and 1-4 cm wide) are borne on stalks (i.e. petioles) 4-12 mm long and the shape of
the leaf blade is quite variable. It ranges from fiddle-shaped (i.e. pandurate) or lobed
through to oval (i.e. elliptic) or egg-shaped in outline (i.e. obovate). The upper surface of
these leaves is hairless (i.e. glabrous) while the under surface usually has a few closelying (i.e. appressed) hairs. The leaves at the tips of the branches (i.e. those just below
the flowers) have reddish-pink coloured bases and can appear to be large flower petals
at a distance.
close-up of immature and mature and fruit (Photo: Sheldon
Navie)
Flowers and Fruit
The inconspicuous 'flowers' (i.e. cyathia) are actually tiny cup-like structures (i.e.
involucres) each containing several tiny male flowers and one female flower. The male
flowers are reduced to stamens and the female flower consists of a very large stalked
ovary topped with a stigma. These 'flowers' (i.e. cyathia) are clustered at the tips of the
branches and are yellowish-green in colour. Each 'flower' (i.e. cyathium) is borne on
a separate stalk (i.e. peduncle) and the tiny cup-like structures (i.e. involucres) are about
2-2.5 mm long. They usually also have one or two kidney-shaped yellowish structures
that contain nectar (i.e. floral nectaries).
seedlings and young plants (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
The fruit is a three-lobed capsule (3-4 mm long and 5-6 mm wide) with three inner
compartments, each containing a single seed. Seeds are egg-shaped (i.e. ovoid) and
dark brown in colour (2-3 mm long and about 1.5 mm wide).
Reproduction and Dispersal
Painted spurge ( Euphorbia cyathophora) reproduces by seed. The capsules open
explosively when mature, expelling the seeds short distances. They may also be spread
by water movement and is dumped garden waste.
Environmental Impact
comparison of the upper leaves of milkweed (Euphorbia
heterophylla), on the left, and painted spurge (Euphorbia
cyathophora), on the right (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Painted spurge ( Euphorbia cyathophora) is regarded as an environmental weed in
Queensland and New South Wales. It is ranked among the top 200 environmental
weeds in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales, and appears
on numerous local environmental weed lists in these regions.
This species prefers sandy soils, particularly in disturbed sites. It is of most concern as a
weed of hind-dune areas on beaches and is also relatively common in coastal and subcoastal riparian zones. In Queensland painted spurge ( Euphorbia cyathophora ) is most
prevalent in the south-eastern parts of the state, but is also a weed of beaches and
offshore islands in the north (e.g. in Townsville City, in Sarina Shire, on Heron Island and
on Green Island).
In New South Wales painted spurge ( Euphorbia cyathophora) is mainly a problem in
coastal sandy sites north of Coffs Harbour on the mid north coast. In Western Australia
it is an occasional weed in the northern parts of the state (e.g. at Derby and Broome),
has been recorded in suburban Perth, and is also present on offshore islands (i.e. on
Koolan Island).
'flower' clusters and floral leaves with brightly
coloured bases (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Other Impacts
This species is poisonous to humans. Its stems contain a milky sap (i.e. latex) that
is highly irritating when it comes into contact with the skin or when it is accidentally
rubbed into the eyes.
Legislation
Not declared or considered noxious by any state government authorities.
Similar Species
Painted spurge ( Euphorbia cyathophora) is very similar to milkweed ( Euphorbia
heterophylla) and poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). These three species can be
distinguished by the following differences:
close-up of young 'flowers' (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
painted spurge ( Euphorbia cyathophora ) is a relatively small herb (usually
less than 1 m tall) with leaves that are sometimes distinctively lobed
or fiddle-shaped (i.e. pandurate). The cluster of leaves directly beneath
its flowers usually have very distinct bright reddish-pink or orange coloured
bases.
milkweed ( Euphorbia heterophylla ) is a relatively small herb (usually 20-80
cm tall) with leaves that are elongated (i.e. lanceolate) or egg-shaped in
outline (i.e ovate). The cluster of leaves directly beneath its flowers are
usually entirely green in colour, but their bases may be a
slightly different colour.
poinsettia ( Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a relatively large shrubby plant (usually
1-3 m tall) with woody stems and leaves that are usually variously toothed or
lobed. The cluster of leaves directly beneath its flowers are usually entirely
bright red or reddish-green in colour (or occasionally white).
comparison of the floral leaves and 'flower' clusters of
milkweed (Euphorbia heterophylla), on the left, and
painted spurge (Euphorbia cyathophora), on the right
(Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Fact sheets are available from Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) service centres and our Customer Service Centre (telephone 13
25 23). Check our website at www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au to ensure you have the latest version of this fact sheet. The control methods referred to in this fact sheet
should be used in accordance with the restrictions (federal and state legislation, and local government laws) directly or indirectly related to each control method. These
restrictions may prevent the use of one or more of the methods referred to, depending on individual circumstances. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of
this information, DEEDI does not invite reliance upon it, nor accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused by actions based on it.
Copyright © 2016. All rights reserved. Identic Pty Ltd. Special edition of Environmental Weeds of Australia for Biosecurity Queensland.
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