Painted spurge
Euphorbia cyathophora
family
Euphorbiaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
NIL
For information only
Common names
Catalina, Dwarf poinsettia, Fire on the mountain, Mexican fire plant, Poinsttia.
A short-lived upright herbaceous plant usually less than 1m 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. Its inconspicuous greenish-coloured 'flowers' are borne at the tips of the branches.
Impact
Impact
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 sub-coastal 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).
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
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 sub-coastal 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).
