Red caustic weed
Euphorbia prostrata
family
Euphorbiaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
NIL
For information only
Common names
Blue weed, Creeping spurge, Ground fig spurge, Ground spurge, Groundfig spurge, Hairy creeping milkweed, Hairy prostrate euphorbia, Prostrate mat-spurge, Prostrate sandmat, Prostrate spurge, Red caustic creeper, Red caustic weed.
A small, short-lived, herbaceous plant with reddish or purplish creeping stems. Its stems and leaves contain a milky sap. Its paired leaves (3-8 mm long) are dark green to purplish and have entire or finely toothed margins. Its tiny reddish 'flowers' are borne singly or in small clusters in the leaf forks. Its tiny capsules (about 1.5 mm long) are three-sided, with hairs along the angles. These capsules have three compartments, each containing a single pale brown or yellow seed.
Impact
Impact
Red caustic weed (Chamaesyce prostrata) is a relatively common weed of gardens, roadsides, railway lines and disturbed sites in the region. It is rarely a weed of natural vegetation.
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Red caustic weed (Chamaesyce prostrata) is a relatively common weed of gardens, roadsides, railway lines and disturbed sites in the region. It is rarely a weed of natural vegetation.