Flowering Spurge
			Euphorbia corollata
	HOME Botanical Terms Lists: Master Plant List Flowering Times List Flowers by Color/Type Endangered Species List Habitat List Use the 'back' button on your browser to return, if necessary.		Photograph taken near the Fish Hatchery In Pisgah NF in late June '99. FAMILY: Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae) DESCRIPTION: Spurge leaves are thick and oblong, generally in a whorled pattern, though scattered nearer to the ground. It has a milky sap. Grows 1-3 feet tall. FLOWERS: May to September HABITAT: Seems to prefer rich moist woods and meadows, even some swampy areas. Also likes that disturbed soil, so there's a good chance of finding it by a roadside. OTHER INFORMATION: Its internal milky sap that can cause dermititus or blistering if contacted by the sensitive or too frequently. It's related to other milkweeds. The books i read about it say that the flowers in the center aren't really flowers. One book reads: "What appear to be flowers are actually greenish-yellow involucral glands subtended by white petal-like appendages." Well now! Wouldn't we all like to be subtended by white petal-like appendages! I guess a spurge by any other name... I used to think the name 'spurge' came from, or was similar to 'scourge'. As if this cute little plant, because of it's milky vascularity and weedy prevalance was unwanted. But i learn that the name comes from the same source as (ex)purge, probably because this plant's roots, in small steeped doses has been used as a strong laxative. Other uses indians seemed to have for this plant are a root tea for pinworms and rheumatism. I guess because it causes blisters and thus 'draws up' the blood, a poultice from the root was also used on snakebites. OTHER OBSERVATIONS: My observations about this plant can be found at: OFFSITE INFORMATION: If you're interested