Taxon: Euphorbia esula L.

Summary

Genus:

Euphorbia

Family:

Euphorbiaceae

Subfamily:

Euphorbioideae

Tribe:

Euphorbieae

Subtribe:

Euphorbiinae

Nomen number:

16366

Place of publication:

Sp. pl. 1:461. 1753

Comment:

non Euphorbia esula auct. mult. (= E. virgata Waldst. & Kit., a noxious North American weed)

Typification:

View in Linnean Typification Project

Verified:

05/08/2012 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

2 (1 active, 0 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Euphorbia esula L. var. cyparissioides Boiss. (0 active accession[s])
Euphorbia esula L. var. esula (0 active accession[s])

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Autonym(s)
Euphorbia esula L. subsp. esula

No images

Links

Forestry Images – Images of invasive weeds from www.forestryimages.org
Seeds or fruits – Seed ID Workshop image, from Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, Ohio State University

Conservation Status

CITES Appendix II – Vulnerable to Extinction

Reference(s)

University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Augé, M. et al. 2016. Genetic characterization of a red colour morph of Euphorbia esula subsp. esula (Euphorbiaceae) in the floodplains of the Saône (Eastern France). Botany 94:1001-1007.
Castroviejo, S. et al., eds. 1989-. Flora iberica: plantas vasculares de la Peninsula Iberica e Islas Baleares.
Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
Crompton, C. W. et al. 1990. Morphometric studies of the Euphorbia esula group in North America. Canad. J. Bot. 68:1978-1988.
Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 163.
Encke, F. et al. 1993. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 14. Auflage
Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1408.
Frajman, B. & P. Schönswetter. 2011. Giants and dwarfs: molecular phylogenies reveal multiple origins of annual spurges within Euphorbia subg. Esula. Molec. Phylogenet. Evol. 61:413-424.
Geltman, D. V. 1998. Taxonomic notes on Euphorbia esula (Euphorbiaceae) with special reference to its occurrence in the east part of the Baltic region. Ann. Bot. Fenn. 35:116.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist. Note: = aggr.
Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
Munro, D. B. Canadian poisonous plants information system (on-line resource).
Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
Riina, R. et al. 2013. A worldwide molecular phylogeny and classification of the leafy spurges, Euphorbia subgenus Esula (Euphorbiaceae). Taxon 62:316-342.
Riina, R. et al. 2016. Euphorbia. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 12:312.
Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
Walters, S. M. et al., eds. 1986-2000. European garden flora.
2018. Mid-Atlantic invasive plant species (on-line resource)

Common names

Language	Name	note	seq	Citation
English	leafy spurge		1	Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
English	wolf's-milk		1	Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1408.
English (Canada)	leafy spurge	Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada official name	2	Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 163.
French (Canada)	euphorbe ésule	Agriculture & Agroalimentaire Canada nom officiel	2	Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 163.
German	Esels-Wolfsmilch		2	Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1408.
German	Ruten-Wolfsmilch		2	Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1408. Note: as Euphorbia esula subsp. tommasiniana
Portuguese (Brazil)	leiteira-folhosa		2	Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Swedish	vargtörel		2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Africa	Macaronesia	Portugal	Azores		Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Caucasus	Armenia			Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Caucasus	Azerbaijan			Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Caucasus	Georgia			Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Caucasus	Russian Federation	Dagestan		Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Caucasus	Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia	Ciscaucasia		Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	China	China			Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Korea			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Middle Asia	Kazakhstan			Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Middle Asia	Kyrgyzstan			Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Middle Asia	Tajikistan			Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Middle Asia	Turkmenistan			Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Middle Asia	Uzbekistan			Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Mongolia	Mongolia			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Russian Far East	Russian Federation	Amur		Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Siberia	Russian Federation	Altay		Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Siberia	Russian Federation	Buryatia		Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Siberia	Russian Federation	Irkutsk		Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Siberia	Russian Federation	Krasnoyarsk		Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Siberia	Russian Federation-Western Siberia	Western Siberia		Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Western Asia	Afghanistan			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Western Asia	Iran			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Western Asia	Iraq			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Western Asia	Lebanon			Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Western Asia	Syria			Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
1	Native	Asia-Temperate	Western Asia	Turkey			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Pakistan		n.	Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Europe	Eastern Europe	Belarus			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Europe	Eastern Europe	Estonia			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Europe	Eastern Europe	Latvia			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Europe	Eastern Europe	Lithuania			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Europe	Eastern Europe	Moldova			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Europe	Eastern Europe	Russian Federation-European part	European part		Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
1	Native	Europe	Eastern Europe	Ukraine		incl. Krym	Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Austria			Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Belgium			Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Czech Republic			Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Germany			Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Hungary			Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Netherlands			Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Poland			Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1	Native	Europe	Middle Europe	Switzerland			Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1	Native	Europe	Northern Europe	Finland			Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Bulgaria			Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist. Note: = aggr.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Former Yugoslavia			Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist. Note: = aggr.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Italy			Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist. Note: = aggr.
1	Native	Europe	Southeastern Europe	Romania			Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1	Native	Europe	Southwestern Europe	France		incl. Corsica	Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1	Native	Europe	Southwestern Europe	Portugal			Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1	Native	Europe	Southwestern Europe	Spain			Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
3	Adventive	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	North Dakota		Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
3	Adventive	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Indiana		Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
3	Adventive	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Michigan		Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
3	Adventive	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New York		Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
3	Adventive	Pacific	North-Central Pacific	United States	Hawaii		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
4	Naturalized	Europe	Northern Europe	Denmark			Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Europe	Northern Europe	Norway			Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Europe	Northern Europe	United Kingdom			Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Northern America		Mexico			Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Ontario		Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Alberta		Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).

Native
Africa

MACARONESIA: Portugal [Azores]

Asia-Temperate

WESTERN ASIA: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey
CAUCASUS: Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia [Ciscaucasia], Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation [Dagestan]
SIBERIA: Russian Federation-Western Siberia [Western Siberia], Russian Federation [Altay, Buryatia, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk]
MIDDLE ASIA: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
MONGOLIA: Mongolia
RUSSIAN FAR EAST: Russian Federation [Amur]
CHINA: China
EASTERN ASIA: Korea

Asia-Tropical

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: Pakistan (n.)

Europe

NORTHERN EUROPE: Finland
MIDDLE EUROPE: Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland
EASTERN EUROPE: Russian Federation-European part [European part], Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym)
SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Italy, Romania
SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain, France (incl. Corsica), Portugal

Adventive
Northern America

NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Indiana, Michigan, New York]
NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [North Dakota]

Pacific

NORTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC: United States [Hawaii]

Naturalized
Europe

NORTHERN EUROPE: Denmark, United Kingdom, Norway

Northern America

EASTERN CANADA: Canada [Ontario]
WESTERN CANADA: Canada [Alberta]
REGION: Mexico

Reference(s)

Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959-. Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist. Note: = aggr.
Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.
Riina, R. & P. E. Berry, coord. Euphorbia Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (on-line resource).
Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=16366. Accessed 12 May 2026.