Taxon: Euphorbia heterophylla L.

Summary

Genus:

Euphorbia

Subgenus:

Poinsettia

Family:

Euphorbiaceae

Subfamily:

Euphorbioideae

Tribe:

Euphorbieae

Subtribe:

Euphorbiinae

Nomen number:

16374

Place of publication:

Sp. pl. 1:453. 1753

Comment:

non Euphorbia heterophylla auct. N. Amer. (= E. cyathophora Murray)

Typification:

View in Linnean Typification Project

Verified:

07/02/2008 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

10 (8 active, 2 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

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

Homotypic Synonym(s)
Poinsettia heterophylla (L.) Klotzsch & Garcke

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Euphorbia geniculata Ortega
Euphorbia prunifolia Jacq.

Images (2 total. Click on image for more.)

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
Balakrishnan, N. P. & T. Chakrabarty. 2007. The family Euphorbiaceae in India; a synopsis of its profile, taxonomy and bibliography
Boulos, L. 1999-. Flora of Egypt
Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
Dressler, R. L. 1961. A synopsis of Poinsettia (Euphorbiaceae). Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 48:339. Note: = Poinsettia heterophylla (L.) Klotzsch & Garcke
Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1408.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Holm, L. et al. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds
Holm, L. et al. 1997. World weeds: natural histories and distribution John Wiley & Sons, New York, New York. 360.
Howard, R. 1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. 5:49.
Liogier, H. A. 1981-. Flora of Hispaniola: Part 1; La Flora de la Española. Part II-.
Liogier, H. A. 1984-. Descriptive flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands.
Marzocca, A. 1994. Guia descriptiva de malezas del cono sur. 118.
Mayfield, M. H. 1997. A systematic treatment of Euphorbia subgenus Poinsettia (Euphorbiaceae). Unpublished dissertation (University of Texas at Austin) 108-143.
Norton, J. et al. 2009. Illustrated checklist of the flora of Qatar.
Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):268.
Parsons, W. T. & E. G. Cuthbertson. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia Inkata Press, Melbourne, Australia.
Plant Protection and Quarantine Office. United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Federal noxious weed list (on-line resource). Note: = Euphorbia prunifolia
Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Reitz, R., ed. 1988. Flora ilustrada catarinense. 352-355.
Riina, R. 2011. Review of Euphorbiaceae data for World Economic Plants, ed. 2. pers. comm. via e-mail on 11 Jan.
Seed Regulatory and Testing Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S.D.A. State noxious-weed seed requirements recognized in the administration of the Federal Seed Act (updated annually).
Standley, P. C. & J. A. Steyermark. 1946-1976. Flora of Guatemala.
Steinmann, V. W. & R. S. Felger. 1997. The Euphorbiaceae of Sonora, Mexico. Aliso 16:56.
Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3).
Terrell, E. E. et al. 1986. Agricultural Handbook no. 505
1961. Webster's third new international dictionary.

Common names

Language	Name	note	seq	Citation
English	Japanese poinsettia		1	Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1408.
English	Mexican fireplant		1	Parsons, W. T. & E. G. Cuthbertson. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia Inkata Press, Melbourne, Australia.
English	milkweed		1	Parsons, W. T. & E. G. Cuthbertson. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia Inkata Press, Melbourne, Australia.
English	painted euphorbia	as Euphorbia prunifolia	1	Plant Protection and Quarantine Office. United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Federal noxious weed list (on-line resource). Note: = Euphorbia prunifolia
English	painted spurge		1	Terrell, E. E. et al. 1986. Agricultural Handbook no. 505
English	paintedleaf		1	1961. Webster's third new international dictionary.
Arabic	laban el-homara		2	Boulos, L. 1999-. Flora of Egypt
Arabic	labeinah		2	Norton, J. et al. 2009. Illustrated checklist of the flora of Qatar.
French	caca poule		2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
German	Poinsettien-Wolfsmilch		2	Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1408.
Portuguese	flor-do-poeta		2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Portuguese (Brazil)	adeus-Brasil		2	Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Portuguese (Brazil)	amendoim-bravo		2	Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Portuguese (Brazil)	café-do-diabo		2	Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Portuguese (Brazil)	leiteira		2	Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Spanish	golondrina		2	Riina, R. 2011. Review of Euphorbiaceae data for World Economic Plants, ed. 2. pers. comm. via e-mail on 11 Jan.
Spanish	hierba de leche		2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanish	lechosa		2	Riina, R. 2011. Review of Euphorbiaceae data for World Economic Plants, ed. 2. pers. comm. via e-mail on 11 Jan.
Spanish	pascuilla		2	Riina, R. 2011. Review of Euphorbiaceae data for World Economic Plants, ed. 2. pers. comm. via e-mail on 11 Jan.

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Baja California Sur		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Chihuahua		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Durango		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Nuevo León		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	San Luis Potosí		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Sinaloa		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Sonora		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Tamaulipas		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas		Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Alabama	s.	Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Florida		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Georgia	s.	Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Louisiana		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Mississippi	s.	Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Campeche		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Chiapas		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Colima		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Guanajuato		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Guerrero		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Hidalgo		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Jalisco		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	México		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Michoacán de Ocampo		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Morelos		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Nayarit		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Oaxaca		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Puebla		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Querétaro		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Quintana Roo		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Tabasco		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Yucatán		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Arizona		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	California		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil	Amazonas		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil	Bahia		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil	Distrito Federal		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil	Goiás		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil	Maranhão		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil	Mato Grosso		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil	Minas Gerais		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil	Paraná		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil	Pernambuco		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil	Rio de Janeiro		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil	Rondônia		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil	Santa Catarina		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil	São Paulo		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Anguilla			Howard, R. 1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. 5:49.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Antigua and Barbuda			Howard, R. 1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. 5:49.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Bahamas			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Bermuda			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Cayman Islands			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Cuba			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Dominica			Howard, R. 1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. 5:49.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Dominican Republic			Liogier, H. A. 1981-. Flora of Hispaniola: Part 1; La Flora de la Española. Part II-.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Grenada			Howard, R. 1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. 5:49.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Haiti			Liogier, H. A. 1981-. Flora of Hispaniola: Part 1; La Flora de la Española. Part II-.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Jamaica			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Martinique			Howard, R. 1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. 5:49.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Montserrat			Howard, R. 1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. 5:49.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Netherlands Antilles			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	St. Lucia			Howard, R. 1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. 5:49.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Trinidad and Tobago			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	United States	Puerto Rico		Liogier, H. A. 1984-. Descriptive flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	United States	Virgin Islands, U.S.		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Virgin Islands (British)			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Belize			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Costa Rica			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	El Salvador			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Guatemala			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Honduras			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Nicaragua			Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3).
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Panama			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Northern South America	French Guiana			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Northern South America	Guyana			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Northern South America	Suriname			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Northern South America	Venezuela			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Córdoba		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Corrientes		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Formosa		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Jujuy		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Misiones		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Salta		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Tucumán		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Paraguay			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Bolivia	Cochabamba		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Bolivia	La Paz		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Bolivia	Santa Cruz		Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Colombia			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Ecuador			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Peru			Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
4	Naturalized					natzd. throughout tropic, subtropic, & warm-temperate regions	Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
6	Other					exact native range in neotropics obscure	Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae

Native
Northern America

SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Alabama (s.), Florida, Georgia (s.), Louisiana, Mississippi (s.)]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Texas]
SOUTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Arizona, California]
NORTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas]
SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Campeche, Chiapas, Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, Yucatán]

Southern America

CARIBBEAN: Anguilla, Netherlands Antilles, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Montserrat, Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago, United States [Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S.], Virgin Islands (British)
CENTRAL AMERICA: Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador
NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela
BRAZIL: Brazil [Amazonas, Bahia, Distrito Federal, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Rondônia, Santa Catarina, São Paulo]
WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA: Bolivia [Cochabamba, La Paz, Santa Cruz], Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Argentina [Córdoba, Corrientes, Formosa, Jujuy, Misiones, Salta, Tucumán], Paraguay

Naturalized (natzd. throughout tropic, subtropic, & warm-temperate regions)
Other (exact native range in neotropics obscure)

Reference(s)

Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
Govaerts, R. et al. 2000. World checklist and bibliography of Euphorbiaceae
Howard, R. 1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. 5:49.
Liogier, H. A. 1981-. Flora of Hispaniola: Part 1; La Flora de la Española. Part II-.
Liogier, H. A. 1984-. Descriptive flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands.
Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3).

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Harmful organism host	crop diseases		Holm, L. et al. 1997. World weeds: natural histories and distribution John Wiley & Sons, New York, New York. 360.
Vertebrate poisons	mammals		Padua, L. S. de et al., eds. 1999. Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. In: Faridah Hanum, I. & L. J. G. van der Maesen, eds., Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 12(1):268.
Weed	seed contaminant	potential	Parsons, W. T. & E. G. Cuthbertson. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia Inkata Press, Melbourne, Australia.
Weed	seed contaminant	potential	Holm, L. et al. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds

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=16374. Accessed 12 May 2026.