Euphorbia lathyris

Erect biennial herb 50–150 cm high, glabrous, more or less glaucous; stems solitary, often with a few sterile branches at base and numerous fertile branches from upper axils. Cauline leaves sessile, opposite, decussate, linear to oblong-lanceolate, 2–15 cm long, 5–25 mm wide, apex acute to obtuse, base sometimes slightly cordate, margins entire; leaves on fertile branches triangular to ovate, to 6 cm long, 4 cm wide, base asymmetrically cordate. Cyathia solitary, in upper axils of fertile branches; peduncles to c. 1 mm long; involucre conical, c. 2.5 mm long; glands lunate, c. 2 mm long, with 2 clavate, horn-like appendages; female flowers with styles divided to middle into 2 filiform recurved stigmas. Capsule ellipsoid-globose, 9–13 mm long, 12–16 mm wide, ridged, smooth, spongy outside; seeds ovoid, 5–6 mm long, reticulate-rugulose, brown or grey, caruncle peltate, cup-like. Flowers Aug.–Jan.