Euphorbia helioscopia
L. Sun SpurgeErect or ascending annual herb to c. 50 cm high, with a few fine spreading hairs on upper parts; stems 1–few, each with 3–5 terminal fertile branches which are further branched. Cauline leaves shortly petiolate, alternate, obovate-spathulate, 1–4 cm long, 8–25 mm wide, apex obtuse, margins serrate in upper half; leaves on fertile branches similar to cauline leaves but mostly smaller, verticillate, usually finely hairy above and below. Cyathia solitary in upper forks or 1–3 terminal; peduncles to c. 0.5 mm long; involucre campanulate, 1.5–2 mm long; glands ellipsoid, c. 0.5 mm long, lacking appendages; female flowers with styles erect and truncate. Capsule cordate, c. 2 mm long, 2–3 mm wide, ridged, smooth, glabrous; seeds ovoid, 1.5–2 mm long, reticulate-rugulose, brown, caruncle reniform, fleshy, yellow. Flowers mostly Jul.–Oct.
Wim, VVP, GipP, OtP, WaP, DunT, HSF. Also naturalised WA, NT, SA, Qld, NSW, Tas., New Zealand, North America. Native to Europe and Asia. An occasional weed of roadsides, wasteland and other disturbed sites, but apparently not seriously invasive.
Jeanes, J.A. (1999). Euphorbiaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 55–82. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
