Cypress spurge Euphorbia cyparissias

Features

Euphorbia cyparissias, the cypress spurge, is a species of plant in the genus Euphorbia.

Species	Perrenial
Living space	Bright forest, Clean or mixed forest, Conifer forest, Dark forest, Deciduous forest, Field, Meadow, Mixed forest
Size	up to 50 cm

Description

The plant ranges from 20 cm to 40 cm in height. Its petal-like bracts are usually green-yellow, maturing to purple or red from May to August. The mature fruit explodes, spreading seeds up to 5 m. The plant also reproduces through lateral root buds, which allow it to spread densely. It can be identified by its leaves, which are small and linear, measuring up to 4 cm long by only 1 to 2 mm wide. While the roots have sometimes been used as a purgative, it can be poisonous if taken in quantity, and animals can be poisoned by eating hay containing it. Contact with the sap can cause skin reactions. This plant has several irritants. The milky sap is a skin irritant that can cause burns/blisters in some individuals. Late season mature bracts have tiny hair like barbs. Once they are in your skin can cause mild irritation that can last for years. It thrives in sunny, warm locations throughout Slovenia. It can be found on cultivated soils, meadows, light forests, among bushes, in vineyards and on embankments.