WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
the British Isles, which is very similar to the following — the Hairy Spurge (Euphorbia pilosa) — 
but differing from it in the flower-cluster being more regular and terminal, the stems having very 
few branches below the main cluster, the capsules being woolly and without warts ; and the whole 
plant woolly, and the stem and leaves often tinged with red. 
Not native. An escape from cultivation ; in Sussex. May — June. Biennial. 
8. Hairy Spurge. (Euphorbia pilosa. Linn.)— The flower-cluster is irregular ; the 
terminal cluster (umbel) has about 5 unequal branches (rays), which are 3-forked, and these in 
their turn are 2-forked, while the main stem has many flowering branches just below. The glands 
of the involucre are oblong and entire ; the capsule roundish, with a few small purple warts which 
have usually some white silky hairs ; and the floral-leaves are oblong, smooth, and yellow. [As 
described in the genus Spurge (Euphorbia).] The stems are 1J-3 feet high, stout, and so 
branched above that the flowers form an irregularly branched cluster (panicle) ; and the leaves are 
stalkless (sessile), alternate, lance-shaped or oblong, finely toothed (serrate), and hairy when 
young. 
Very rare. In woods ; near Bath. May — June. Perennial. 
9. Wood Spurge. (Euphorbia amygdaloides. Linn.)— Terminal flower-cluster (umbel) 
of 5-10 equal branches (rays), not much divided, and with a few flower-heads below in 
the axils of the upper leaves ; the floral-leaves yellowish, united into a 2-lobed cup (connate) 
generally enclosing 3 flower-heads ; the glands of the involucre bright yellow, crescent-shaped, with 
rather long horns ; the capsules round and smooth (glabrous), with minute white warts. [As 
described in the genus Spurge (Euphorbia).] The stems are of two kinds, one with flower-clusters 
and one without. Those without flowers grow about 1 foot high the first year, are woody, and 
have many leaves which increase in size up the stem till towards the top they are sometimes 
3 or 4 inches long. They last the whole winter and in the following spring the stems elongate 
and a fresh green shoot rises, leaving the dark green leaves at its base, and grows 1-2 feet high, 
and is unbranched below the terminal cluster, except for a few short flower-branches. The leaves 
are lance-shaped or oblong and entire. The plant varies in colour ; the first year leaves at the 
base of the flowering shoot are dark green, the flowering shoot is pale green, yellowish at 
the top, and in the autumn the whole plant is often tinged with deep crimson. \Plate 46. 
Fairly common. In woods and thickets ; common in the south and rare in the north of England, 
unknown in Scotland, and very rare in Ireland, where it is found in one habitat in County Cork. 
March — April. Perennial. 
10. *Leafy-branched Spurge. (Euphbrbia Esula. Linn.)— Not a native species, but 
one easily recognised by its flower-cluster with 8-20 long, slender, forked branches (rays) all 
starting from the same point at the top of the stem (in an umbel) ; the glands of the involucre are 
crescent-shaped with short horns ; the capsules are round, rough with minute scale-like warts ; and 
the floral-leaves are heart-shaped (cordate), abruptly pointed (mucronate), and not united. [As 
described in the genus Spurge (Euphorbia).] The stem is 1-2 feet high, unbranched at the base, 
but with many flowerless branches towards the middle and a few flowering branches below the 
main terminal cluster (umbel) ; the leaves are alternate, oblong, or narrowly lance-shaped, entire or 
indistinctly toothed (serrate). 
Not a native, rare. In woods and borders of fields; in Northumberland and near Edinburgh. 
June — August. Perennial. 
11. *Cypress Spurge. (Euphorbia Cyperis'sias. Linn.)— Another alien very nearly 
resembling the last, but with the terminal flower-cluster (umbel) so close and round as to resemble 
a head ; the floral-leaves blunt and less heart-shaped ; the horns of the glands shorter ; the stems 
