Euphorbia cyathophora Murray

Fire on the Mountain; Summer Poinsettia; Painted Poinsettia

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Wild Poinsettia is a native annual plant in the Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama, but is most common in southeastern Alabama. Wild Poinsettia grows in sandy fields, on roadsides, and along railroad tracks. It has been confused with a related species, Painted Leaf (Euphorbia heterophylla Linnaeus) and was sometimes treated as a variety of that species (as Euphorbia heterophylla var. graminifolia). Wild Poinsettia has a distinctive bright red blotch at the base of its upper leaves, whereas in Painted Leaf the leaf bases are light green or whitish in color. Both species are annuals growing to a height of one to three feet. Both have highly variable leaf shapes ranging from linear to fiddle shaped. The sap is a milky latex that dries when exposed to the air, sealing wounds. The flowers are extremely reduced and produced in an inflorescence known as a cyathium. This consists of a cup-like receptacle with one apetalous (lacking petals) female flower, several apetalous male flowers, and one or more nectar glands. This is surrounded by colorful modified leaves known as bracts. The fruit is a three lobed capsule. Wild Poinsettia is related to the Christmas Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch). It is available from many wildflower seed companies. Seed should be planted in well drained sandy soil after the danger of frost is over. These plants require full sun, and are drought tolerant once established. Wild Poinsettia is somewhat weedy, so expect seedlings to appear around the garden in disturbed sites. --A. Diamond

**

Native

**