Euphorbia esula (leafy spurge)

Euphorbia esula

Photo courtesy Joseph DiTomaso

Euphorbia esula (leafy spurge) is a perennial (family Euphorbiaceae) rhizomatous erect herb. Euphorbia esula can be found in scattered locations throughout northern California and crowding out native plant species. It can invade and dominate a variety of vegetation types, including prairies, grasslands and pine savannahs.

Jepson Manual, 2nd Edition: Euphorbia virgata

Cal-IPC Inventory rating: High

Cal-IPC Resources on Euphorbia esula

• California Invasive Plant Inventory Assessment Form (pdf) - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.
• Species account from Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands - Includes biology and management information.
• Cal-IPC News - Articles from our quarterly newsletter. Each issue is available as a pdf. List of articles on Euphorbia esula.
• Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings - Presentations and papers from our annual Symposium. List of articles on Euphorbia esula.

Cal-IPC News Articles

• Case, B. (2011). Dangerous and invasive Euphorbias in California. Cal-IPC News. 18: 8, 9.
• Brusati, E. (2009). The cost of weeds to California. Cal-IPC News. 17: 6,7,13.
• (1995). Biological control of invasive exotic pest plant species: A report on the importance of maintaining and enhancing our nation's biological control capabilities. CalEPPC News. 3: 6-10.
• Brigham, C. (2005). High school students take on carnation spurge. Cal-IPC News. 13: 6.
• Richardson, B. (2004). The A-rated north. Cal-IPC News. 12: 4-5,14.
• Kelly, M. (1999). Roundup of Arundo projects reveals commitment, strategic weakness. CalEPPC News. 7: 4-9.
• Schneider, D. (1994). Slow-motion explosion: The exponential spread of exotic species. CalEPPC News. 2: 6-8.

Cal-IPC Symposium Proceedings

• O'Connell, R. A. (1999). The state of California's noxious weed eradication programs. California Exotic Pest Plant Council. Sacramento, CA.
• Brown, W. Y. and A. G. Brown (1998). Campaign against invasive species: A call for action. California Exotic Pest Council '98 Symposium. Ontario, CA.
• O'Connell, R. A. (1997). Hydrilla: A case study: The state of California's noxious weed eradication programs. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium '97. Concord, CA.
• Thomsen, C. D., W. A. Williams, et al. (1996). Yellow starthistle management with grazing, mowing, and competitive plantings. California Exotic Pest Plant Council Symposium '96. San Diego, CA.
• Westbrooks, R. G. (1995). Federal regulatory efforts to minimize the introduction and impacts of exotic pest plants in the United States. CalEPPC Symposium '95. Asilomar, CA.

Other Resources on Euphorbia esula

• USDA PLANTS database - Federal database with information on identification and distribution, and links to websites in individual states.
• Jepson Online Interchange for California Flora - Information on taxonomy, biology, and distribution from the UC Berkeley Jepson Herbarium.
• CalFlora - Distribution information by county based on submitted observations and herbarium specimens.
• The Nature Conservancy Element Stewardship Abstract - Information compiled by TNC land managers. Photos included for some species.
• Encycloweedia - Plants rated as noxious weeds by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
• CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
• Natural Resource Projects Inventory - State database with information on resource management projects throughout California. Query by the species of interest.

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