A common and widespread weed, often found in gardens and arable fields, characterised by the opposite, hairless leaves, the horns radiating from the floral glands, and the habitat, of waste and disturbed land
Common name:
Petty spurge
Family:
Scientific name:
Euphorbia peplus
Main flower color:
Range:
All of the UK, except the Scottish Highlands
Height:
Up to 30 cm
Habitat:
Gardens, fields, roadsides, pavements, waste ground
Flowers:
Tiny, yellow, with four crescent-shaped glands lined by whitish horns, subtended by triangular, leaf-like bracts. Flowers usually form as umbels of three, also subtended by bracts
Leaves:
Opposite, ovate, hairless, dull green, attached by short stalks, on a much-branched, reddish stem
Season:
April to October
Rarity:
★★★★★
