Euphorbia peplusCommon name: Petty Spurge

Meaning of name: Euphorbia is named after the Greek physician Euphorbus (1st century B.C.), who discovered the medicinal use of the plant as an emetic or vesicant. Peplus is the former name of the plant adopted by Linnaeus as a specific.

Distribution: Occurs from Northampton to Esperance.

Description: An erect herb to 40 centimetres tall. The yellow-green flowers are produced from July to October.

Notes: Native to Europe. The milky sap is corrosive and the plants toxic to stock.

References: Western Weeds, A Guide to the Weeds of Western Australia. BMJ Hussey, GJ Keighery, J Dodd, SG Lloyd, RD Cousens. 1997.
Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. 1996.
Flora of the Perth Region. NG Marchant, JR Wheeler, BL Rye, EM Bennett, NS Lander, TD Macfarlane. 1987.