Scientific Name: Euphorbia esula L.
Common Name: leafy spurge
 

Roots:

 The roots are woody and are covered with a thick bark.[3] They are the most abundant in the upper part of the soil running both vertically and horizontally. [4] Some of the roots course in texture and others are fine.  They have many buds that are capable of producing new shoots.[5] The roots also contain a nutrient reserve that is capable of sustaining the plant for many years.[1&5] Root fragments are as small as 1/2" long and which can give use to a new plant.[1] The roots also have a milky latex fluid that can kill cattle and other livestock.  The fluid can also give humans rashes.[5]
 
 

Stem/Leaves:

 The stems are erect and the branches are at the top of the plant.  They grow together in clumps.[1] The stems are hairless and they can grow up to 75 cm. high [3] New stems grow from the buds on the roots.  The stems start to grow in April. The stems growth mainly occurs in the mid-May.[1] They have the same milky latex as their roots.[5]
 The leaves alternate around the stems.  They are also hairless.  They are blueish-green in color and turn yellow to reddish-orange in the late summer.[5] They are 4-10 cm. long and 0.6-1.3 cm. w.[3] These leaves appear 6-10 days after the seeds Germinate.[1]

 
 

   Flowers:

 The flowers are arranged in clusters with yellow pedals and green cracts.[2] they are borne in umbrella like clusters.  They seem more like small leaves than normal flowers.[3] Each are above 1/8" high.[1]

 
 

Seeds:

 The seeds are contained in capsules.  There are gray-brown, oblong, smooth seeds per capsules.[5&6] These are 1-10 seeds produced per stem.  When the capsules try out they explode and eject the seed up five meters away from the mother plant.  The seeds can live in the soil up to eight years.[4] Seeds Germination is in late April to early May and they can reproduce 7-10 weeks after this.[5]
 

Reproduction/Spread:

 They reproduce by seeds and from spreading roots.[1] The seed pods burst and are carried away by wind and sometimes water too.
 

Chemical Control:

 Herbicides
 
 

Impacts:

 This weed reduces the quality of grassland.  It also competes with forages that are desirable to ranchers.  Cattle cannot use the leafy spurge infested range land because this plant contains a milky, white latex fluid that is poisonous to cattle.[3&7] This weed cause a loss of food for grazing animals, except sheep.  It also can eat the pasture production by 50%-75%.  The cost of getting rid of this weed is high.[1]
 

Native Range/Probable Entry:

 Leafy Spurge's native range is Europe.[3] The probable entry was thought to be in 1827 by water ballast from a sailing vessel.  The first report of Leafy Spurge was in North Dakota in 1909.
 

Lifestyle/Habits/Life Duration:

 It likes to live in fields, pastures, and waste lands.  It lives throughout the spring, summer, and fall.  Than it dies off in the winter.[all]
 

Environment:

 This weed like untold land.  They are found in places like fields, pastures, roadsides, and waste lands.[8]
 

Chemical:

 Herbicides such as December and picloram are used to chemically control leafy spurge.  These herbicides are used for broad species and they only do a small amount of harm to grasses when applied right.  How ever since they kill other broad leaf species they also reduce the biodiversity.[8]

 
 

Cultural:

 Cultural control of leafy spurge includes cultivation, mowing, and by using fire.  For this method of work it must be intense.  Cultivation most continue every three weeks until the soil freezes or for a growing season.  This cultivation completely will destroy the natural range.  Mowing is used in sensitive areas and has to be done over and over again.  This prevents seed production and gets rid of photosynthetic parts of the plants of the plant.  This must go on for one to three years if not more.  A spring burn with fire may be the most effective way to get rid of leafy spurge by using cultural methods.  By burning, you reduce leafy spurge seed Germination by over 95%.[8]
 

Biological:

 Biological control is the use natural agent such as parasites.  The Flea Beetles are an example of a parasite that is used for biological control, another example would be the Spurge Hausk moth.[8]
 

Other way of control by sheep:

 Sheep are also used to control leafy spurge.  They do this by grazing the land.  This an alternative to chemical control in ranges and pastures.  Sheep are also a lot less expensive than other forms of control.  Some people will also use goats to control leafy spurge.  They have been reported to be very effective.
 

How to prevent Spread:

 The way to prevent spread is by controlling the leafy spurge either by doing it chemically, culturally, biologically, or by using sheep or goats.[8] If you would like to see pictures of leafy spurge and would like to know more about how to control this weed, follow this link: http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/Weeds/g834.htm