Scientific name: Euphorbia peplus L.
Common name: Petty Spurge
Description
Habit: A hairless annual, to 30 cm high.
Stems: Erect, bushy, with white latex.
Leaves: Stalked, hairless, spreading, pale green; entire, oval; lowest leaves alternate; those in inflorescence, opposite or whorled.
Flowers: Green, in terminal umbels with 3 main branches; the inflorescence comprises 1 female flower (a 3-celled ovary and 3 styles) surrounded by few male flowers (each with a single stamen) and is surrounded by a ring of minute, scale-like bracts and thickened yellowish glands, which are the most conspicuous part of the inflorescence and are crescent shaped with long, slender points; bracts broad with short fine point subtend and occur throughout this whole structure.
Fruits: A capsule, slightly keeled, seeds pale grey and pitted.
Habitat: Cultivated and disturbed ground.
Distribution: Frequent on limestone, rare elsewhere.
Native status: Native
Of conservation interest: No