RANCHING


What Plant Is Important in September? Spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata)


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POTTED SPURGE IS AN ANNUAL FORB THAT is found throughout the country in a wide variety of soils. It is also


known as prostrate spurge for its ability to form a dense mat on the soil surface. Spotted spurge prefers full sun and a


very hot environment to grow. Cracks in asphalt driveways, parking lots and dis- turbed areas are a favorite place to fi nd this plant. It is referred to as a pioneer species in ecological succession because it is often the fi rst plant to cover the soil surface. • Has reddish, hairy stems • Gets its name from leaves that have a black dash in the center


• Leaves are oval and elongate, up to half an inch in length and growing in opposite pairs along the stem


• Has very small white to pink fl owers with 4 petals


• Is a cousin to another spurge called snow-on-the prairie Spotted spurge is a poisonous plant


with a milky white sap found in the stem that can act as a skin irritant and car- cinogen. It is said that in the early years of cattle


ranching in Texas, a paste was made from the sap of the plants and used as a smear to brand animals. Firewood was hard to fi nd, and the irritation from the sap was adequate to scar the hide and make a legible brand. Spotted surge can be controlled by


herbicides if it becomes a serious problem in landscapes.


52 The Cattleman September 2015


Editor’s note: Kent Ferguson, retired rangeland management specialist from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is provid- ing us with plant identifi cation photo stories to help ranchers identify those forbs, forages and species growing in the pastures. Additional photos provided by USDA NRCS, and USDA.


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