Euphorbiaceae
Caper spurge
Euphorbia lathyris
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Genus
- Euphorbia
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Common names
By language (15)
- Arabic
- تيوع, سوسب, فربيون, يتوع
- Asturian
- Tártagu
- Chinese
- 千金子, 续随子, 续随子叶, 续随子茎中白汁, 大戟
- Czech
- Pryšec skočcový
- Dutch
- Kruisbladige wolfsmelk, Kruisbladwolfsmelk
- English
- Caper spurge, Moleplant, Gopher plant, Gopher spurge, Mole plant
- French
- Euphorbe épurge, Epurge
- Galician
- Herba da cuca, Herba rateira
- German
- Kreuzblättrige Wolfsmilch, Spring-Wolfsmilch, Springwurzel
- hsb
- Čoskač
- Italian
- Euforbia catapuzia
- Portuguese
- Afasta a rata, Leitarega, Maleita
- Russian
- Молочай лекарственный, Молочай масличный, Молочай чиновидный
- Slovenian
- Križnolistni mleček
- Spanish
- Cagarrios, Cagarríos, Grano menor de reyes, Pildoras de Judas, Planta de las muelas, Targago, Tartagos, Tartagos de judas
Synonyms
- Epurga lathyris Fourr.
- Euphorbia decussata Salisb.
- Euphorbia lathyris var. minor Hook. & Arn.
- Euphorbia spongiosa Ledeb. ex Schrank
- Euphorbion lathyrum St.-Lag.
- Galarhoeus decussatus Gray
- Galarhoeus lathyris Haw.
- Keraselma lathyris (L.) Raf.
- Tithymalus cataputia Garsault
- Tithymalus lathyris Hill
Flowers
- In flower
- April to June, October to November (from 231 flowering iNaturalist observations worldwide)
Characteristics
- Growth habit
- Forb/herb
- Lifespan
- Annual
- In the US and Canada
- Canada: introduced, Lower 48 states: introduced
Photos
FlowerPhoto: Douglas Goldman, CC BY-SA 4.0, from iNaturalist 
FlowerPhoto: Joe Potter Butler, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
FlowerPhoto: Mark G, CC0, from iNaturalist 
FlowerPhoto: Kian Hayles-Cotton, CC0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Daniel Cahen, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Ian Dickie, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Josep Gesti, CC BY-SA 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: AnRo0002, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Daniel Cahen, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist
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- Indiantree spurgeEuphorbia tirucalliEuphorbiaceae
- Cypress spurgeEuphorbia cyparissiasEuphorbiaceae
- Wood spurgeEuphorbia amygdaloidesEuphorbiaceae
- Petty spurgeEuphorbia peplusEuphorbiaceae
- Leafy spurgeEuphorbia esulaEuphorbiaceae
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Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.