Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Euphorbia griffithii

Family

Euphorbiaceae

Flowering season

April to May

English distribution

It is thinly scattered throughout the country

For a map see the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland –

Griffith’s Spurge

Habitat

It is a neophyte introduced from the far East.

It is grown in UK gardens for its red and orange leaves and

flowerheads (cyathia).

It is grows strongly and can be invasive due to spread by

rhizomes.

Description

Griffith's Spurge is a spreading, rhizomatous, perennial

herb growing up to 90cm.

The cyathia (flowers) are in clusters of yellow and

orange-red  flowerheads. 

The flowers are monoecious, very small and inconspicuous

with no petals or sepals.

The cup-shaped cyathium has 2 orange bracts and

conspicuous glands..

A female flower is surounded by male flowers.which have

single stamens on a pedicel. They are difficult to see in

any detail.

The female flower has a 3-celled ovary on a pedicel.

It has 3 prominent, linear styles with bifid stigmas.

In fruit, the pedicel elongates. Fruits are 3-valved

capsules.

Leaves are lance-shaped, up to 15cm and dark green

.with reddish veins. They turn red and yellow in autumn.

Stems are erect with reddish stems.

Griffith's Spurge spreads by rhizomes producing aerial

stems.