what is this??

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by thomast77, Jul 16, 2007.

  1. thomast77

    thomast77 Member

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    Real funny looking plant to me. I was just walking around outside today and there it was. My photos are a little blurry. I will try to take better pictures tomorrow. Looks like there are two different types of leaves going up a single stalk then there are triangular shaped pods as you can see in the second photo. What is this?

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  2. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Euphorbia lathyris (Caper Spurge) or a close relative. An invasive weed in many areas, and very poisonous if eaten.
     
  3. David in L A

    David in L A Active Member 10 Years

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    Are you in the Panhandle? It could be Euphorbia floridana.
     
  4. thomast77

    thomast77 Member

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    Thanks for the reply ya'll I am indeed in the panhandle. Right around Pensacola.
     
  5. KarinL

    KarinL Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    The leaves do look a little too linear for E. lathyrus but is definitely something similar. While I definitely don't recommend eating it, it has a very caustic/abrasive sap that can also cause damage if rubbed in eyes (also hazardous to fish if you've got it near a pond or something). I think there's a thread somewhere on this forum where the exact nature of its toxicity was discussed.
     
  6. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Yes, I've never seen a mole plant that looked like that.
     
  7. thomast77

    thomast77 Member

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    It certainly is an unusual/interesting looking plant. It really caught my eye. It must be the Floridana variety. According to the usda website it is found in Fl, GA, AL and MS.
    http://tinyurl.com/yoktwg
     

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