Snow-on-the-mountain
| Plant Profile | |
|---|---|
| FYUSE 3d Image | Common Name: Snow-on-the-mountain |
Examples of Snow-on-the-mountain Euphorbia marginata
| Plant Facts | |
|---|---|
| Origin | North America |
| Sun Preference | Full aun |
| Susceptibility | None Serious |
| Duration | Annual |
| Distribution in the U.S. | Montana and Minnesota south to Texas and New Mexico |
| Distribution in Oklahoma | Throughout the state |
ID Characteristics
-
Field Identification Characteristics
Vegetative
- Leaf bottoms and stems are fuzzy
- Milky sap inside stems
- Leaves alternate along stem and attach directly (no petiole)
- Leaves are simple and edges are smooth
- Single stem below with branching above
Floral
- “Petals” (bracts) have white edges, appear striped
- Branching at top is always in threes
-
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
- Plant Height: 2-foot diameter, 3-foot height
- Leaf Type: Simple
- Leaf Arrangement: Alternate but whorled at origin of branches
- Leaf Shape: Oblong or ovate or elliptical
- Stipules: Absent
-
Floral Characteristics
- Petal Number: Absent
- Flower Timing: July-October
- Fruit Type: Capsular schizocarps
| Habitat/Ecology | |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Recent disturbances such as construction sites, in waste areas and in overgrazed pastures |
| Soil Preference | Clay; native to dry prairies, upland fields, and pastures |
| Successional Stage | Early |
| Notes | This plant is gaining popularity as a cultivated garden plant; milky sap can be a skin irritant |