Cypress spurge is a native of Europe and it thrives in open, disturbed areas and dry grassland. It has soft, narrow leaves that, particularly on non-flowering stems, look like a branch of fir or cypress (see !F! button below). The flowers are unusual in form, the petal-like bracts greenish yellow in colour to begin with, turning pink and then deep red as the flower matures. The main attraction for pollinators are the waxy yellow nectaries, each a horned crescent shape but arranged in a circle giving the impression of a tiny fleshy flower. The other flower parts are difficult to discern with the naked eye but the fruit develops into a very visible warty structure, eventually exploding and shooting the seeds 4-5 metres from the parent plant. Seeds also possess an oily attachment, attracting ants that can aid dispersal. The plant additionally reproduces through lateral root buds, which allow it to spread densely.

When damaged, the plant exudes poisonous latex that protects it from being eaten and heals the wound but it is a serious irritant to the human skin, particularly if in contact with eyes, and can produce painful blisters. It is instinctively avoided by cattle but can poison them if inadvertently eaten with hay.

The rust fungal parasite, Uromyces pisi, uses Cypress Spurge as a host and completely hi-jacks its metabolism, preventing it from flowering and causing it to grow in a different way, tall, upright and with broader leaves, favouring the spread of the fungus. Infected individuals can often be seen amongst the healthy ones and can be easily mistaken for a different species. (see !P! button below)

This is a protected plant , rare in this part of the world.

It is poisonous, like all spurges, producing milky latex when damaged that can cause serious irritations on contact, especially to the eyes.

Perennial plant, spreads by means of rhizomes as well as seeds. Upright, unbranching stems, leaves wider than those of Cypress Spurge with spiny tips, blue-green colour and leathery texture.

Flowers with 2 pointed bracts, smooth, globular fruit capsule, explosive when ripe, shooting seeds considerable distance from parent plant.