Snow on the Mountain

(Euphorbia marginata)

 

Color Photograph: Clarence A. Rechenthin, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Snow on the Mountain (Euphorbia marginata)

Identification: Flowers small, consisting of a round, three part ovary with a branched style on top, hanging on a thin petiole from a flower-like structure with 5 white "petals". Flowers in small terminal clusters surrounded by large, leaflike bracts with broad, white margins. Stem with milky juice, usually hairy. Leaves ovate, elongate, with smooth outer margins. Plant 1 to 3 feet in height.

Distribution: Throughout most of North America, but apparently escaped from cultivation in the east.

Habitat: In its natural habitat Snow on the Mountain is found in prairies. As an escape the species is found in fields and along roadsides.

Flowering period: June to October.

Snow on the Mountain (Euphorbia marginata)

Similar Species:

The whorls of green and white bracts at the top of the plant surrounding the typical euphorbia flowers are distinctive for this species.

Similar Species

No Similar Species