A few years ago, members of the South Coast Chapter of The California Native Plant Society noticed first a new spurge species coming into open areas on the Peninsula. Since the plant was not included in the Jepson Manual, it took us a while to get it identified. Turns out it is a highly invasive spurge, Euphorbia terracina. Just to give you an example, we discovered about 6 plants of this species last November 2002 at White Point and by April 2003 they had spread to a solid stand of probably 100 times as many plants. Since White Point is being restored by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, that population was immediately sprayed with herbicide and eradicated. Euphorbia terracina is a yellowish-green, bushy, upright perennial spurge which grows up to 3 feet tall. The leafy, slender stems branch at the top into 1-4 flower stems. The plants spread by seeds which are scattered over a distance of several meters when the ripe fruits burst open.

Euphorbia terracina has become a terrible problem in Australia and it seems to be quickly spreading on the peninsula. It has also been reported in the Santa Monica Mountains, where it was first mistaken for another spurge, Euphorbia esula.

The whole plant has a highly caustic milk sap that is irritating to the skin and thus requires special protection for workers trying to eradicate it.