Hybridises with : Waldstein's Spurge to produce Gayer's Spurge (euphorbia × gayeri [E. waldsteinii × cyparissias]); and with Leafy Spurge to produce Euphorbia × pseudo esula [E. cyparissias × esula].

Some similarities to : Flower

Slight resemblance to : Flower

Superficial resemblance to : Flower

Lookee-Likees : Flower

Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature :

No relation to : Flower

A garden plant. More likely to be found in a garden in the North of the UK; grows wild mainly in the South.

Cypress Spurge is one of 10 established alien species of Spurge.

Cypress Spurge contains a few phorbol esters of the ingenane type in the milky latex. These compounds are both irritant on contact with skin, and toxic if ingested.The phorbol esters present in Cypress Spurge are called Cyparissias Factor 6 (Cy6), Cyparissias Factor 11 (Cy11) and Cyparissias Factor 14 (Cy14).

Other toxic compounds include a steroid, euphorbon (which is actually a mixture of α-euphorbol and β-euphobol (C₃₀ steroids).

Phorbol esters of the Ingenane type contained within Cypress Spurge. It has been impossible to determine whether any of these correspond to the previously mentioned Cy6, Cy11 or Cy14 phorbol esters, since it seems these terms are no longer used. Active cyclopropane group shown in red. They are co-carcinogens.

The caustic latex was once used to eliminate freckles and obliterate warts and skin ulcers. It has also been used to promote hair growth. Ingestion of the aerial parts of the plant, or of the milky latex, causes a progression of symptoms starting with blistering of the mouth, and lesions in the throat, through to belly pain, bloody diarrhoea, eye mydriasis, heart arrhythmia, vertigo, inflammation of the kidneys, coma leading to death in one to three days. Livestock will normally shun Spurges, but may ingest it if it is mixed in with hay.

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