What does it look like?

Plant: Perennial, shrub-like herb, 3 ft tall.
Stems: Green to reddish, leafy, branching at top to produce 4 or 5 flowering stems.
Leaves: Alternate, light green, averaging 0.5 to about 1 inch in length. Leaf-like structure on the flowering stems are opposite and round in appearance.
Flowers: Yellow/green cup-like structure, small, not showy but distinct from bright, green leaves. Broken stems produce a milky sap. Flowers in late February through April.

Where is it found?

Roadsides, beach areas and open slopes at low elevations. It is presently in Malibu, and has invaded portions of Solstice Canyon as well as coastal fire clearance areas.

Why worry?

Terracina Spurge grows rapidly and is a prolific seed producer, easily invading coastal scrub lands and outcompeting native species for space. Milky sap is irritating to the skin and especially the eyes.