I know, I know. I shouldn’t like this plant. It’s non-native, brought over to the United States from Europe in the mid 1800s as an ornamental plant. It’s also invasive, spreads quickly and displaces native vegetation. Yet, there is something about Cypress or leafy spurge in bloom that seems so seductive. The little inconspicuous yellowish-green flowers are so darn appealing. A single plant may have several clusters of flowers on branching stems. I’m a sucker for lively yellow flowers. What’s more, spurge is a hardy plant. Perfectly suited to exist in the open sunny fields along roadsides, disturbed construction sites, and sandy dunes. An ideal urban coastal plant.
Too bad it’s highly invasive and noxious. It may even cause dermatitis to humans if the white, milky sap is touched. Best to look from afar.
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STOP THE WILLIAMS FRACKED GAS PIPELINE THROUGH NY HARBOR! MY TOP 5 FAVORITE BOOKS ABOUT NY HARBOR 1. Field Guide to the Neighborhood Birds of New York City by Leslie Day 2.Heartbeats in the Muck by John Waldman 3. The Fisheries of Raritan Bay by Clyde L. MacKenzie Jr. 4. Waterfront: A Walk Around Manhattan by Phillip Lopate 5. The Bottom of the Harbor by Joseph Mitchell Archives
January 2018
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