Species Factsheets
Euphorbia purpurea
Glade Spurge
State Status: Pennsylvania Endangered (PE)
PBS Status: Pennsylvania Endangered (PE)
Federal Status:
Global Rank: G3
rank interpretation
State Rank: S1
Description
Glade spurge (Euphorbia purpurea) is a stout perennial that grows up to 1m in height. It sprouts from a rhizome, a thick underground stem. Like other spurges, it has a milky sap that deters herbivorous animals and insects.
Rank Justification
Critically imperiled in the nation or state because of extreme rarity (often 5 or fewer occurrences) or because of some factor(s) such as very steep declines making it especially vulnerable to extirpation from the state.
Habitat
The preferred habitat is cool, moist woods, usually along streams, in seeps, or in swamps.
Survey Dates
Flowers May - July
Distribution
In Pennsylvania it is found in the limestone wetlands of the Ridge and Valley province.
Threats
Much of the intact habitat where glade spurge occurred historically has been cleared for agriculture. Currently, there are about fifty populations known to exist in seven states, making it endangered throughout its range. Recent threats to glade spurge populations include the filling and draining of wetlands, logging, overgrazing by deer and livestock, and human recreational activity such as off-road vehicles and hiking.
Management
Maintenance of healthy glade spurge populations will require management of known populations, maintenance of seepage and hydrological integrity, and protection of wetlands throughout the range. This will include monitoring known population occurrences, maintenance or improvement of water quality in those habitats, removal of invasive species, and protection from grazing. The preservation of immediate intact habitat as well as the hydrologic features feeding the habitat should be considered. There may also be a possibility for restoration projects in some areas.
Conservation Status Map
NatureServe. 2017. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org.
- NatureServe. 2018. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available at https://www.natureserve.org/explorer
- Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. 2018.
- Rhoads, A.F. and W.M. Klein, Jr. 1993. The Vascular Flora of Pennsylvania. American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rhoads, A.F. and T.A. Block.
- 2007. The Plants of Pennsylvania: An Illustrated Manual. 2nd edition. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
