Common sidewalk weed confirmed growing in Glendale neighborhood
iNaturalist: robertodesu
Urban Ecology
That wiry little weed spreading flat across your driveway cracks and garden beds has a name and a known playbook, and knowing it's spotted spurge means you can pull it before it sets thousands of seeds.
Someone out for a walk in Glendale spotted a small, ground-hugging plant with reddish stems and tiny leaves, snapped a photo, and other naturalists confirmed it as spotted spurge. It's one of those weeds that shows up everywhere from sidewalk cracks to vegetable beds, and every confirmed sighting helps build a clearer picture of exactly where it's spreading in Southern California.
Key Findings
Observation reached 'research-grade' status on iNaturalist, meaning community identification consensus confirmed the species
Location documented as W Broadway, Glendale, CA, US
Species identified as Euphorbia maculata (spotted spurge), a low-growing annual weed common in urban and garden settings
chevron_right Technical Summary
A citizen scientist confirmed a sighting of spotted spurge, a common low-growing weed, in Glendale, California. It's a routine but useful data point for tracking where this widespread species turns up in urban areas.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata) observed in W Broadway, Glendale, CA, US
Research-grade observation of Spotted spurge in W Broadway, Glendale, CA, US.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Euphorbia maculata, known as spotted spurge, prostrate spurge, milk purslane, or spotted sandmat, is a fast-growing annual plant in the family Euphorbiaceae. It is native to North America, where it is generally considered a common weed. It can be found in disturbed soils such as garden beds, alon...