Euphorbia platyphyllos L.
Conservation status: N
First record: Ray, 1663
Tithymalus arvensis, latifolius, Germanicus. Long–leaved Corn Spurge. In the corn about Kingston and Comberton, by the way that leads from Cambridge to Gamlingay; R.Syn. Mr Ray, in his history, *Hist.1.868. suspects this to be the same with the Tithymalus annuus, Lini folio, acuto Bot. Monsp. Dr Dillenius à Syn.Ed.3.312. affirms it is the Tithymalus platyphyllos Fuchsii. I have seen a starved plant of this in the place marked for our Spurge; but what is in much greater quantity, not only there, but in the corn all over Cambridgeshire, is a plant differing from the Tithymalus sive Esula exigua C.B. only in having pointed leaves; which I am persuaded is what Mr Dent inserted in the Appendix to the Cat.Cant. and Mr Ray received into his Synopsis and History under the above cited name; perhaps it may be the Tithymalus sive Esula exigua foliis obtusis C.B. J.B. Park. which Mr. Vaillant takes to be a variety of the 13th. [Tithymalus sive esula exigua C.B. Pin.291. Dwarf Spurge, or small annual Spurge.] Martyn,1732,2:304, 305, 307. 15
Nr Woodbury Lodge Farm, 187.536, 'H.70', 17.7.1962, PJ Bourne field notebook.
3 or 4 plants on spoil heap of cleaned out ditch, with Anagallis arvensis abundant, south of Woodbury Lodge Farm, 1875.5368, G Crompton & R Payne, 28.8.1987, CGE. 25
Euphorbia platyphylla Euphorbia verrucosa Warty Spurge. Near Gransden Lodge. Relhan,1785.
b ... near Gransden Lodge. Relhan,1802;1820.
Gransden; Relh. Bab.MS.Fl.2:661.
Near Gransden Lodge, [c.opp. Hayley Wood], Relhan, Bab.1860,208.
Field E of the bend in the L. Gransden–Cambridge Rd. [i.e. nr Gransden Lodge], 8.9.1923, Mills ann.
Field not far from Hayley Wood, n.d., [btwn 1950–1963], PJ Bourne ann.Evans.
Near Hayley Wood, Newbould; Bab.1860,208.
Near Hayley Wood, C Turner, 1993.
Cereal field near Model Farm, Little Gransden, 282.537, C Turner, 7.1993, [R].
Near 'Croydon old Lane', nr Hatley Wilds, 26.6.1960, PJ Bourne ann.CTW.
Eltisley; Newbould, Bab.1860,208.
New Rsv, Eltisley, 268.598, AC Leslie, 6.10.1973. 26
Cornfield near Papworth Everard, 295.624, MC Anderson, 3.9.1957. 35
Toft. WWN. Bab.ann.Relhan,191.
Toft; Newbould. Bab.1860,208.
Field edge, Lord's Bridge, 391.540, N Warner, 6.1982, conf. PH Oswald.
From Hardwick take Toft Rd & about 500 paces after Church take F.P. Right [Port Way], & continue till N. of Hardwick Wood. Then turn L. along track on W. of wood for a few yards, E.p. in field on R. of track. [356.582], PH Oswald, 20.7.1953.
Field margin c.10 paces N. of bridge by Hardwick Wood, 352.575, R Nedderman, 1980.
Caldecote ! ; Newbould, Bab.1860,208.
On edge of bean field, Caldecote, [near Hardwick Wood] 356.582, G Crompton & R Payne, 14.7.1987.
Few plants on edge of wheat field, 356.583, (also last year), PD Sell, 19.7.1988.
Fallow fields, Caldecote, 355.581, PD Sell & DA Wells, 21.6.1991, [R].
EVERSDEN
Euphorbia platyphylla I had the good fortune on Friday to find the Euphorbia verrucosa on the North side of Eversden Wood near Cambridge in a field of Barley: it will be an acceptable present to the publick, as I do not hear it has been found nor does Hudson or Withering give any habitat but the old ones from Ray.... Newmarket, 10.8.1795... Relhan in litt. Sowerby,47:42.
Eversden Wood, Relhan, 1795, TG Cullum ann.Fl.Huds., WSRO.
I have found Euphorbia verrucosa, in a cornfield, on the north side of Eversden Wood, near Cambridge, and I send you a specimen from that habitat. I do not think it has been found since the time of Ray – it will be figured by Sowerby in Eng. Bot. I doubt Lyons plant. Relhan in litt. to Withering 22 Oct. 1795, RSM.
E. stricta Found by the Rev. Mr. Relhan on the north side of Eversden wood, Cambridgeshire, from whom we received fresh wild specimens Aug. 10, 1795. Smith,Eng.Bot. (1796) 5:333.
a On the North Side of Eversden Wood; in a Field called the Three–cornered Ground: b In the same Place,... Relhan,1802;1820.
Eversden; Relh. Bab.MS.Fl.2:661.
To the north of Eversden Wood; Relhan, Bab.1860,208.
Cornfield weed by Eversden Wood, 342.533, SM Walters, 7.7.1956, CGE.
Eversden, In the SW corner of the field adjoining the Mare Way next to the W. to the field in which Carduus tuberosus grows. [c.363.519] Accompanied by a little Euphorpia platyphyllos. n.d., JE Raven Card index
COMBERTON
Esula minor sive Pityusa Ger.emac. Tithymalus segetum longifolius. Append.Cat.Cant. Long –eaved Corn Spurge. In the Corn about... Comberton in Cambridge–shire. vid. Hist. nost. [no p. no.] Ray,ann.1677,98.
Tithymalus segetum longifolius Cat.Cant App. Long–leaved corn–spurge. In ye corn about... Comberton in Cambridgeshire, by ye Way that leads from Cambridge to Gamlingay: An Esula minor sive Pityusa Ger. emac.? Ray,ann.1677,286.
In the Corn about... Comberton in Cambridgeshire by the way that leads from Cambridge to Gamlingay. Ray,1688b,21.
Tithymalus segetum longifolius Cat. Cant. App. Long–leaved Corn–Spurge. In the Corn about... Comberton in Cambridgeshire, by the Way that leads from Cambridge to Gamlingay. Ray,1690,124; Ray,1696,183; Ray,1724,312.
Near Comberton, 1914, Shrubbs ann.
Between Harlton and Comberton ! ; Bab.1860,208.
HARDWICK
Hardwick, Mrs EM Walker, n.d., CGE.
Field N. of Hardwick Copse 19.9.1926, Mills ann.
2 plants seen in fr. on the track E of the SE corner of Hardwick Wood, 18.7.1952. (a few hundred yards from the wood). DE Coombe, Card index.
Track to Hardwick Wood, SM Walters, 7.1952.
In fields on W side of Hardwick Wood, PH Oswald, 20.7.1953.
In a field of oil–seed rape by the bridleway, W of Hardwick, 357.583, PD Sell 87/205 et al, 11.7.1987, CGE.
Large, tall plants on edge of and in rape field, Portway, Hardwick, 357.582, Col. print, G Crompton & R Payne, 14.7.1987.
Edge of bean field, Toft Rd, Hardwick, 368.576, (new locality), PD Sell, 19.7.1988.
KINGSTON
Among the Corn beyond Kingston Wood in the way to Gamlingay in several places. Ray,1663,.
Esula minor sive Pityusa Ger.emac. Tithymalus segetum longifolius. Append.Cat.Cant. Long –eaved Corn Spurge. In the Corn about Kingston... in Cambridge–shire. vid. Hist. nost. [no p. no.] Ray,ann.1677,98.
Tithymalus segetum longifolius Cat.Cant.App. Long–leaved corn–spurge. In ye corn about Kingston and Comberton in Cambridgeshire, by ye Way that leads from Cambridge to Gamlingay: An Esula minor sive Pityusa Ger. emac.? Ray,ann.1677,286.
Tithymalus segetum longifolius. Long leav'd Corn Spurge. Among the Corn beyond Kingston wood in the way to Gamlingay in several places. Ray,1685,17.
In the Corn about Kingston... in Cambridgeshire by the way that leads from Cambridge to Gamlingay. Ray,1688b,21.
Tithymalus segetum longifolius Cat.Cant.App. Long–leaved Corn–Spurge. In the Corn about Kingston... in Cambridgeshire, by the Way that leads from Cambridge to Gamlingay. Ray,1690,124; Ray,1696,183; 1724,312.
Tithymales segetum longifolius Kingston Wood JM.ann.Index Loc.
Tithymalus segetum longifolius. Among the Corn beyond Kingston Wood in the way to Gamlingay in several places.Ibid. Martyn,1727,70.
Kingston Wood. Among the Corn near the Wood. Martyn,1763,Herbat.XI. Tithymalus segetum longifolius Kingston Wood Th.M.ann.Meth.–Index Loc.11.
Euph segetalis K(ingston) W(ood) Fisher ann. Berkenhout,134.
Kingston, CC Babington, 15.7.1858, CGE.
Near Kingston Wood.1860,208.
Kingston, n.c.3.6.1915, CGE.
Frequent, bean field nr Kingston Pastures Farm, 326.527, PD Sell, 88/269, 16.7.1988, CGE and G Crompton & R Payne, 18.7.1988.
Field N of Kingston Wood, near Oliver Cromwell's Hole, C Turner & P Reynolds, 2000.
Long Stow ! ; Bab.1860,208.
3 plants, earth spoil heaps by new road cutting, Madingley, 392.597, AC Leslie & RIS Brettell, 21.6.1978. 35 or 45
St Neot's Rd, H Gilbert Carter, 19.7.1946, CGE. 36
MAFF Experimental Station, Boxworth, 338.618, EJP Marshall, 1987, [R].
Childerley; Newbould, Bab.1860.
Cornfield near Childerley, 364.617, MC Anderson, 27.7.1958.
22 plants, of various sizes, some in fruit, drainage ditch bank, by arable, A.604 nr Dry Drayton (bus stop), 397.629, DR Donald, 21.11.1978.
Elsworth; Newbould, Bab.1860,208.
22 plants, E margin of bearded wheat field, on W side of hedge, Grange Farm, Knapwell (RSPB), 330.630, Terri Tarpey, f. CJ Cadbury, c.24.7.2000; also on edge of adjacent sugar beet field, W Kirby; over 50 plants counted at bearded wheat field, including plants c.25 yds into field, and on edge of track, W Kirby, G Crompton & DA Wells, 27.7.2000. 38
Chatteris, AF.ann. 44 Tithymalus longifolius Triplow Th.M.ann.Meth.–Index Loc.(f.4).
Euphorbia segetalis. Triplow. Martyn,1763,Herbat.VI.
Eupho pla Moor about Triplow Gough's Camden Britanica. Maynard MS.13:358.CRO.
Euph segetalis –––[near] Triplow Heath Fisher ann. Berkenhout,134.
Heydon, set–aside field, in a broad band across the field, (near the top of the hill), 4313.4079, PD Sell, 95/66, 5.1995, CGE. 45
Barton; WWN. Bab.ann.Relhan,191.
Barton; Newbould. Bab.1860,208.
E. stricta Brick field on the Oxford Road. Coleman(b).
Eupho pla Brick–fields beyond Observatory. WWN. Bab.ann.Relhan,191.
Near the Observatory; Newbould, Bab.1860,208.
Eupho pla Coton near Whitwell farm. 2 Novr.1830 in seed. Henslow ann. l:191.
Coton, JS Henslow, 2.11.[sic] 1830, CGE.
Coton and Whitwell ! ; Henslow, Bab.1860,208.
[Girton], by field ditch, Grange Farm, '425.582' [?=415.582], R Nedderman, 1980.
Moor Barns, Madingley, RC Winteringham, 1943 or 1945, CGE.
SE of hedgerow, Gogmagog Down, Stapleford, 45W, K Tucker, DE Coombe, 9.1991, [R]. 46
On the large earth mound set between the main road at the Madingley turn–off on the Cambridge northern bypass (then under construction), 440.600, C Turner, 7.1979, CGE; H Belcher & E Swale, 1979, [R].
University Farm, J Carpenter, 8.8.1941.
Over 15 plants, spoil heaps W of Black Poplar, by University Farm, 402.600, 403.603, GMS Easy, 18.8.1978.
One plant, arable, Madingley, 408.609, GMS Easy, 11.8.1973.
Weed of arable land, 1 mile E of Madingley, 408.609, GMS Easy, 11.8.1973. 48
Fields in Little Hill, Coveney, C Turner, (Trust Exc.), 4.9.1982. 49
Purrants Farm, Doddington, A.F. cat. 10.6.1888, A.F.ann. 64
wheat field edge, Castle Camps, 618.425, N Warner, (Trust's RSV Survey), opp. Anacamptis RSV, 1986; not found, G Crompton, 1987.
