A whitish, reportedly toxic, fluid exudes when stems are broken. Lower leaves are up to 1 inch long, ovate or round, and stalkless. Upper leaves are roundish, gently tapered toward the stem, and stalked. All leaves are somewhat crinkled. The greenish yellow flowers are very small, not showy.
Fruit are a round, sharply three-angled capsule.
Petty spurge prefers moist, shady locations and often occurs among shrubs and flower beds. Broadleaf ID illustration. The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page or photo file.