Few annuals seed as heavily, or grow so commonly in as many states as spotted spurge. It germinates in late spring or early summer and its spreading branches often choke and suffocate desirabe grasses. In well nourished turf, leaves of spotted spurge may be nearly three-quarters of an inch long. In areas of stress, leaves may be one-third this size. One of the surest means of identifying spotted spurge is by breaking the stems or branches and exposing the milk-like substance that is common to all members of this family. Flowers are tiny, pinkish-white and inconspicuous. Leaves vary in color from a pale reddish-green to dark green, but almost always have a purplish-brown "splotch" on the upper surface.