devil's milk
Definition
- Noun:
- A common name for a plant: "devil's milk" is a colloquial name for a specific European weed, scientifically a type of spurge, known for its milky sap and its flowers that turn toward the sun. It is considered an invasive species in some regions like the eastern United States.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The field was overrun with devil's milk, its yellow flowers all facing the morning sun.
- Gardeners try to eradicate devil's milk because its milky sap can irritate the skin.
Advanced Usage
- As a common name in botany: Used informally to refer to plants in the genus, particularly (sun spurge), due to their phototropic (sun-turning) flowers and toxic, milky latex.
- Several species of spurge are colloquially called devil's milk.
Variants and Related Words
- Sun spurge (n): A more common name for the same plant ().
- Wartweed (n): Another common name for related spurge plants.
- Euphorbia (n): The scientific genus name for spurge plants.
Synonyms
- Spurge (n): The general common name for plants in the genus .
- Weed (n): A general term for an unwanted plant.
Related Phrases
- "Milky sap of the spurge": A descriptive phrase often associated with "devil's milk."
- Avoid touching the devil's milk; the milky sap of the spurge can cause a rash.
Related Idioms
Noun
-
not unattractive European weed whose flowers turn toward the sun
-
an Old World spurge introduced as a weed in the eastern United States
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