Euphorbia lathyris

Euphorbia lathyris, the caper spurge or paper spurge, is a species of spurge native to southern Europe (Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal), northwest Africa, and eastward through southwest Asia to western China.[1][2][3]

Euphorbia lathyris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Euphorbia
Species:
E. lathyris
Binomial name
Euphorbia lathyris
Synonyms

Euphorbia lathyrus (lapsus)

Other names occasionally used include gopher spurge, gopher plant or mole plant.[1]

Growth

It is an erect biennial (occasionally annual) plant growing up to 1.5 m tall, with a glaucous blue-green stem. The leaves are arranged in decussate opposite pairs, and are lanceolate, 5–15 cm long and 1-2.5 cm broad, glaucous blue-green with a waxy texture and pale greenish-white midrib and veins. The flowers are green to yellow-green, 4 mm diameter, with no petals. The seeds are green ripening brown or grey, produced in globular clusters 13–17 mm diameter of three seeds compressed together.[3][4]

Chemical characteristics

All parts of the plant, including the seeds and roots are poisonous. Handling may cause skin irritation as the plant produces latex. While poisonous to humans and most livestock, goats sometimes eat it and are immune to the toxin. However, the toxin can be passed through the goat's milk.[5]

Habitat

Away from its native range, it is widely naturalised in many regions, where it is often considered an invasive weed.[1][2][4] It grows in partial shade to full sun in USDA zones 5–9.

Uses

The mole plant is sold by some nurseries as it is believed to repel moles.[6]

It is used in folk medicine as a remedy for cancer, corns, and warts and has been used by beggars to induce skin boils.[7]

Euphorbia lathyris seeds
Euphorbia lathyris plant

References
  1. "Euphorbia lathyris". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. Flora Europaea: Euphorbia lathyris
  3. Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. ISBN 0-340-40170-2
  4. Huxley, A, ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. ISBN 0-333-47494-5
  5. Poisonous Plant Information: Caper Spurge Archived 2006-10-20 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Local Harvest: Mole Plant Seed Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Purdue University: Euphorbia lathyris
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