Euphorbia lathyris Caper spurge (Euphorbiaceae)

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Euphorbia lathyris
Caper spurge
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The Euphorbia lathyris plant species is found in Europe. Possibly native to Britain but more common as a garden escape. It is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Caper spurge.

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Latin Name:  Euphorbia lathyris
Common Name:  Caper spurge
Family:  Euphorbiaceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  The sap contains a latex which is toxic on ingestion and highly irritant externally, causing photosensitive skin reactions and severe inflammation, especially on contact with eyes or open cuts. The toxicity can remain high even in dried plant material[200]. Prolonged and regular contact with the sap is inadvisable because of its carcinogenic nature[214]. The seed is also poisonous[76].

Mature Height:  1   Mature Width:

Habitat:  Woods, avoiding acid soils[17].

Medicinal Information: Caper spurge was used in the past as a violent purgative, whilst the rubefacient action of the leaves was employed by beggars to raise unsightly sores on their skins to elicit pity and thereby obtain more money[254]. All parts of the plant are emetic and purgative[4, 7, 21] and the plant is nowadays considered to be far too toxic for it to be used medicinally[238]. The latex in the stems has been used externally as a depilatory and to remove corns, but it is too irritant to be used safely[7, 254]. The seed is diuretic, parasiticide and purgative[176, 218]. It has been used in the treatment of dropsy, oedema, tumors, amenorrhoea, schistosomiasis, scabies and snake bites[176, 240]. The fresh seed has an antitumor action, effective against acute lymphocytic and granulocytic leukaemia[176]. The plant has anticancer activity[218]. It is also antiseptic, cathartic, emetic and purgative[218]. Use the plant with caution[4, 7, 21]. One seed capsule is said to cause catharsis, several to cause an abortion[207].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

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