Euphorbia lathyris

Euphorbia lathyris - Graphics by Jacob Sturm

The Caper Spurge (Euphorbia lathyris ) is a flowering plant in the genus Euphorbia (Euphorbia ) from the family of the spurge family ( Euphorbiaceae ).

Naming

The importance of the botanical name is not unique. He probably refers to the toxicity of the plants and caused symptoms of poisoning, as they are also caused by some species of the genus of grass pea ( Lathyrus ). The German name describes the typical cross against continuous sheet position of the German Art Other common names are witches milk, milk devil, poison milk, woodpecker root, root Spring, Spring spurge, spurge Four-line, Wühlmauswolfsmilch and warts herb.

Description

The Caper Spurge is an evergreen, two perennial herbaceous plant can reach the stature heights of up to 1 m, but usually remains smaller. Usually, up to 2 cm thick stems unbranched or branched only after an injury. The sessile, crosswise against permanent leaves are at the base linear, to 15 cm long and have a characteristic midrib on. Further up the stems, the leaves are shorter and triangular.

In the second year of life, a terminal inflorescence, a two-to four-engine certificate umbel is formed above a whorl of four leaves. The bracts are yellowish green to yellow. The nectar glands of cyathia are yellow to (rare) purple, approximately semi-circular and outer wear two horn- to club-shaped appendages, usually with flared ends. The smooth, dreikammerigen fruit capsules have a diameter of 8 to 10 mm. The flattened ovoid, 4-6 mm long seeds bear an appendage ( caruncle ).

The flowering period extends, depending on the location of June to August.

Ecology

The Caper Spurge is two years old or winterannuell. Your renewal buds are despite the herbaceous nature of the plant more than 50 cm above the ground, which is a rare exception. There are "Spring Fruits ", which are subject to a self- propagation as dehydration spreader. The scattering length is up to about 3 m. The species is also abducted with garden waste. The seeds contain 40-50 % fatty oil. The abundant milk flowing juice contains 8-12% hydrocarbons as terpenes.

Toxicity

The caper spurge is poisonous. The main active ingredients are Ingenol and Ingeol ester. Ingenol and its derivatives can cause the skin inflammation with edema and hyperplasia.

Dissemination

This species originates from Asia ( from Georgia on Iran and Kazakhstan to Tibet), but is naturalized in the Mediterranean long time. In Central Europe it is often found in gardens and sometimes neglected it.

Cultivation and use

The plants are two years old, as a rule, with some forms and / or at some sites sometimes annual. As an ornamental plant, the Caper Spurge is popular mainly because of their fractal growth form. The reputed her action against voles is conditionally true. At least in engerern radius of about 3-4 meters radius seem voles but also moles to refrain.

Due to the exceptionally high oleic acid content of their seeds the Caper Spurge has attracted the interest of oleochemicals. Previously, their seeds, as of several other species, used as a laxative, but resulted in higher doses in severe poisoning and sometimes even death. With the inflammation -causing milk juice formerly warts and corns were treated.