Silparaja at 10:51, 1 October 2009

2009-10-01T10:51:52Z

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			{{Inc\|
			Euphorbia Lathyris, Linn. Caper Spurge. Mole Plant. Fig. 1447. Annual, 2-3 ft. tall: Lvs. long, lance- linear, those of the infl. ovate-acuminate: glands short-horned: caps, somewhat fleshy, ¼-½ in. diam. Eu., and naturalized in E. U. S. Rept. Mo. Bot. Gard. 11, pl. 11.—Cult. in old gardens. Caps, sometimes pickled, seeds used as a purgative. Said to drive away moles from its neighborhood (see Cornell Bull. 61:331); for a similar reason known as "gopher plant" in S. Calif.
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	{{Taxobox		{{Taxobox
	\| name = ''Euphorbia lathyris''		\| name = ''Euphorbia lathyris''

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2008-10-08T18:12:49Z

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{{Taxobox
| name = ''Euphorbia lathyris''
| image = %C3%89purge_feuilles01.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Euphorbia lathyris''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| subclassis = [[Rosidae]]
| unranked_ordo = [[Eurosids I]]
| ordo = [[Malpighiales]]
| familia = [[Euphorbiaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Euphorbioideae]]
| tribus = [[Euphorbieae]]
| subtribus = [[Euphorbiinae]]
| genus = ''[[Euphorbia]]''
| species = '''''E. lathyris'''''
| binomial = ''Euphorbia lathyris''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| synonyms =
''Euphorbia lathyrus'' <small>(''[[lapsus]]'')</small>
}}

'''''Euphorbia lathyris''''' ('''Caper Spurge''' or '''Paper Spurge''') is a species of [[Euphorbia|spurge]] native to southern [[Europe]] ([[France]], [[Italy]], [[Greece]], and possibly southern [[England]]), northwest [[Africa]], and eastward through southwest [[Asia]] to western [[China]].<ref name=grin>Germplasm Resources Information Network: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?70275 ''Euphorbia lathyris'']</ref><ref name=flora>''Flora Europaea'': [http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Euphorbia+&SPECIES_XREF=lathyris&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= ''Euphorbia lathyris'']</ref><ref name="blamey">Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). ''Flora of Britain and Northern Europe''. ISBN 0-340-40170-2</ref>

Other names occasionally used include '''Gopher Spurge''', '''Gopher Plant''' or '''Mole Plant'''.<ref name=grin/>

It is an erect [[biennial plant|biennial]] (occasionally [[annual plant|annual]]) plant growing up to 1.5 [[metre|m]] tall, with a glaucous blue-green stem. The [[leaf|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 [[flower]]s are green to yellow-green, 4 mm diameter, with no petals. The [[seed]]s are green ripening brown or grey, produced in globular clusters 13-17 mm diameter of three seeds compressed together.<ref name="blamey"/><ref name="rhs">Huxley, A, ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. ISBN 0-333-47494-5</ref>

All parts of the plant, including the seeds and [[root]]s are [[poisonous]]. Handling may may cause skin irritation as the plant produces [[latex]]. While poisonous to humans and most [[livestock]], [[goat]]s sometimes eat it and are immune to the toxin. However, the toxin can be passed through the goat's milk.<ref>Poisonous Plant Information: [http://www.cookiebabyinc.com/poisonousplants/caperspurge.html Caper Spurge]</ref>

Away from its native range, it is widely [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalised]] in many regions, where it is often considered an [[invasive species|invasive]] [[weed]].<ref name=grin/><ref name=flora/><ref name="rhs"/> It grows in partial shade to full sun in [[United States Department of Agriculture|USDA]] zones 5–9.

The Mole Plant is sold by some [[nursery (horticulture)|nurseries]]<ref>Local Harvest: [http://www.localharvest.org/store/item.jsp?r=fr&id=6395&fr=AMTzUWEZYFCg7TJ9ljgBECw1XXk6wIUU2QAAAAAAAAAA&ei=Dp-iRp7DHKHujAPkxdTGDw&sig2=77LUzQejMkopmjD7qbEzCQ&gl=us&hl=en Mole Plant Seed]</ref> as it is believed to repel [[Mole (animal)|moles]]. It is used in [[folk medicine]] as a poison, antiseptic, and a [[purgative]]. It is used as a folk remedy for cancer, corns, and warts.<ref>Purdue University: [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Euphorbia_lathyris.html Euphorbia lathyris]</ref>

[[Image:Euphorbia_lathyris.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Euphorbia lathyris]]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Euphorbia]]
[[Category:Garden plants]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Poisonous plants]]

[[gn:Mba'ysyvo]]
[[de:Kreuzblättrige Wolfsmilch]]
[[es:Euphorbia lathyris]]
[[fr:Épurge]]
[[hu:Hasindító kutyatej]]
[[nl:Kruisbladige wolfsmelk]]
[[pl:Wilczomlecz groszkowy]]
[[sq:Euphorbia lathyris]]

Euphorbia lathyris - Revision history

Silparaja at 10:51, 1 October 2009

WikiWorks: 1 revision(s)