Caper spurge (Euphorbia lathyris)

Image: © Evelyn Simak Taken: 4 Jun 2019

Depicted here are three specimen plants of this spurge variant. Caper spurge (also referred to as paper spurge) is native to southern Europe, southwest Asia and western China but is widely naturalised in many regions, where it is often considered an invasive weed. The plant grows up to 1.5m tall and has a glaucous blue-green stem with the leaves arranged in opposite pairs. The flowers are green to yellow-green and form seeds ripening to a brown or grey colour. All parts of the plant are poisonous, and handling may cause skin irritation as the plant produces latex. Goats, however, sometimes eat it and appear to be immune to the toxin. Caper spurge is used in traditional medicine to cure cancer, corns and warts and it has been documented to have been used by beggars to induce skin boils. Spurges are unique both for the appeal of the flowers and that of its leaves. Over 2300 species of spurge have to date been recorded and practically the only thing they have in common is the sap, which is highly irritant and poisonous. An old lady used to have her garden at this hidden corner of the cemetery and some of her plants can still be found growing here.

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0