Practical
Plants

Euphorbia humifusa

an annual member of the Euphorbia genus in the family Euphorbiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.15 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[6]. Prolonged and regular contact with the sap is inadvisable because of its carcinogenic nature[7].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young shoots - cooked. An emergency food, used when all else fails[3][5] and I would have to be very desperate to eat it even then[K].

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Anthelmintic, vulnerary[4]. The whole plant is depurative, diuretic and styptic[2][8]. A decoction is used in the treatment of jaundice, dysentery, enteritis, poisonous snake bites and traumatic bleeding[2].

Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Styptic
Product or use
Vulnerary

Environment

Range
E. Asia. Naturalized in S. and C. Europe.
Habitat
Stony or disturbed ground[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 20°c.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain but since it is naturalized in C. Europe it is very likely that it can be grown here. Other members of this genus prefer a light well-drained moderately rich loam in an open position[6]. Hybridizes with other members of this genus[6]. The ripe seed is released explosively from the seed capsules[6]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[9]. This genus has been singled out as a potential source of latex (for making rubber) for the temperate zone, although no individual species has been singled out[1].

References

  1. Carruthers. S. P. (Editor) Alternative Enterprises for Agriculture in the UK. Centre for Agricultural Strategy, Univ. of Reading 1986-00-00 ISBN 0704909820

    ↩

  2. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  4. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  5. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society 1994-00-00 ISBN 1352-4186

    ↩

  8. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  9. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  10. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

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