Practical
Plants

Euphorbia lathyris

Caper Spurge

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual, biennial
Height
1 m
Fertility
Flies
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Flies

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[8]. Prolonged and regular contact with the sap is inadvisable because of its carcinogenic nature[11]. The seed is also poisonous[21].

Edible uses

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

The seed has been used as a substitute for capers. It is very acrid and requires long steeping in salt and water, and afterwards in vinegar[7]. Great caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Plant part
Seed

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.

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[16]. All parts of the plant are emetic and purgative[17][19][10] and the plant is nowadays considered to be far too toxic for it to be used medicinally[14]. 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[19][16]. The seed is diuretic, parasiticide and purgative[5][12]. It has been used in the treatment of dropsy, oedema, tumours, amenorrhoea, schistosomiasis, scabies and snake bites[5][15]. The fresh seed has an antitumor action, effective against acute lymphocytic and granulocytic leukaemia[5]. The plant has anticancer activity[12]. It is also antiseptic, cathartic, emetic and purgative[12]. Use the plant with caution[17][19][10]. One seed capsule is said to cause catharsis, several to cause an abortion[9].

Product or use
Abortifacient
Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Warts

Material uses

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

A fine clear oil is obtained from the seed[17][20]. Yields of 42% have been obtained[15]. The oil rapidly goes rancid and acquires a dangerous acrimony[17]. It is a violent poison, producing violent purging and irritation to the intestines[17]. It can be used medicinally when fresh[17]. A latex in the leaves can be converted into vehicle fuel[3]. Reports suggest potential yields of fuel ranging from 5 to 125 barrels per hectare[12]. The growing plant is said to repel mice and moles, this is said to be most effective in its second year of growth though lots of reports cast doubt on this ability[6][10][18][3].

Product or use
Biomass
Product or use
Latex
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
Europe. Possibly native to Britain but more common as a garden escape.
Habitat
Woods, avoiding acid soils[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
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.

Prefers a light well-drained soil in an open position[8]. Prefers a dry soil but grows almost anywhere[1]. Often self-sows freely[1][4]. Formerly cultivated for its fruit[4] - for the oil contained in the fruit according to another report[20]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[13]. This genus has been singled out as a potential source of latex (for making rubber) for the temperate zone, though no individual species has been singled out[2].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  3. Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.

    ↩1↩2

  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩

  7. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  9. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩

  10. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

  14. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩

  15. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  16. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  17. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  18. Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4

    ↩

  19. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  20. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  21. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

    ↩

Edit this page