Green spurge
Scientific Name: Euphorbia esula L.
Family: Euphorbiaceae
MORPHOLOGY
Habit and size: Perennial herbaceous plant, latex-bearing, 30-100 cm tall, with a slender, flexuous rhizome.
Stem: Robust, erect, or ascending stems, somewhat woody at the base, ranging from simple to highly branched; often ending with small umbels.
Leaves: Alternate leaves, ranging from linear-spatulate to obovate, grayish-green, typically 2-8 x 40-60 mm, entire, narrowed at the base or cuneate, with acute, obtuse, rounded, or emarginate apices. Sterile cauline leaves are larger, usually exceeding 3-4 cm in length, with uniform stomata or absent on the upper surface.
Flowers: Pseudoumbel bifurcate inflorescence with 7-13 rays. Pleiocasial bracts shorter and wider than the nearest leaves; dicasyal bracts rhomboid, triangular, or reniform with cordate or cuneate base and obtuse or rounded apex, sometimes mucronate. Hermaphroditic cyathium, subsessile, or with a peduncle of 1-3 mm, glabrous, sometimes hairy at the base. Blooms from April to August.
Fruits and seeds: The fruit is a schizocarpic capsule measuring 3-4 x 2.5-3.2 mm, subovoid, with rounded, granulate cocci on the dorsal side. Seeds are 2-2.5 x 1.4-1.7 mm, subovoid, smooth, reddish-brown at maturity.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
Found from Tuscany upwards, including Umbria, Abruzzo, and Campania. It grows in meadows, forest margins, roadsides, and cultivated fields from 0 to 1,000 m.
USE
The latex contained in the stems and leaves of all Euphorbia species is a highly irritating liquid upon contact with the skin and particularly the eyes. In the past, due to its caustic properties, it was used to burn calluses and warts, and the crushed seeds were used to produce an oily juice employed as a strong purgative. Before taking any plant-based product (medicine or non-medicine) for therapeutic or similar purposes, it is always advisable to consult a medical professional.
Photo: courtesy of Saxifraga, Willem van Kruijsbergen, Jan van der Straaten, Rutger Barendse
