Euphorbia helioscopia L. Sun Spurge

Euphorbia helioscopia L. - Sun Spurge

Scientific Description:

Glabrous or sparingly pilose annual herb to 40 cm. Stems simple or 2-branched from base, rarely more. Cauline leaves obovate-spathulate, (0.5−)1−3.5(−4.5) × (0.3−)0.5−1.8(−2.5) cm, obtuse to retuse, base attenuate, serrulate in upper half. Ray-leaves obovate. Raylet-leaves obliquely obovate, 0.5−3 × 0.4−2 cm, somewhat asymmetric at base. Pseudo-umbel contracted, flattish. Rays 5, trichotomous then once or twice dichotomous; axillary rays absent. Fruit trilobate, 3.5 mm diam., smooth. Seeds ovoid, 2 mm, favose-reticulate, dark brown; caruncle applanate, transversely ovate, refringent.

 

Flowering Time: February−June.

Habitat: Limestone cliffs and slopes, phrygana, streamsides, ruins, fallow fields, waste ground, nr s.l.−1400 m.

 

Reference:

Radcliffe-Smith A (1982). Euphorbia helioscopia L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 7: 597.

Public Description:

Euphorbia helioscopia, known as “sun spurge”, is native to most of Euroasia and northern Africa. It is an annual herb with yellowish-green flowers and fruits, grows up to 40 cm in lenght. It blooms between February and June, is found in limestone cliffs and slopes, phrygana, streamsides, ruins, fallow fields, waste ground. It is a highly poisonous herb. However, it has been shown in experiments on mice that the plant's extracts have an inhibitory effect on hepatocellular carcinoma.

 

References:

Anonymous 1 (2015). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia_helioscopia, Accessed date: 29.11.2015.

Anonymous 2 (2015). http://www.novascotia.ca/museum/poison/?section=species&id=90, Accessed date: 29.11.2015.

Öztekin M (2012). Euphorbia L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 414–424.