Euphorbiaceae FAMILY

Euphorbia helioscopia

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

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[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. Prolonged and regular contact with the sap is inadvisable because of its carcinogenic nature[ 214 Title The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Publication Author Matthews. V. Publisher Royal Horticultural Society Year 1994 ISBN 1352-4186 Description A quarterly magazine, it has articles on Himalayacalamus hookerianus, hardy Euphorbias and an excellent article on Hippophae spp. ].

Botanical Description

Euphorbia helioscopia is an annual plant that can grow up to 0.35 metres tall. It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEurope, including Britain, south to the Mediterranean and east to central Asia.

HabitatCommon in cultivated ground throughout Britain to an altitude of 450 metres[ 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. ].