Euphorbiaceae Week: Euphorbia lathyris from Kashmir

[Gurcharan Singh]

Euphorbia lathyris L., Sp. pl. 1:457. 1753 "E. lathyrus" (corr. Syst. nat. ed. 10, 2:1048. 1759 & Sp. pl. ed. 2, 1:655. 1762)

syn: Euphorbia lathyrus L., orth. var.

Though the plant is highly posonous and an invasive weed, is often sold by nurseries to repel moles. Often grown in pots but may soon become self sown  It is used in folk medicine as a poison, antiseptic, and a purgative. It is used as a folk remedy for cancer, corns, and warts. 

Common names: caper spurge, gopherplant, moleplant

--
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/

[Rashida Atthar]

Wonderful post Sir, getting to see so many species of one genus together with  description is really going to help  in identification of this otherwise confusing genus ! 

 

regards,

Rashida.