Strange plant ID anybody?
Hello,
This is a first post! I'm hoping someone with some expertise would be able to solve something for me? I have had a group of strange plants growing at the front of my house which looked really unusual so last year I dug one of them up and re potted in the garden (as they look like they are taking over - after one year roots were about 3cm thick). Everyone who sees it comments on how unusual it is but nobody seems to know WHAT it is - and I suspect its something sinister ;-) Some more info: They have just began to flower this year and when leaves / branches are cut they secrete a lot of milk! Also when i cut branches or leaves off; the surrounding leaves quickly droop for a couple of days then recover. Pictures below... http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/...six/photo1.jpg http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/...six/photo2.jpg http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/...six/photo3.jpg http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/...six/photo4.jpg http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/...six/photo5.jpg Any help gratefully received! Thanks. |
Strange plant ID anybody?
"sturmanskie" wrote in message ... Hello, This is a first post! I'm hoping someone with some expertise would be able to solve something for me? I have had a group of strange plants growing at the front of my house which looked really unusual so last year I dug one of them up and re potted in the garden (as they look like they are taking over - after one year roots were about 3cm thick). Everyone who sees it comments on how unusual it is but nobody seems to know WHAT it is - and I suspect its something sinister ;-) Some more info: They have just began to flower this year and when leaves / branches are cut they secrete a lot of milk! Also when i cut branches or leaves off; the surrounding leaves quickly droop for a couple of days then recover. Pictures below... http://tinyurl.com/bsx32mk http://tinyurl.com/6qmywfg http://tinyurl.com/crj8odf http://tinyurl.com/6rhbmkf http://tinyurl.com/7qmcg8r Any help gratefully received! Euphorbia lathyrus, or caper spurge, or mole plant - believed to deter moles. someone |
Strange plant ID anybody?
On 28/05/2012 22:26, someone wrote:
. uk wrote in message ... Hello, This is a first post! I'm hoping someone with some expertise would be able to solve something for me? I have had a group of strange plants growing at the front of my house which looked really unusual so last year I dug one of them up and re potted in the garden (as they look like they are taking over - after one year roots were about 3cm thick). Everyone who sees it comments on how unusual it is but nobody seems to know WHAT it is - and I suspect its something sinister ;-) Some more info: They have just began to flower this year and when leaves / branches are cut they secrete a lot of milk! Also when i cut branches or leaves off; the surrounding leaves quickly droop for a couple of days then recover. Pictures below... http://tinyurl.com/bsx32mk http://tinyurl.com/6qmywfg http://tinyurl.com/crj8odf http://tinyurl.com/6rhbmkf http://tinyurl.com/7qmcg8r Any help gratefully received! Euphorbia lathyrus, or caper spurge, or mole plant - believed to deter moles. someone I will only add that the 'sinister' bit is that it's quite toxic. That milky sap or 'latex' is a severe skin irritant, especially in strong sunlight. It is wise to wear gloves when handling it. -- Spider from high ground in SE London gardening on clay |
Quote:
The common name is because the seed capsules look a bit like capers, but the plant is poisonous, and the sap can cause skin rashes. In the north of England its a biennial, flowering the second year and then dying off. I think in the south it may be perennial. The flowers are interesting if you look closely - a ring of male "flowers" with the female "flower" a sort of ball on a stalk, which later enlarges as the seed capsule. |
Strange plant ID anybody?
On 28/05/2012 23:20, Sacha wrote:
On 2012-05-28 22:52:48 +0100, Spider said: On 28/05/2012 22:26, someone wrote: . uk wrote in message ... Pictures below... http://tinyurl.com/bsx32mk http://tinyurl.com/6qmywfg http://tinyurl.com/crj8odf http://tinyurl.com/6rhbmkf http://tinyurl.com/7qmcg8r Any help gratefully received! Euphorbia lathyrus, or caper spurge, or mole plant - believed to deter moles. I will only add that the 'sinister' bit is that it's quite toxic. That milky sap or 'latex' is a severe skin irritant, especially in strong sunlight. It is wise to wear gloves when handling it. It also seeds itself about like a mad thing, so wear gloves and pull out those you don't want. And don't let it set seed. It is otherwise quite architectural as a plant. And as others have said beware of all euphorbia for their caustic milky sap (and milky saps in general) which may cause dermititis in sensitive skin when combined with sunlight. It is also excruciatingly painful in the eyes and so wash your hands very well after working on it (or better wear gloves and eye protection). Lettuce is the only obvious safe exception with milky sap. -- Regards, Martin Brown |
Strange plant ID anybody?
On Mon, 28 May 2012 22:52:48 +0100, Spider wrote:
On 28/05/2012 22:26, someone wrote: . uk wrote in message ... Hello, This is a first post! I'm hoping someone with some expertise would be able to solve something for me? I have had a group of strange plants growing at the front of my house which looked really unusual so last year I dug one of them up and re potted in the garden (as they look like they are taking over - after one year roots were about 3cm thick). Everyone who sees it comments on how unusual it is but nobody seems to know WHAT it is - and I suspect its something sinister ;-) Some more info: They have just began to flower this year and when leaves / branches are cut they secrete a lot of milk! Also when i cut branches or leaves off; the surrounding leaves quickly droop for a couple of days then recover. Pictures below... http://tinyurl.com/bsx32mk http://tinyurl.com/6qmywfg http://tinyurl.com/crj8odf http://tinyurl.com/6rhbmkf http://tinyurl.com/7qmcg8r Any help gratefully received! Euphorbia lathyrus, or caper spurge, or mole plant - believed to deter moles. someone I will only add that the 'sinister' bit is that it's quite toxic. That milky sap or 'latex' is a severe skin irritant, especially in strong sunlight. It is wise to wear gloves when handling it. Which is why it's called the mole plant. It is said that the sap was used to burn off moles on the skin. It certainly does not deter moles in the ground in my experience. They just go round it. Pam in Bristol |
Strange plant ID anybody?
In article ,
Spider wrote: I will only add that the 'sinister' bit is that it's quite toxic. That milky sap or 'latex' is a severe skin irritant, especially in strong sunlight. It is wise to wear gloves when handling it. Not 'severe' - it's nothing extreme in that respect. As Martin Brown points out, the real risk is getting it in your eyes. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Strange plant ID anybody?
In article , Sacha wrote:
I will only add that the 'sinister' bit is that it's quite toxic. That milky sap or 'latex' is a severe skin irritant, especially in strong sunlight. It is wise to wear gloves when handling it. Not 'severe' - it's nothing extreme in that respect. As Martin Brown points out, the real risk is getting it in your eyes. Sensitivity will depend on the individual. Just recently I touched the leaves of a Euphorbia and then, a little later, my mouth. For about an hour my lips were tingling and a bit numb. I hadn't touched any actual sap at all. Oh yes, but it's STILL not severe! There are quite a few exotics that are so nasty that they should not be planted where children or other unsuspecting people might brush against them. Euphorbia is one of the more irritant of common UK plants, but no more than that. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Strange plant ID anybody?
In article ,
Martin wrote: Euphorbia is one of the more irritant of common UK plants, but no more than that. It seems to be capable of causing blindness if the latex gets in the eyes. Most irritants are, including several foodstuffs, many household chemicals, and several common 'non-reactive' materials. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Strange plant ID anybody?
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Strange plant ID anybody?
In article ,
Janet wrote: I will only add that the 'sinister' bit is that it's quite toxic. That milky sap or 'latex' is a severe skin irritant, especially in strong sunlight. It is wise to wear gloves when handling it. Not 'severe' - it's nothing extreme in that respect. In *some* people euphorbia causes a temporary very itchy rash of large fluid filled blisters which eventually burst; followed by longterm photosensitivity on the same site. ie, whenever the healed skin is exposed to sun, the blister reaction recurs all over again (without any euphorbia contact).. IME this recurrent photosensitivity can last a year or more, and causes skin darkening /discolouring that lasts even longer. And similar remarks are true of a massive number of other things that are treated very casually, not excluding many of the washing powders on the market. There's no point is being paranoid about one or two risks and ignoring far more, very comparable, ones. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Strange plant ID anybody?
On 29/05/2012 15:35, wrote:
In , wrote: I will only add that the 'sinister' bit is that it's quite toxic. That milky sap or 'latex' is a severe skin irritant, especially in strong sunlight. It is wise to wear gloves when handling it. Not 'severe' - it's nothing extreme in that respect. In *some* people euphorbia causes a temporary very itchy rash of large fluid filled blisters which eventually burst; followed by longterm photosensitivity on the same site. ie, whenever the healed skin is exposed to sun, the blister reaction recurs all over again (without any euphorbia contact).. IME this recurrent photosensitivity can last a year or more, and causes skin darkening /discolouring that lasts even longer. And similar remarks are true of a massive number of other things Euphorbias are for the most part pretty unforgiving. Not in the poison ivy class but still not something whose sap you really want on your skin. As ever there are exceptions as far as can be determined Poinsettia is relatively benign and Jatropha is a clear sapped nasty. that are treated very casually, not excluding many of the washing powders on the market. There's no point is being paranoid about one or two risks and ignoring far more, very comparable, ones. Some of the succulent euphorbia saps are extremely nasty and the plants have to be treated with respect or they will injure you. Most collectors also grow the alleged antidote Aoenium Lindleyii it is unclear how or if it works. I hope never to need to find out. http://www.euphorbia.de/giftig_e.htm The temperate ones are only seriously nasty if it gets in your eyes or other delicate areas but unless you are already sensitised unlikely to cause more than a blister or two. Still worth getting it off your skin promptly or not getting it on in the first place. -- Regards, Martin Brown |
Strange plant ID anybody?
In article ,
Martin Brown wrote: Euphorbias are for the most part pretty unforgiving. Not in the poison ivy class but still not something whose sap you really want on your skin. As ever there are exceptions as far as can be determined Poinsettia is relatively benign and Jatropha is a clear sapped nasty. Well, yes, but the context was of the spurges that grow widely in the UK. I did say that there were a lot of seriously nasty exotics, though most are very tender. I can no longer remember which ones I was warned against as a child, though one was a (tree) Euphorbia. The temperate ones are only seriously nasty if it gets in your eyes or other delicate areas but unless you are already sensitised unlikely to cause more than a blister or two. Still worth getting it off your skin promptly or not getting it on in the first place. Well, yes. I don't worry unduly, as the skin on the palms of my hands is rairly thick, but being silly is another matter. Caper spurge is a common casual around here, and has been one of my more dominating weeds in some years, but I have never heard of any serious effects. However, I have avoided pruning my Cotinus coggyria in summer on the grounds that the offending shoots were above eye level, and the sap of that is also irritant and photosensitising. My real point is that there are a hell of a lot of other things that are similarly nasty to a few sensitive people, and it makes no sense to single out one that is not exceptional. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Strange plant ID anybody?
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