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#1
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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. |
#2
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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.
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#3
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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 |
#4
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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 |
#5
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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 |
#6
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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. |
#7
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Strange plant ID anybody?
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#8
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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. |
#9
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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. |
#10
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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. |
#12
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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 |
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