Caper Spurge

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• caper spurge
• gopher plant
• mole plant

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Keraselma lathyris
• Euphorbia lathyris var. minor
• Tithymalus lathyris
• Euphorbion lathyrum
• Galarhoeus lathyris
• Euphorbia spongiosa
• Epurga lathyris

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales. Finally, it resides in the family Euphorbiaceae and is identified by the genus Euphorbia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several regions within the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving into Middle Europe, the species can be found growing in Belgium. It also maintains a documented presence within the Czech-Slovakia region. Finally, the geographical range extends further into Germany.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Euphorbia lathyris is characterized by its broad adaptability across diverse topographical gradients, spanning an expansive elevational range from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 2647 m AMSL. While the species is frequently associated with lowland habitats, its ability to persist across such a significant vertical distribution suggests a high degree of environmental tolerance. This wide altitudinal niche allows the plant to inhabit various ecological zones, ranging from coastal or basin-level lowlands to more temperate, high-altitude montane environments.

Elevational range max:

2647 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Euphorbia lathyris is characterized by a biennial lifecycle, meaning it typically completes its biological processes over a two-year period, often functioning as an annual in certain environments. Regarding its growth habit and structural classification, the plant exhibits characteristics of a therophyte, completing its life cycle via seeds and surviving unfavorable seasons in a dormant state. Additionally, it can be classified under the life form of a chamaephyte, indicating that its perennating buds are located close to the ground surface, which aids in its survival within its specific ecological niches.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

biennial

Morphology

The morphology of Euphorbia lathyris is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting rather than a climber, maintaining an erect shoot orientation. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant variation in plant height, ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, with a mean height of approximately 0.675 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.675 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Euphorbia lathyris is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes. The plant exhibits non-carnivorous nutritional behavior and does not function as a nitrogen fixer. Its leaf morphology plays a significant role in its resource management, featuring a linear leaf form with an opposite arrangement along the stem. The leaves vary in dimensions, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 16 cm, and widths spanning from 0.3 cm to 2.5 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of 18.83 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 229.3 cm²/g, reflecting its internal leaf structure and its efficiency in light interception and gas exchange.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

linear

Leaf length max:

16 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

18.83 cm²

Leaf width max:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

229.3 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Euphorbia latyris is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers, though self-fertilization is noted to be absent. The plant produces yellow flowers arranged in a cyme inflorescence, which typically maintains a very small length ranging from 0.004 m to 0.005 m. The flowering period generally begins in June and concludes in August. Pollination is primarily a biotic process facilitated by insects, specifically flies. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a dehiscient capsule. These capsules are relatively small, measuring between 0.9 cm and 1.2 cm in length and 0.8 cm to 1 cm in width. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves vary in size, with a mean length of 5 mm (ranging from 5 mm to 6 mm) and a mean width of approximately 3 mm to 4 mm. The seed mass is quite light, with a mean of approximately 0.0357 g, though individual seeds can weigh as little as 0.0032 g or as much as 0.0403 g. Dispersal is achieved through an autochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed by the plant itself. As a monocarp, the plant's reproductive cycle is tied to its single major flowering event. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

1.2 cm

Fruit length min:

0.9 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Fruit width min:

0.8 cm

Inflorescence :

cyme

Inflorescence length max:

0.005 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.004 m

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

fly

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length max:

6 mm

Seed length mean:

5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0403 g

Seed mass mean:

0.035733619 g

Seed mass min:

0.0032 g

Seed width max:

4 mm

Seed width min:

3 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Euphorbia lathyris has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, root.

Seed

1. Fitoterapia
2. Phytochemistry

Root

1. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Euphorbia lathyris has 36 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 7-Hydroxylathyrol, ingenol, 16-Hydroxyingenol, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Baicalin.

7-Hydroxylathyrol

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology

ingenol

1. International journal of biological macromolecules
2. Plant cell reports

16-Hydroxyingenol

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Baicalin

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

Caoutchouc

1. Dr. Duke

Euphorbetin

1. Dr. Duke

Euphorbia factor L1

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Euphorbia factor L10

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Euphorbia lathyris has 264 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ATPase-Inhibitor.

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Euphorbia lathyris has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include ascites, cancer, edema, pancreatic cancer.

Ascites

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Cancer

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Edema

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Pancreatic cancer

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Preparations

Euphorbia lathyris has 5 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include root, seeds, shelled seeds, suspension cultures, transgenic hairy roots.

Root

1. Phytochemistry

Seeds

1. Phytochemistry

Shelled seeds

1. Fitoterapia

Suspension cultures

1. Plant cell reports

Transgenic hairy roots

1. Plant cell reports