Euphorbia palustris
Marsh spurge
Euphorbia palustris, commonly known as Marsh Spurge, is a striking perennial valued for its dramatic architectural foliage and lime-green bracts. While primarily used in ornamental gardening to add texture to damp landscapes, its unique botanical properties continue to intrigue researchers studying the diverse chemical compounds within the Euphorbia genus.
- Scientific name: Euphorbia palustris
- Family: Euphorbiaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Euphorbiaceae and the genus Euphorbia. Consequently, its specific scientific name is Euphorbia palustris.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malpighiales | WCVP |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Euphorbia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Euphorbia palustris, is recognized by various regional names across different languages. In Poland, it is called wilczomlecz błotny, while in Russia, it is referred to as молочай болотный. Moving to the Nordic regions, the Finnish name for this species is rantatyräkki, and in Hungary, it is known as mocsári kutyatej. Finally, in Estonia, the plant is commonly called soo-piimalill.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pl | Wilczomlecz błotny | Wikidata |
| ru | молочай болотный | Wikidata |
| fi | rantatyräkki | Wikidata |
| hu | mocsári kutyatej | Wikidata |
| et | soo-piimalill | Wikidata |
| de | Sumpf-Wolfsmilch | Wikidata |
| dsb | Bagnowe wjelkowe mloko | Wikidata |
| az | Bataqlıq südləyəni | Wikidata |
| hsb | Žabjaca mlóčeń | Wikidata |
| nl | moeraswolfsmelk | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across the northern regions of Europe. Its presence can be documented throughout the Scandinavian peninsula, specifically in Norway and Sweden. Furthermore, it is commonly found in the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. The species also extends its range into the northern territories of Finland. Finally, its geographical footprint includes the various landscapes of Great Britain.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Euphorbia palustris, is characterized by its unique physiological structures typical of the Euphorbiaceae family, most notably the presence of a milky, white latex. This substance is contained within specialized cells throughout the stem and leaves and is released when the plant tissue is damaged or broken. While this sap serves as a natural defense mechanism against herbivores, it is also a key component of the plant's chemical profile, containing various secondary metabolites that define its medicinal and biological properties.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| latex | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Euphorbia palustris has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 24-methylenecycloartanol, cis-1,4-polyisoprene.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 24-methylenecycloartanol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cis-1,4-polyisoprene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |