Caper spurge
General poisoning notes:
Caper spurge (Euphorbia lathyris) is an outdoor ornamental that has become naturalized in British Columbia. This plant contains an irritant toxin in the latex. Humans have been poisoned after ingesting the seed capsules, which resemble capers, a different plant. Goats apparently eat this plant without experiencing great problems, but the toxin can accumulate and can be passed through the milk (Fuller and McClintock 1986).
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Euphorbia lathyris L.
Vernacular name(s): caper spurge
Scientific family name: Euphorbiaceae
Vernacular family name: spurge
Euphorbia lathyris L.
Geographic Information
British Columbia
Toxic parts:
Latex
Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:
Caper spurge contains unidentified ingenol derivatives that are toxic diterpenes. The activity of the toxins are not affected by drying or storage (Frohne and Pfander 1983, Cooper and Johnson 1984).
Toxic plant chemicals:
5-deoxyingenol.
Animals/Human Poisoning:
Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.
Goats
Humans
General symptoms of poisoning:
Abdominal pains, diarrhea, vomiting.
Notes on poisoning:
Caper spurge has seed capsules that resemble true capers. In Europe, adults were poisoned when they mistakenly ingested caper spurge. They experienced intense burning of the mouth and stomach, abdominal pains, diarrhea, and eventual recovery. The latex is corrosive and causes skin irritation (Cooper and Johnson 1984, Fuller and McClintock 1986).
