Caper Spurge

At a glance

Origin / distribution: China, Turkey, Argentina, Spain, France, Japan, Mexico, UK

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Antiseptic, Coffee, Corn, Diarrhea

Science studied: BETULIN, DAPHNETIN, 3,4-DIOXYPHENYLALANINE, EUPHORBETIN

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Scientific name: Euphorbia lathyris

Common names: Caper Spurge, Mole Plant, Caper Spurge (EN); Lechetrezna murganera (ES), Euforbia catapuzia, Euphorbe a feuilles decussees, Euphorbe des jardins, Euphorbe Épurge, Euphorbe épurge, Euphorbe épurge, Euphorbe des jardins, Herbe-aux-taupes, Fflamgoed Gaperol, Kors-vortemælk, Kreuzbblättrige Wolfsmilch, Kreuzblaettrige Wolfsmilch

POWO: 347072-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in China, Turkey, Argentina, Spain, Elsewhere, France, Japan, Mexico and 2 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Antiseptic
• Coffee
• Corn
• Diarrhea
• Emetic
• Gangrene
• Melanoma
• Poison

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• China
• Turkey
• Argentina
• Spain
• Elsewhere
• France
• Japan
• Mexico
• UK
• Taiwan

Documented cultural uses

• Antiseptic
• Coffee
• Corn
• Diarrhea
• Emetic
• Gangrene
• Melanoma
• Poison
• Purgative
• Wart
• Cancer
• Diuretic

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Antiseptic · China · "
• Coffee · Turkey · "
• Corn · Argentina · "
• Diarrhea · China · "
• Emetic · Spain · "
• Gangrene · China · "
• Melanoma · China · "
• Poison · Turkey · "
• Purgative · Elsewhere · "
• Purgative · Turkey · "
• Wart · France · "
• Wart · Japan · "
• Wart · Mexico · "
• Wart · UK · "
• Emetic · Turkey · "
• Cancer · Taiwan · "
• Diarrhea · Turkey · "
• Diuretic · Elsewhere · "
• Poison · China · "
• Skin · China · "
• Sore · China · "
• Sore(Throat) · China · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• A HAT7/ATHB13/Brassinosteroid signaling module mediates growth of laticifer cells in Euphorbia lathyris. · 2026 source ↗
• The genome sequence of Euphorbia lathyris L., 1753 (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae) · 2026 source ↗
• The genome sequence of <i>Euphorbia lathyris</i> L., 1753 (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae). · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• BETULIN
• DAPHNETIN
• 3,4-DIOXYPHENYLALANINE
• EUPHORBETIN
• EUPHORBIASTEROID
• FERULIC-ACID
• HENTRIACONTANE
• 7-HYDROXYLATHYROL
• KAEMPFEROL
• LATHYROLS
• OLEIC-ACID
• PROTEIN
• QUERCETIN-3-BETA-D-GLUCURONIDE
• TARAXEROL
• TARAXERONE
• WAX

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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