Euphorbia humifusa

Physical Characteristics

Euphorbia humifusa is a ANNUAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 6in). The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Distribution

E. Asia. Naturalized in S. and C. Europe.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Shoots Edible Uses: Young shoots - cooked. An emergency food, used when all else fails[177, 179] and I would have to be very desperate to eat it even then[K].

Medicinal Uses

Anthelmintic Depurative Diuretic Dysentery Styptic Vulnerary Anthelmintic, vulnerary[178]. The whole plant is depurative, diuretic and styptic[147, 218]. A decoction is used in the treatment of jaundice, dysentery, enteritis, poisonous snake bites and traumatic bleeding[147].

Known Hazards

The sap contains a latex which is toxic on ingestion and highly irritant externally, causing photosensitive skin reactions and severe inflammation, especially on contact with eyes or open cuts. The toxicity can remain high even in dried plant material[200]. Prolonged and regular contact with the sap is inadvisable because of its carcinogenic nature[214].