Euphorbia lathyrus
Annual or biennial up to 1.5m tall. Linear leaves 75mm long on youg plant and lower stem, upper ovate leaves 35mm long. Flowers small and yellow. Fruit 3 lobed 10 15mm diameter.
Some garden spurges are similar and probably poisonous too.
Locally common in waste ground. Occasionally grown in gardens.
The plant contains a variety of potentially toxic compounds, none of which have been definitely known to cause poisoning. People are usually poisoned by eating the "capers".
People and rarely sheep and goats.
Mouth and gut irritation and pain, followed by convulsions, coma and death. Dermatitis is common in people.
History of exposure and clinical signs.
Other irritants.
Remove from plants, symptomatic.
Good in most cases.
Connor, HE, The Poisonous plants in New Zealand, 2nd ed.,1977, Government Publications Ltd., Wellington
Cooper M R, Johnson A W. Poisonous Plants and Fungi in Britan: Animals and Human Poisoning. Her Majesty’s Stationary Office. London. 1998
Parton K, Bruere A.N. and Chambers J.P. Veterinary Clinical Toxicology, 3rd ed. 2006. Veterinary Continuing Education Publication No. 249
