Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: techmind on 03/11/2008 00:04:47

Title: Do you know what this plant is?
Post by: techmind on 03/11/2008 00:04:47

Do you know what this plant is? (Photos taken in June)

Growing in my previous garden, in Surrey, near Gatwick.

Is it native to the UK? It looks most unlike anything else I've seen.

Note the leaves on the stem growing all at right-angles to each other.
Note the branching of the stalks from the flower/buds.

Title: Do you know what this plant is?
Post by: techmind on 03/11/2008 00:10:38

one more pic

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(I can only seem to have 2 photos per post, or maybe it's a combined total of 128kB per post?)

Title: Do you know what this plant is?
Post by: RD on 03/11/2008 01:53:51

I think this arrangement of leaves is described as "decussate (http://plants.nres.uiuc.edu/arrangement/arr-opposite.html)": leaves arranged in opposite pairs, rotating 90° at every node.

Title: Do you know what this plant is?
Post by: Bored chemist on 03/11/2008 07:08:26

N0ot sure, but it looks a bit like a euphorbia.

Title: Do you know what this plant is?
Post by: RD on 03/11/2008 12:25:30

The shape of the leaves looks "hastate-cordate", with "entire margins".

Title: Do you know what this plant is?
Post by: dentstudent on 03/11/2008 12:51:24

It is a Euphorbia, more commonly known as a spurge. This one is a caper spurge:

http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/S-Flowers/Spurge,%20Caper%20(2).htm

http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/ephla.htm

HTH!

Title: Do you know what this plant is?
Post by: techmind on 03/11/2008 22:00:08

Thanks everyone - especially dentstudent.

The house is owned by a Thai lady and I partly wanted to ensure it wasn't a rogue species! Tis regarded as a weed in any case - but a British one, so that makes it okay.

Title: Do you know what this plant is?
Post by: dentstudent on 04/11/2008 07:53:59

It is poisonous however, and the "milk" that comes from the plant when it's cut is very irritating to the skin, so get some gloves on if you're going to do some weeding [:)]

Title: Do you know what this plant is?
Post by: Bored chemist on 04/11/2008 19:46:04

Well worth avoiding.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resiniferatoxin

Title: Do you know what this plant is?
Post by: Make it Lady on 04/11/2008 21:21:35

Is this the stuff that dyes your hands yellow?