Content
- The Cypress Spurge - A Wanted Poster
- Cypress Spurge - A Wanted Poster
- Important for insects
- Cypress spurge is poisonous
- Beware of grazing animals
- Tips
Cypress spurge is used as a medicinal plant
The Cypress Spurge - A Wanted Poster
Cypress Spurge is a small herbaceous plant that grows quite frequently on meager grasslands and even rocks in Central Europe. Also in the garden special breedings like to be pulled. However, caution is advised: cypress spurge is poisonous! A personal description.
Cypress Spurge - A Wanted Poster
Important for insects
The nectar of cypress spurge is often picked up by insects, especially bees. The plant serves as the main food source for the caterpillars of the milkweed warbler.
The cypress wolf milk is a so-called migratory plant, which spreads predominantly over foothills. Sites where cypress spurge can grow unhindered, are becoming increasingly rare. Therefore, the milkweed warbler is threatened with extinction.
Cypress spurge is poisonous
Cypress spurge is considered a medicinal herb, although it is classified as medium to highly toxic. Toxic is above all the sap that emerges when the plant is damaged. It contains irritant substances which can cause dermatitis on hands. If the juice comes into the eye, it can lead to blindness in the worst case.
Therefore, gloves should always be worn when picking and cultivating cypress spurge. If plant juice has accidentally got into the eye, it should be rinsed out as soon as possible and the ophthalmologist should be consulted
The seeds of the cypress spurge also contain poisonous substances and can cause severe poisoning. As a medicinal plant Cypress spurge is used only externally, and also because of the poisonous plant juice only with caution.
Beware of grazing animals
Cypress Spurge is very poisonous for grazing animals, but is mostly avoided because of the taste.
Unlike other willow-weeds such as sharp buttercup, the poison does not decompose by drying. Hay, which contains the milkweed plant, should not be fed.
Tips
The cypress spurge is a relatives of the poinsettia, which is not very popular because of the inconspicuous flowers, but because of the bright red leaves. He also secretes white, poisonous milk juice.