Caper Spurge, also known as Gopher Plant, Mole Plant, and Spurge Caper
Kingdom: Plantae, Division: Tracheophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Malpighiales, Family: Euphorbiaceae, Genus: Euphorbia, Species: Euphorbia lathyris · Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family) · Simple, deciduous
Species
Euphorbia lathyris
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Family
Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
Shape
Lanceolate to linear with an acute tip
Size
Approximately 2 to 6 inches long and 0.5 inches wide, typical for mature specimens
Margin
Entire (smooth edges)
Arrangement
Opposite in four distinct rows along the stem (decussate)
Rarity
Common, frequently found as a weed or intentionally cultivated garden plant
Color & Pattern
Glaucous bluish-green leaves with a pale midrib, sometimes showing reddish tinges or autumnal orange-red highlights under stress
Venation Pattern
Pinnate with a prominent central midrib and obscure lateral veins
Texture & Surface
Smooth, glabrous, and often with a slightly waxy or glaucous coating
Description
Euphorbia lathyris is an erect, biennial or sometimes annual herb featuring striking geometric foliage. The stem is upright, rigid, and hairless, branching rigidly. In its second year, it produces umbrella-like clusters of yellowish-green flowers followed by smooth, spherical capsules. The overall appearance is architectural and distinct due to its four-ranked leaves.
Key Features
Strictly opposite leaves arranged in four precise rows along the stem, glaucous blue-green coloration, upright unbranched or rigidly branched stems, and the presence of milky white sap when broken
Habitat
Found in disturbed ground, waste places, rocky slopes, roadsides, and dry gardens with well-draining soil and full sun
Geographic Range
Native to the Mediterranean region and parts of Asia, but naturalized widely across temperate and subtropical regions globally
Condition Notes
Good condition, displaying vibrant coloration and typical growth in a rocky substrate with no notable signs of disease or pest infestation
Interesting Facts
Commonly planted as a traditional deterrent for moles and gophers, earning it the names mole plant and gopher spurge, though its actual efficacy is often debated by gardeners
Medicinal & Uses
Historically used in herbal medicine as a violent purgative, but rarely used today due to extreme toxicity. Grown primarily as an ornamental or pest deterrent
Ecological Role
Acts as an early successional colonizer in disturbed soils. Its toxic latex deters most mammalian herbivores and insects
Similar Species
Other members of the Euphorbia genus, but easily distinguished by the exact four-ranked opposite leaf arrangement and glaucous leaves
Foraging Tips
Look in disturbed rocky soils, old gardens, and dry waste areas. Look for the unique rigid, four-sided appearance of the leaf rows and test carefully for milky latex sap
Toxicity Warning
Highly Toxic. All parts of the plant, especially the milky sap, contain toxic diterpene esters that cause severe skin irritation, blistering, and intense pain upon contact, and severe gastrointestinal distress if ingested