Euphorbia lathyris

Euphorbia lathyris, also known as caper spurge or mole plant, is a poisonous European spurge species. It is part of the large and diverse genus Euphorbia, which contains over 2,100 species found worldwide. Many plants in this genus are known for their milky, often poisonous sap, and they can range from creeping herbs to shrubs and trees.12

The seeds of the caper spurge were historically used for their laxative effect. The genus Euphorbia is significant in the plant kingdom, with many species valued as ornamentals, sources of medicine, or sometimes as invasive weeds. The family Euphorbiaceae, to which Euphorbia lathyris belongs, is characterized by small, unisexual flowers and explosively dehiscent fruits.23