Last updated: 3rd October 2002

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Genus: Euphorbia

Species: lathyris

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

Contents

General Background
Details of Quality Characteristics
Current Production and Yields
Constraints upon Production
Markets and Market Potential
Other Information
Research
Useful Websites
BioMat Net
Contacts
References

General Background
EU Funded Project (FAIR-CT98/4460): The development of Euphorbia lagascae as a new oil crop within the European Community. Click here for the Euphorbia lagascae handbook produced from this project – for information on Breeding, Agronomy, Oil Extraction, Markets, Toxicology etc.

This is a glaucous, herbaceous biennial, probably a native of the Eastern and Central Mediterranean region, it has spread into northern Europe and been introduced into the USA. It grows in low-lying areas. Plants reach 30-120 cm in height, forming a stout and erect hollow stem in the first year, elongating and flowering in the second year [1].

There are four rows of dark green, narrow pointed leaves arranged in a cruciform pattern up the stem. Side branches may develop up the stem in the same manner giving the plant an ‘architectural’ appearance. It has a deeply penetrating tap root. Before maturity most plants contain a poisonous milky latex which contains some carcinogenic compounds.

Caper spurge blossoms from the June of the second year to the end of its vegetative period, developing a compound cymose inflorescence with phylogenetically highly simplified flowers. Individual flowers are small and petal-less, but additional flowers are produced from within the bracts of the earliest flowers and this pattern may be repeated many times. One seed is found in each of the three seed chambers of the seed capsule. The capsule bursts open when ripe, scattering the seeds and making an audible pop [3]. The seeds are about 5 mm in size, brown and reticulate.

Euphorbia lagascae
Wild plants of this species are found in southern Spain and Sardinia. Analysis of the seed oil has shown that the main constituent is vernolic acid, which has potential applications in the lubricant, paint, and insecticide industries. Domestication, breeding and developmental work have been under taken in Spain, Germany and the Netherlands during recent years. The plant is an annual, with smooth, light green stems and narrow but rounded dark leaves, growing to a height of about 75 cm. Plants often branch profusely, bearing large numbers of simple, petal-less flowers, from which small tripartite seed capsules develop; in wild plants, these ripen and shed their seed over a long period. Types that retain their seeds have been developed, and in some experimental areas have been successfully combine-harvested without problems from the latex in the stems. Several cultural difficulties still remain, particularly the long and uneven maturation period; while the crop may perform best when winter-sown in Southern Europe, there is doubt as to the winter-hardiness of present types in the damper climates in Northern European countries [4].


Details of Quality Characteristics
The seeds contain nearly 50% oil, of which 80-85% is oleic acid [2].

Analysis of the seed [3]

Seed oil characteristics [3]

% Oil Composition

The fatty acid spectrum of the oil very much resembles that of olive oil although presence of toxic substances is a serious obstacle to its use as an edible oil. These substances are primarily oligocyclic, polyfunctional diterpene esters present in the seed and in the latex. They are skin irritants as well as possessing carcinogenic properties. [3]


Current Production and Yields
Plot seed yields of over 2 t/ha have been achieved in UK from plants grown as biennials, and studies are continuing with plants grown both as biennials and as winter annuals [2]. Yields from the plant grown as an annual were 1.2 t/ha seed [3]. In USA and Germany yields of over 2t seed per ha have been achieved from experimental plots.

Caper spurge is still cultivated in south-eastern European countries and southern Russia. [3]


Constraints upon Production
Content of oligocyclic, polyfunctional dipterene esters prevents the plant being used on a large scale, although breeding programmes are under way to reduce content of these substances [3].

A harvesting technique which does not damage the seeds needs to be developed. When seeds are damaged the oil quality changes through the activation of lipases within the seed [3].


Markets and Market Potential
Oleic acid is used as an industrial feed stock in the production of soaps, detergents, some lubricants, cosmetics, et cetera. The use of the oil as a diesel fuel substitute has also been canvassed [2].

Caper spurge was once used for medicinal purposes since the seed has violent purgative and emetic effects. The latex is highly irritant. It is a highly toxic plant.


Other Information
Breeding and development work in Germany has produced types which are more suitable for agriculture being annual and retaining their ripe seeds. There are still several agronomic problems, in particular harvesting and threshing mature seeds without damaging them and causing oil loss.

Diseases: The most important are mildew (Sphaerotheca tomentosa) and rust (Uromyces pisi), and in some cases a form of stem rot, possibly Phytophthora species.


Research


Useful Websites


BioMat Net

Caper spurge (Euphorbia lathyris)

Crops for Liquid Biofuels

Crops for Detergents

Crops for Paints/Coatings/Plastics

Crops for Fine Chemicals


Contacts


References

1. Clapham, A. R., Tutin, T. G. & Moore, D. M., (1987) Flora of the British Isles. 3rd edition. Published Cambridge University Press

2. Smith, N. O. (1994) Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Letter to Mrs Blackburn, Alternative crops unit, MAFF, Room 405, 10 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HH.

3. Anthony K. R. M., Meadley. J. & Röbbelen, G. (1993) New Crops For Temperate Regions. Chapman and Hall: London

4. Smith N. O. et al (1997) Crops for Industry and Energy in Europe. Published by the University of Reading