Petty Spurge
Latin name
Euphorbia peplus
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Other names
Radium Weed and Cancer Weed
Flowering season
April to November and through mild winters.
English distribution
It is found throughout the country.
See the BSBI distribution map for Petty Spurge
Habitat
It is a weed of gardens and cultivated ground and
also grows in cracks in pavements and the base of
walls.
It is an archeotype, which has been naturalised in
the UK for over a 1000 years.
Description
Petty Spurge is a common, annual herb, growing
up to 30cm.
The flowers are small (approximately 3mm) and green.
There are no petals or sepals. The flowers are cupped
in bracts.
There are 4 kidney-shaped, long-horned glands.
Stamens are small and yellow - inside the horned
glands.
The ovary is stalked, bulbous and pendular.
The fruit is a capsule.
Leaves are small (up to 3cm), untoothed and oval.
The stem is much branched.
Broken stems produce a white latex, which has been
used in herbal medicine.
The plant has a reputation in cancer treatment and
a report in the British Journal of Dermatology (26 Jan,
2011) suggests its use in treating skin cancer.
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Petty Spurge
Branching and leaves
Flowers
Horned glands and tiny stamens
Glands and ridged fruit