Short Description
Sun spurge is a relatively small plant that contains white milky sap.
On the upper part of the plant are yellowish-green leaves. They are oval in shape. The edge of the leaves is slightly serrated.
The cylindrical stem is unbranched or slightly branched at the base. At the end of the stem grow five leaves. Above them is the flower head.
The flower head is the most extensive part of the plant. It consists of a five-rayed, yellowish-green umbel. Above two bracts grow inconspicuous green pseudo flowers.
The fruit is dry and trifoliate. It usually breaks up into three partial fruits. They protrude from the upper part of the plant on a stalk.
Features
Sun spurge
Euphorbia helioscopia
very poisonous
finely serrated leaves
In the city
It prefers cultivated fields, gardens and vineyards. It often grows on soils rich in nitrogen and bases, loose, loamy and nutrient-rich.
Fun Facts
The name refers to the property of the inflorescences to turn towards the sun.
The flowering period is from April to October.
It is an annual plant. It dies with the first ground frost at the latest.
- Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
It probably originated in the Mediterranean region and spread in the Neolithic period as a cultural follower of man.
Like all spurge species, it is very poisonous.
Sources
Habitus, Sphl, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Euphorbia_helioscopia2.jpg
Trugdolde, Júlio Reis, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Euphorbia_helioscopia_flowers.jpg
Frucht, AnRo0002, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20150811Euphorbia_helioscopia3.jpg
Spohn, M., Golte-Bechtle, M. & Spohn, R. (2015) Was blüht denn da? Stuttgart: Franckh Kosmos Verlag.
Page „Sonnwend-Wolfsmilch“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 10.07.2018, 16:10 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sonnwend-Wolfsmilch&oldid=179033735 (Accessed: 24.07.2018).
Bundesamt für Naturschutz (n.d.) Artensteckbriefe, URL: http://floraweb.de/pflanzenarten/artenhome.xsql?suchnr=2271& (Accessed: 24.07.2018).
Seitz, B., Ristow, M., Meißner, J., Machatzi, B. & Sukopp, H. (2018) Rote Liste und Gesamtartenliste der etablierten Farn- und Blütenpflanzen von Berlin. : Der Landesbeauftragte für Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege / Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Klima und Verkehr (eds.) Rote Listen der gefährdeten Pflanzen, Pilze und Tiere von Berlin, URL: https://www.berlin.de/sen/uvk/natur-und-gruen/naturschutz/artenschutz/artenlisten-rote-listen/farn-und-bluetenpflanzen/ (Accessed: 26.03.2021).