Mountain Snow, Ghost Spurge, Ghost Weed
Euphorbia marginata
Family: Euphorbiaceae
What it is like
Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early fall, Late summer. Form: Rounded.
Euphorbia marginata is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in flower in September. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
Height (m): 0.6
Where it is found
Infrequent to locally abundant, the plant has a liking for calcareous soils of prairies, roadsides, pastures and waste places.
Central N. America. A garden escape in S.E. Europe.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
A latex from the plant is used for chewing. Caution is advised, see the notes on toxicity above.
Gum: can be chewed as a chewing gum or can often be used as a sweetener or thickening agent in foods.
Medicine
Rating: 1
Astringent, women's complaints. Used in the treatment of leucorrhoea. An infusion of the crushed leaves has been used as a liniment in the treatment of swellings. An infusion of the plant has been used to increase milk flow in nursing mothers. Any medicinal use of this plant should be carried out with great care, see the notes above on toxicity.
Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
Galactogogue: Promotes the flow of milk in a nursing mother.
Salve: Soothes and heals damaged skin.
Women's complaints: A very vague title, it deals with a miscellany of problems peculiar to the female sex.
Other
Rating: 3
Landscape Uses: Border, Container, Specimen. A very ornamental plant, its long-lasting flowers are used in button holes. Hybridizes with other members of this genus. This genus has been singled out as a potential source of latex (for making rubber) for the temperate zone, although no individual species has been singled out. Special Features: Attractive foliage, North American native, Naturalizing, All or parts of this plant are poisonous, Wetlands plant. Dynamic accumulator.
Gum: Gums have a wide range of uses, especially as stabilizers, emulsifiers, thickening agents, adhesives etc.
Dynamic accumulator: Plants that gather minerals or nutrients from the soil and store them in a more bioavailable form and in high concentration in their tissues. Used as fertilizer or to improve mulch.
How it is grown
Prefers a light well-drained moderately rich loam in an open position. Succeeds in dry soils. The ripe seed is released explosively from the seed capsules. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits.
Propagating it: Seed - sow spring in situ. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 20°c.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Annual
Hardiness: 4-8
Growth: Fast
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist
Things to keep in mind
The sap contains a latex which is toxic on ingestion and highly irritant externally, causing photosensitive skin reactions and severe inflammation, especially on contact with eyes or open cuts. The toxicity can remain high even in dried plant material. Prolonged and regular contact with the sap is inadvisable because of its carcinogenic nature.