''Daphne gnidium'' (commonly known as the flax-leaved daphne) is a poisonous

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, whic ...

shrub from the Mediterranean region with narrow, dense dark-green

foliage A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, s ...

and white fragrant flowers.

Description

''Daphne gnidium'' is characterized by upright branches that grow tall. The dense

lanceolate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular ...

leaves are dark green with sticky undersides. It bears white fragrant flowers in late

spring Spring(s) may refer to: Common uses * Spring (season) Spring, also known as springtime, is one of the four temperate seasons, succeeding winter and preceding summer. There are various technical definitions of spring, but local usage of ...

or early summer. The fruits are drupes and are round and red, about in diameter. They are produced during autumn.

Habitat

''Daphne gnidium'' grows well in sandy loam. They are commonly found in fields, woodlands,

garrigue Garrigue or garigue ( ), also known as phrygana ( el, φρύγανα , n. pl.), is a type of low scrubland ecoregion and plant community in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome. It is found on limestone soils in southern ...

s, and hillsides. They are native to the areas surrounding the

Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ...

(

Southern Europe Southern Europe is the southern region of Europe. It is also known as Mediterranean Europe, as its geography is essentially marked by the Mediterranean Sea. Definitions of Southern Europe include some or all of these countries and regions: Alba ...

Northern Africa North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in t ...

, and the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (Europ ...

Toxicity

''Daphne gnidium'' contains the

toxin A toxin is a naturally occurring organic poison produced by metabolic activities of living cells or organisms. Toxins occur especially as a protein or conjugated protein. The term toxin was first used by organic chemist Ludwig Brieger (1849 ...

mezerein Mezerein is a toxic diterpene ester found in the sap of ''Daphne mezereum'' and related plants. Plants of the genera ''Euphorbiaceae'' and ''Thymelaeaceae'' possess a wide variety of different phorbol esters, which share the capacity of mimicking ...

and daphnetoxin. All parts of the plant are considered highly poisonous. Skin contact with the

sap Sap is a fluid transported in xylem cells (vessel elements or tracheids) or phloem sieve tube elements of a plant. These cells transport water and nutrients throughout the plant. Sap is distinct from latex, resin, or cell sap; it is a separ ...

can cause

dermatitis Dermatitis is inflammation of the skin, typically characterized by itchiness, redness and a rash. In cases of short duration, there may be small blisters, while in long-term cases the skin may become thickened. The area of skin involved can ...

Chance of death is small yet possible within 6 hours after direct consumption. At least severe anabolic and indigestive reactions are expected (which may also trigger lethal allergic reactions).

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1609513 gnidium Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus