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spurgelaurel
Scientific Name: Daphne laureola
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Tree, Shrub
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Spurge-Laurel (Daphne laureola)
Daphne laureola, commonly known as spurge-laurel, is an evergreen shrub belonging to the Thymelaeaceae family.
Considerations for Pets
- All parts of the spurge-laurel plant are considered poisonous.
- The plant produces berries (black when mature).
Considerations for Children
- All parts of the spurge-laurel plant are considered poisonous.
- Skin contact with the sap can cause severe irritation.
- The plant produces berries (black when mature).
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Daphne laureola
- Common Names: Spurge-laurel, spurgelaurel, daphne, daphne-spurge, daphne-laurel
- Family: Thymelaeaceae (Mezereum family)
- Taxonomic Rank: Subspecies (e.g., Daphne laureola subsp. philippi)
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to western Europe and north Africa.
- Naturalized in parts of western North America (e.g., Puget Sound area, King County, Washington State).
- Found in open woodland, lime-rich soils, roadsides, moist woods, and lowland areas.
Ecological Role
- Considered an invasive plant in some regions, such as British Columbia.
- Escapes from landscaped settings and naturalizes in woodlands.
Morphological Characteristics
- Evergreen shrub, branching from the ground.
- Typically grows to 1.6 to 5 feet (0.5 to 1.5 meters) tall, rarely exceeding 1 meter in height.
- Shrub habit can be upright or decumbent.
- Dark-green leaves are alternate on the stem, semi-glossy, and glabrous (not hairy), resembling laurel leaves.
- Small, very fragrant yellow-green flowers bloom early in the year.
- Produces shiny black fruit (berries).
Quirky Facts
- Its nectaries, located at the end of a narrow tubular corolla, are accessible to moths, making it a crepuscular-pollinated species.
- Spurge-laurel resembles the Pacific rhododendron.
Further Information
- RHS (Royal Horticultural Society)
- Portland Bureau of Environmental Services
- Jefferson County Noxious Weed Control Program: www.co.jefferson.wa.us/WeedBoard