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HerbWildAnnualMedicinal

Euphorbia helioscopia L.

Chatri dodhak

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Description

Euphorbia helioscopia is an annual herbaceous plant, usually 10–40 cm tall, with an erect, branched growth habit and a characteristic umbrella-like inflorescence. The stem is smooth, green, cylindrical, and contains white milky latex when damaged. Leaves are simple, alternate, obovate to spatulate, usually 1–4 cm long, with finely toothed or entire margins, a rounded to slightly pointed apex, and a smooth green surface. Upper leaves are arranged in a whorl beneath the inflorescence. Flowers are small, unisexual, and grouped into yellow-green cyathia arranged in terminal, forked clusters. The cyathia contain highly reduced male and female flowers surrounded by nectar glands. Fruits are smooth, three-lobed capsules containing three seeds.

Diagnostic Characters

Vegetative
Small annual herb. Milky latex present. Upper leaves forming a whorl beneath inflorescence.
Floral
Umbrella-like terminal cyathia. Yellow-green glandular structures. Typical Euphorbia reproductive organization.
Fruit & Seed
Smooth three-lobed capsule. Three seeds per fruit.

Distribution

Native range: Native to Europe, North Africa, Western Asia. Introduced and naturalized in Asia, North America, Australia.

In Pakistan: Occurs, Northern areas. Common in agricultural fields and disturbed habitats.

Phenology

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Flowering
Fruiting
Flowering: February–May Fruiting: Spring–summer

Ethnobotany & Uses

Medicinal Importance
Traditionally used for Skin disorders, Warts, Inflammation. The plant contains Diterpenoids, Flavonoids, Phenolic compounds.
Agricultural Importance
Common agricultural weed. Competes with crops for nutrients and space. Produces numerous seeds enabling rapid spread. Toxicity the latex may cause Skin irritation, Eye damage, Allergic reactions.
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Where it grows on campus

This species is on the campus floristic list but was not pinned during the GPS mapping survey, so it has no map records yet.

Taxonomic Notes

Euphorbia helioscopia is one of the most recognizable annual spurges. The species name helioscopia refers to its traditional association with the sun, as the inflorescences were historically believed to follow sunlight.