Daphne mezereum

Daphne mezereum
Daphne mezereum
Daphne mezereum foliage and fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Genus: Daphne
Species: D. mezereum
Binomial name
Daphne mezereum
L.

Daphne mezereum is a species of Daphne in the flowering plant family Thymelaeaceae, native to most of Europe and Western Asia, north to northern Scandinavia and Russia. In southern Europe it is confined to medium to higher elevations and in the subalpine vegetation zone, but descends to near sea level in northern Europe. It is generally confined to soils derived from limestone. The common name is Mezereon.

It is a deciduous shrub growing to 1.5 m tall. The leaves are soft, 3-8 cm long and 1-2 cm broad, arranged spirally on the stems. The flowers are produced in early spring on the bare stems before the leaves appear. They have a four-lobed pink or light purple (rarely white) perianth 10-15 mm diameter, and are strongly scented. The fruit is a bright red berry 7-12 mm diameter; it is very poisonous for people, though fruit-eating birds like thrushes are immune and eat them, dispersing the seeds in their droppings.

Toxicity

Daphne mezereum is very toxic because of the daphnetoxin present especially in the berries and twigs. If poisoned, victims experience a choking sensation. Handling the fresh twigs can cause rashes and eczema in sensitive individuals. Despite this, it is commonly grown as an ornamental plant in gardens for its attractive flowers.

References

  • This article is based on a translation of an article from the German Wikipedia.
  • Manfred A. Fischer: Exkursionsflora von Österreich, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-8001-3461-6
  • Smeil, Fitschen: Flora von Deutschland, Heidelberg, Wiesbaden.


External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • Daphne mezereum — Bois joli Daphne mezereum …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Daphne mezereum — Echter Seidelbast Echter Seidelbast (Daphne mezereum) Systematik Klasse: Dreifurchenpollen Zweikeimblättrige (Ros …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Daphne mezereum — Daphnin Daph nin, n. [Cf. F. daphnine.] (Chem.) (a) A dark green bitter resin extracted from the mezereon ({Daphne mezereum}) and regarded as the essential principle of the plant. [R.] (b) A white, crystalline, bitter substance, regarded as a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Daphne mezereum — Daphnin Daph nin, n. [Cf. F. daphnine.] (Chem.) (a) A dark green bitter resin extracted from the mezereon ({Daphne mezereum}) and regarded as the essential principle of the plant. [R.] (b) A white, crystalline, bitter substance, regarded as a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Daphne mezereum — paprastasis žalčialunkis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Timelėjinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, vaistinis nuodingas augalas (Daphne mezereum), paplitęs Europoje ir vakarų Azijoje. atitikmenys: lot. Daphne mezereum angl. daphe; february daphne;… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • Daphne mezereum L. — куст.; IV–V Сем. Thymelaeaceae – Волчеягодниковые 173. Род Daphne L. – Волчеягодник (Волчник) 366. Волчье лыко Syn rus: Волчеягодник обыкновенный См. Daphne mezereum L. – Волчье лыко Широколиственно еловые леса. Довольно часто, по всему… …   Флора Центрально-лесного государственного заповедника

  • Daphne Mezereum — Mezereon Me*ze re*on, n. [F. m[ e]z[ e]r[ e]on, Per. m[=a]zriy[=u]n.] (Bot.) A small European shrub ({Daphne Mezereum}), whose acrid bark is used in medicine. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Daphne Mezereum — Umbelliferone Um bel*lif er*one, n. (Chem.) A tasteless white crystalline substance, {C9H6O3}, found in the bark of a certain plant ({Daphne Mezereum}), and also obtained by the distillation of certain gums from the {Umbellifer[ae]}, as galbanum …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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