Daphne laureola

Daphne laureola, commonly called spurge-laurel,^[1] is a shrub in the flowering plant family Thymelaeaceae. Despite the name, this woodland plant is neither a spurge nor a laurel. Its native range covers much of Europe and extends to Algeria, Morocco and the Azores.^[1]

Daphne laureola
In flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Thymelaeaceae
Genus:	Daphne
Species:	D. laureola
Binomial name
Daphne laureola L.

Description

Daphne laureola reaches a height between 0.5–1.5 metres (1+1⁄2–5 ft). The habit of this shrub can be upright or decumbent (arched at the base then spreading upward). The bark is thin and yellow-grey when mature, while immature stems are green. The cambium is malodorous with a scent reminiscent of herb robert.^{[citation needed]}

The alternate leaves usually form dense whorls at the shoot tips, but may clothe entire branches. The leaves are oblanceolate to obovate-oblanceolate, 2–13 centimetres (3⁄4–5 in) long and 1–3 cm wide. They are glabrous (smooth), dark green and glossy on the upper surface and lighter in color beneath.

The inconspicuous yellow-green axial flowers, usually hidden among the leaf bases, may be strongly fragrant, or may exhibit no scent at all.^[2] The berry is black, egg-shaped, and 1.5 cm (1⁄2 in) wide, containing one seed.^[3]

Etymology

The genus name Daphne is from the ancient Greek for laurel. Daphne is also the name of a dryad in Greek mythology who was transformed into a laurel tree. The specific epithet laureola means 'laurel-like'; therefore, the binomial literally translates to 'laurel-like laurel'.^[4]

Distribution and habitat

It is one of two species of Daphne native to Great Britain, with Daphne mezereum. Both have a strong preference for alkaline soils and are most commonly found in limestone areas, although D. laureola is also found on clay.^[5] However, unlike D. mezereum, D. laureola is evergreen, with yellowish-green flowers borne very early in the spring and black berries, which are poisonous to humans but not to birds, present from late summer.^[6]

Ecology

Birds consume the fruit and disperse the seeds.^[3]

As an invasive species

Outside its native range, D. laureola can become a dangerous invasive weed. Growing in sun or shade, it is well-suited to the temperate forest understory and can rapidly colonize areas (both by seeding and by root suckering) to form monotypic stands and out-compete native vegetation. It is a Class B Noxious weed in Washington state.^[7] Already a weed under native forests in Tasmania, Australia,^[8][9] and New Zealand.^[10]

Hand-pulling is effective against small infestations (gloves must be worn to protect against the caustic sap); shrubs too large or too small to pull must be dug out.^[2]

Toxicity

The fruit is toxic to humans.^[3] All parts of the plants are poisonous.^{[clarification needed]} The sap is known to cause skin rashes on contact.

In culture

Gilbert White called it dwarf laurel, and on 5 December 1783 "fetched them" from the high wood and hanger at Selborne and planted them in his garden.^[11]