Daphne gnidium

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Flax-leaved daphne
Daphne gnidium3.jpg
Daphne gnidium1.jpg
Unripe fruit (drupes)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Genus: Daphne
Species:
D. gnidium
Binomial name
Daphne gnidium

Daphne gnidium, the flax-leaved daphne, is a poisonous evergreen shrub from the northern and western Mediterranean region, with narrow, dense dark-green foliage and white fragrant flowers.

Contents

Description

Daphne gnidium is a shrub with upright branches that grow to 1.5 to 2 m (4 ft 11 in to 6 ft 7 in) tall. The dense lanceolate leaves are dark green with sticky undersides. It bears fragrant white flowers in late spring or early summer. The fruit is a drupe, and is round and red, about 8 mm (0.31 in) diameter. They are produced during autumn. [2] [3]

Taxonomy

Three subspecies are currently accepted by the Plants of the World Online database: [1]

Recent genetic analysis however suggests that the Atlas Mountains populations are strongly distinct, and would be better treated as a separate species Daphne mauritanicaNieto Fel., but conversely, that the western Portuguese population is not distinct from the rest of the European populations, so subsp. maritima should be regarded as a synonym of subsp. gnidium. [4]

Habitat

Daphne gnidium grows well in sandy loam. It grows in fields, woodlands, garrigues, and hillsides, and is native to the areas surrounding the north and west of the Mediterranean Sea in southern Europe from Portugal east to Greece, and northwestern Africa in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. [1]

Toxicity

Daphne gnidium contains the toxins mezerein and daphnetoxin. All parts of the plant are considered highly poisonous. Skin contact with the sap can cause dermatitis [5] The 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.[ citation needed ]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Plants of the World Online". Plants of the World Online. 1901-09-04. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  2. "Daphne gnidium (Flax-leaved daphne)". shootgardening.co.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  3. "'Daphne gnidium L. (Daphne)". botanical-online.com. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Ramos‐Capón, Cristina; Vargas, Pablo; Pomeda‐Gutiérrez, Fernando; Martín‐Hernanz, Sara (2024). "Time‐calibrated phylogeny of Daphne (Thymelaeaceae): Pre‐mediterranean temporal origin of the sclerophyllous Daphne gnidium". Journal of Systematics and Evolution. 62 (1): 20–37. doi: 10.1111/jse.13018 . hdl: 10261/370412 . ISSN   1674-4918 . Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  5. "Daphne gnidium L". botanical-online.com/. Retrieved 22 January 2011.