Euonymus europaeus

Euonymus europaeus
European Spindle (Euonymus europaeus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Celastrales
Family:	Celastraceae
Genus:	Euonymus
Species:	E. europaeus
Binomial name
Euonymus europaeus L.

Euonymus europaeus, known as spindle, and also as European spindle and common spindle, is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the family Celastraceae. Other names include Fusoria, Fusanum, Ananbeam, Shemshad Rasmi (Iran).

Description

Close-up on a ripe fruit of Euonymus europaeus, with the bright orange seeds

Euonymus europaeus grows to 3 to 6 m tall, rarely up to 10 m, with a stem up to 20 cm diameter. The leaves are opposite, and are lanceolate to elliptical, 3 to 8 cm long and 1-3 cm broad, with a finely serrated edge. In autumn they often show a beautiful bright red colour.

The hermaphrodite flowers are produced in late spring and are insect-pollinated; they are rather inconspicuous, small, yellowish green and grow in cymes of 3-8 together. The capsular fruit ripens in autumn, and is red to purple or pink in colour and approximately 1 to 1.5 cm wide. When ripe, the four lobes split open to reveal the orange seeds.

The fruit is poisonous, containing amongst other substances, the alkaloids theobromine and caffeine, as well as an extremely bitter terpene. Poisonings are more common in young children, who are enticed by the brightly-coloured fruits. Ingestion can result in liver and kidney damage and even death.

Gallery

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  Figure from Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz, 1885

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  Flower of Euonymus europaeus, with the four petals and four stamens

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  Fruits of Euonymus europaeus

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  Close-up on a fruit of Euonymus europaeus

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  Leaf of Euonymus europaeus

Distribution

This plant is native to much of Europe from Ireland and southern Scandinavia in the north, to northern Spain and Sicily in the south, and as far east as Lithuania, Asia Minor and up to the Caucasus.

Habitat

The European spindle prefers the edges of forest, hedges and gentle slopes, tending to thrive on nutrient-rich, chalky and salt-poor soils.

Cultivation and uses

European Spindle wood is very hard, and can be cut to a very sharp point; it was used in the past for making spindles for spinning wool.

It is a popular ornamental plant in gardens and parks due to its bright pink or purple fruits and attractive autumn colouring, in addition to its resistance to frost and wind. It has been introduced to North America where it has become an invasive species in some areas.

Parts of the plant have been used medicinally.^[1]

Synonyms

• Euonymus multiflorus Opiz ex Bercht. [1838]
• Euonymus floribundus Steven [1856]
• Euonymus europaeus var. macrophyllus Rchb.
• Euonymus europaeus var. intermedius Gaudin
• Euonymus bulgaricus Velen. [1891]
• Euonymus vulgaris Mill. [1768]
• Euonymus angustifolius Clairv.^[2]

References

1. ^ Plants for a Future: Euonymus europaeus
2. ^ Tela Botánica

External links

• "Spindle Wood (Euonymus Europaeus, L.)". British Wild Flowers. Chest of Books. 2009. http://chestofbooks.com/flora-plants/flowers/British-Wild-Flowers-1/Spindle-Wood-Euonymus-Europaeus-L.html. Retrieved 2009-09-24. 
• "Euonymus europaeus L. European spindletree". Natural Resources Conservation Service. US Department of Agriculture. 2009. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=EUEU7. Retrieved 2009-09-24. 
• "Euonymus europaeus European Euonymus Celastraceae". University of Connecticut Plant Database. University of Connecticut. http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/e/euoeur/euoeur1.html. Retrieved 2009-09-24.