- European spindle
Taxobox
name = PAGENAME
image_width = 250px
image_caption = European Spindle ("Euonymus europaeus")
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Celastrales
familia =Celastraceae
genus = "Euonymus "
species = "E. europaeus"
binomial = "Euonymus europaeus"
binomial_authority = L.The European Spindle ("Euonymus europaeus"), also known as the common spindle, is a deciduous
shrub or smalltree in the familyCelastraceae , native to much ofEurope , particularly in the centre, but is to be found in locations fromIreland and southernScandinavia in the north, to northernSpain andSicily in the south, and as far east asLithuania . It is also to be found inAsia Minor and up to theCaucasus .It 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
flower s 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 capsularfruit 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 orangeseed s.The fruit is
poison ous, containing amongst other substances, thealkaloid stheobromine andcaffeine , as well as an extremely bitterterpene . 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.The European spindle prefers the edges of forest, hedges and gentle slopes, tending to thrive on nutrient-rich, chalky and salt-poor soils.
Other names include Fusoria, Fusanum, Ananbeam, Shemshad Rasmi (Iran).
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 makingspindle s for spinningwool .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 toNorth America where it has become aninvasive species in some areas.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.