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Euonymus europaeus Linnaeus, 1753

Euonymus europaeus-Hamoir.jpg Thumbnails<i><b>Euonymus europaeus</i></b> Linnaeus, 1753Thumbnails<i><b>Euonymus europaeus</i></b> Linnaeus, 1753Thumbnails<i><b>Euonymus europaeus</i></b> Linnaeus, 1753Thumbnails<i><b>Euonymus europaeus</i></b> Linnaeus, 1753

Euonymus europaeus Linnaeus, 1753
Common names: Spindle, European spindle, Common spindle [En], Fusain d’Europe, Bonnet d'évêque [Fr], Wilde kardinaalsmuts [Nl], Gewöhnlicher Spindelstrauch [De], Berretta del prete [It], Bonetero, Bonete de cura, Evónimo, Husera [Es], Ευώνυμος, Ταφλάνι [Gr], Papaz Külahı, İğ ağacı, iğcik [Tu]

Hamoir, LIEGE ● Belgium

Description: Deciduous shrub or small tree which 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.

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

Distribution: 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.

Caution: 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.

References:
Wikipedia, Euonymus europaeus