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    Home»Herbs and Spices»Facts about Mezereon – Daphne mezereum
    Herbs and Spices

    Facts about Mezereon – Daphne mezereum

    By SylviaSeptember 22, 2020Updated:September 22, 2020No Comments8 Mins Read
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    Mezereon Quick Facts
    Name: Mezereon
    Scientific Name: Daphne mezereum
    Origin Most of Europe and Western Asia, north to northern Scandinavia and Russia
    Colors Initially green turning to bright-red as they mature
    Shapes 1-seeded, fleshy, ovoid, bluntly-pointed drupe, about 7–12 mm diameter
    Taste Intensely burning and acrid, though sweetish at first
    Health benefits Beneficial for rheumatism, indolent ulcers, skin complaints and inflammations, venomous bites, neuralgia and toothache
    Daphne mezereum, commonly known as mezereum, mezereon is a species of Daphne in the flowering plant family Thymelaeaceae. The plant is native to most of Europe and Western Asia, north to northern Scandinavia and Russia. In southern Europe it is confined to medium to higher elevations and in the subalpine vegetation zone, but descends to near sea level in northern Europe. It is generally limited to soils derived from limestone. Dwarf laurel, February daphne, Flax olive, Mezereon, Paradise plant, Spurge daphne, Spurge laurel, Spurge olive, Tintorell, Daphne, Lady Laurel, Dwarf Bay, garland flower and Spurge daphne are some of the popular common names of the plant.

    Mezereon Facts

    Name Mezereon
    Scientific Name Daphne mezereum
    Native Most of Europe and Western Asia, north to northern Scandinavia and Russia
    Common Names Dwarf laurel,  February daphne, Flax olive, Mezereon, Paradise plant, Spurge daphne, Spurge laurel, Spurge olive, Tintorell, Daphne, Lady laurel, Dwarf Bay, garland flower, Spurge daphne
    Name in Other Languages Afrikaans: Mezereon
    Albanian: Mezereon, Jargavan mali, xerxele
    Amharic: Mēzēroni (ሜዜሮን)
    Arabic: Maziriun (مازريون)
    Armenian: Mezereon (մեզերեոն), gaylahat mahats’u (գայլահատ մահացու)
    Azerbaijani: Mezereon, Adi canavargiləsi
    Bashkir: Бүре еләге
    Basque: Ereinoztxo, ario, ereinozki,  tartiku belarra         
    Belarusian: Vaŭčajahada zvyčajnaja (Ваўчаягада звычайная)
    Bengali: Mezereon-məˈzi(ə)rēən
    Bulgarian: Mezereon-məˈzi(ə)rēən, byasno dŭrvo (бясно дърво), vŭlche liko (вълче лико), div lyulyak (див люляк)
    Burmese: Rar wate (ရာဝတီ)
    Catalan: Herba dels fics, Olivella, Olivereta, Tintorell
    Chinese: Méi sāi lǐ áng (梅塞里昂),  Ou ya rui xiang (欧亚瑞香)
    Croatian: Mezereon, obični likovac
    Czech: Mezereon, lýkovec jedovatý
    Danish: Mezereon, Pebertræ, Peberbusk
    Dutch: Mezereon, Rood peperboompje, peperboompje
    English: Dwarf laurel,  February daphne, Flax olive, Mezereon, Paradise plant, Spurge daphne, Spurge laurel, Spurge olive, Tintorell, Daphne, Lady laurel, Dwarf Bay
    Esperanto: Mezereo, mezereon
    Estonian: Mezereon, Harilik näsiniin
    Filipino: Mezereon
    Finnish: Mezereon, Lehtonäsiä, Näsiä, Lehtonäsiä
    French: Mezereon, Bois gentil,  Bois joli,  Daphnà bois-gentil, Daphnà joli-bois , Daphnà mÃzÃréon,  Faux Garou, Lauréole femelle, Lauréole jolie, Daphné mézéréon, cancerille, daphné morillon, faux garou, garoutte, joli bois, lauréole femelle, lauréole gentile, merlion, morillon, mézéréon,
    Georgian: Mezeroni (მეზერონი)
    German: Mezereon, Echter seidelbast, Kellerbalz, Seidelbast, Gemeiner Seidelbast, Gewöhnlicher Seidelbast, Kellerhals, roter Seidelbast, Zilander
    Greek: Mezeron (μεζερον), lykonourá (λυκονουρά), matzéreon (ματζέρεον), chamoliá (χαμοληά)
    Gujarati: Mējhērōna (મેઝેરોન)
    Hausa: Mezereon
    Hebrew: מזרון
    Hindi: Mezereon-məˈzi(ə)rēən
    Hungarian: Mezereon, farkasboroszlán
    Icelandic: Mezereon
    Ido: Mezereono
    Indonesian: Mezereon
    Irish: Mezereon
    Italian: Mezereon, Erba cativa, Laureola femmina, Laureola gentile, Legno gentile , Mezereon, Camalea, Dafne mezereo, Pepe di Monte, fior di stecco, laureola femmina, mezzereo
    Japanese: Mezereon (メゼレオン), Seiyouonishibari (セイヨウオニシバリ)
    Javanese: Mezereon
    Kannada: Mejeriyan (ಮೆಜೆರಿಯನ್)
    Kazakh: Mezereon (мезереон)
    Korean: Meje lion (메제 리온)
    Kurdish: Mezereon
    Lao: Mezereon-məˈzi(ə)rēən
    Latin: Casiam
    Latvian: Mezereons, Parastā zalktene
    Lithuanian: Mezereonas, Paprastasis žalčialunkis
    Macedonian: Mezereon (мезереон)
    Malagasy: Mezereon
    Malay: Mezereon
    Malayalam: Mezereon-məˈzi(ə)rēən
    Maltese:  Mezereon
    Marathi: Mējhērŏna (मेझेरॉन)
    Mongolian: Mezereon-məˈzi(ə)rēən
    Nepali: Mezereon-məˈzirēən
    Norwegian: Mezereon, Kiukstbakst, Kiusbas, Kiusbast, Kiusvedd, Tivedd, Tusvedd, Tysbast
    Occitan: Gaouét, garou, gaùec, jutelhs, samboè
    Oriya: ମେଜେରନ୍
    Ossetic: Cæstursgænæn  (Цæстурсгæнæн)
    Pashto: ميزيرون
    Persian: Mezereon, هفت برگ
    Picard: Jolibò
    Polish: Mezereon, Wawrzynek wilczełyko
    Portuguese: Mezereon
    Punjabi: Mezereon-məˈzirēən
    Romanian: Mezereon, liliac de pădure
    Russian: Mezereon-məˈzirēən, Volcheyagodnik obyknovennyy (Волчеягодник обыкновенный),  Volcheyagodnik smertel’nyy (Волчеягодник смертельный), volchnik obyknovennyy (волчник обыкновенный), volch’i yagody (волчьи ягоды)
    Serbian: Mezereon (мезереон), ajdučka oputa (ајдучка опута)
    Sindhi: ميزئيرون
    Sinhala: Mezereon-məˈzi(ə)rēən
    Slovak: Lykovec jedovatý
    Slovenian: Mezereon, navadni volčin
    Spanish: Mezereon, Hoja de San Pedro, Lauréola hembra, Leño gentil, Matacabras, Matapollo, Mecereo, Mecéreo, Mecerón, Mezereo, Mezereón, Olivareta, Torvisco, leño gentil, loriguillo, mecereon, torvisco,
    Sudanese: Mezereon
    Swedish: Tibast, Lehtonäsiä, Vanlig tibast, källarhals
    Tajik: Mezereon-məˈzirēən
    Tamil: Mezereon-məˈzirēən
    Telugu: Mezereon-məˈzirēən
    Thai: Mezereon-məˈzirēən
    Turkish: Mezereon, Ghulupa, Mazaryon agh, Mezeryon, kirkat
    Ukrainian: Mezereon (мезереон), Vovchi yahody zvychayni (Вовчі ягоди звичайні)
    Upper Sorbian: Zažny łyknowc
    Urdu: میزیرون
    Uzbek: Mezereon
    Vepsian: Kägennin’
    Vietnamese: Mezereon, Thụy hương Á-Âu
    Welsh: Mezereon, Bliwlys
    Zulu: Mezereon
    Plant Growth Habit Cool weather, shade-loving, woodland, deciduous shrub
    Growing Climates Rich forests, lush broadleaf woods, spruce-broadleaf swamps
    Soil Best grown in moist, rich, sandy-humusy, moderately alkaline, well-drained soils
    Plant Size 80 to 150 centimeters and 1 to 1.5 meters width
    Root Shallow roots
    Bark Light grey-brown with a strong smell when fresh, especially the inner-bark
    Stem Upright, brown in color, woody
    Leaf Alternate, lanceolate, entire, 3–8 cm long and 1–2 cm broad arranged spirally on the stems. They are dark green in color
    Flowering season February to March
    Flower Flowers have four petals and are light red or red-violet in color.  They open out before the leaves spring out and a few can be seen to open in mild period in January. The flowers have a strong perfume.
    Fruit Shape & Size 1-seeded,  fleshy, ovoid, bluntly-pointed drupe, about 7–12 mm diameter, appear close to the stem in July
    Fruit Color Initially green turning to bright-red as they mature
    Propagation By seed
    Taste Intensely burning and acrid, though sweetish at first
    Plant Parts Used Bark of root and stem, berries, roots
    Season June to August
    Other Facts
    • A yellow to greenish-brown dye is obtained from the leaves, fruit and bark.
    • The seed contains up to 31% of fatty oil.

    Genus name was originally used for laurel (Laurus nobilis) but later transferred to this genus. Originally, from the nymph of the same name from Greek mythology, but could come from an Indo-European word meaning odor. Specific epithet comes from the Persian word mazariyun (name given to a species of Daphne). The plant is noted for their poisonous berries and scented flowers. All parts of this plant are poisonous to humans if ingested, especially the fruits, sap and bark. Plant saps also typically cause skin irritations. Plant saps were once used in a rouge-like cosmetic until it was discovered that rosy cheeks resulting from application of sap to skin were indicators of blood vessel damage rather than the blush of good health. Fruits are attractive to birds with no resulting ill effects.

    Plant Description

    Mezereon is a cool weather, shade-loving, woodland, deciduous shrub that normally grows about 80 to 150 centimeters tall and 1 to 1.5 meters width. The plant is found growing in rich forests, lush broadleaf woods and spruce-broadleaf swamps. It is best grown in moist, rich, sandy-humus, moderately alkaline, well-drained soils. The plant has shallow roots. Stems are upright, brown in color and woody. Bark is light grey-brown with a strong smell when fresh, especially the inner-bark. The leaves appear at the ends of the branches after the flowers, and are alternate, lanceolate, entire, 3–8 cm long and 1–2 cm broad arranged spirally on the stems. They are dark green in color.

    Mezereon Image Gallery
    Closer-view-of-flower-of-Mezereon Closer-view-of-flower-of-Mezereon
    Closer-view-of-fruit-of-Mezereon Closer-view-of-fruit-of-Mezereon
    Cultivated-Mezereon-plant Cultivated-Mezereon-plant
    Leaves-of-Mezereon Leaves-of-Mezereon
    Mezereon-Flower Mezereon-Flower
    Mezereon-plant Mezereon-plant
    Plant-Illustration-of-Mezereon Plant-Illustration-of-Mezereon
    Ripe-berries-of-Mezereon Ripe-berries-of-Mezereon
    Seed-of-Mezereon Seed-of-Mezereon
    Sketch-of-Mezereon Sketch-of-Mezereon
    White-flowered-Cultivar-of-Mezereon White-flowered-Cultivar-of-Mezereon
    Winter-buds-of-Mezereon Winter-buds-of-Mezereon

    Flowers and Fruits

    The flowers have four petals and are light red or red-violet in color.  Flowers are produced in early spring on the bare stems before the leaves appear and a few can be seen to open in mild period in January. The flowers have a strong perfume. Flowering normally takes place from February to March. Fertile flowers are followed by 1-seeded, fleshy, ovoid, bluntly-pointed drupe, about 7–12 mm diameter; appear close to the stem in July. They are initially green turning to bright-red as they mature. It is very poisonous for humans, though fruit-eating birds like thrushes are immune and eat them, scattering the seeds in their droppings.

    Traditional uses and benefits of Mezereon

    • Mezereum has been used in the past for treating rheumatism and indolent ulcers, but because of its toxic nature it is no longer considered to be safe.
    • The plant consists of numerous toxic compounds, including daphnetoxin and mezerein, and these are currently being investigated for their anti-leukemia effects.
    • Bark is cathartic, diuretic, emetic, rubefacient, stimulant and vesicant.
    • Root bark is the most active medically, but the stem bark is also used.
    • It has been used in an ointment to induce discharge in indolent ulcers and also has a beneficial effect upon rheumatic joints.
    • Fruits have occasionally been used as a purgative.
    • Homeopathic remedy is made from the plant.
    • It is used in the treatment of various skin complaints and inflammations.
    • An ointment was previously used to induce discharge in indolent ulcers.
    • Bark is used for snake and other venomous bites, and in Siberia, by veterinary surgeons, for horses’ hoofs.
    • In Germany a tincture of the berries is used locally in neuralgia.
    • Slices of the root may be chewed in toothache.

    Precautions

    • All parts of the plant are highly toxic.
    • Skin contact with the sap can cause dermatitis in some people.
    • Berries have proved fatal to children.
    • It may cause diarrhea, vomiting and stomach ache.
    • High doses can be poisonous.
    • It should be used under medical supervision.
    • Handling the fresh twigs can cause rashes and eczema in sensitive individuals.
    • Ingestion of plant parts leads within a few hours to severe irritation and a burning sensation in the mouth, with swelling of the lips and face, increased salivation, hoarseness and difficulty in swallowing.
    • These symptoms are soon followed by severe abdominal pain, headache, numbness, nausea and bloody diarrhea.
    • Children (who may be poisoned by the attractive red fruits) often show additional narcotic symptoms with muscular twitching.
    • Bark is not usually taken internally and even when used externally this should be done with extreme caution and not applied if the skin is broken.

    References:

    https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=27126#null

    https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=13273

    https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Daphne+mezereum

    http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=287356

    http://www.floracatalana.net/daphne-mezereum-l

    https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mezere34.html

    https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=DAME3

    https://en.hortipedia.com/Daphne_mezereum

    http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2757105

    https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/DAPME

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daphne_mezereum

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    Mezereon Scientific Classification

    Scientific Name: Daphne mezereum

    Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
    Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
    Infrakingdom Streptophyta  (land plants)
    Super Division Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
    Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
    Sub Division Spermatophytina  (spermatophytes, seed plants, phanérogames)
    Class Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
    Sub Class Rosidae
    Super Order Rosanae
    Order Myrtales
    Family Thymelaeaceae (Mezereum family)
    Genus Daphne L. (daphne)
    Species Daphne mezereum L. (paradise plant)
    Synonyms
    • Daphne albiflora Wolf
    • Daphne florida Salisb.
    • Daphne houtteana Lindl. & Paxt.
    • Daphne lateriflora Raf.
    • Daphne lateriflora St.Lag.
    • Daphne liottardi Vill.
    • Daphne mezereum subsp. rechingeri (Wendelbo) Halda
    • Daphne mezereum var. albaplena Rehder
    • Daphne mezereum var. albida Meisn.
    • Daphne mezereum var. album Aiton
    • Daphne mezereum var. atropurpurea Dippel, 1893
    • Daphne mezereum var. grandiflora Dippel
    • Daphne mezereum var. rubrum Aiton
    • Daphne rechingeri Wendelbo
    • Daphne ×houtteana var. atropurpurea var. atropurpurea Dippel
    • Laureola foemina Garsault
    • Mezereum officinarum C.A.Mey.
    • Thymelaea mezereum Scop.
    • Thymelaea precox Gilib.
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