Have you seen this plant?

Hi, I'm new and this is my first post :D ...

Do you know what this plant is? It's in my mum's garden in France which has been left untouched for years. I thought perhaps a euphorbia, or is it just a pretty weed?

 

Its a euphorbia alright, spreads like made from seed. Dont know its full name, but I think it might be commonly known as the 'mole plant', supposed to keep moles away.
pete

 

Thanks Pete, I'll tell my mum she'll be please, she had a real problem with moles in her old garden.

 

my son has been doing up his house and this plant is growing beside his garage i havent seen anything quiet as weird :rolleyes: but it is lovely in its own way. can you take cuttings or grow from seed? :confused:

 

looks like a Triffid to me!! :confused:

 

I thought it was lovely too, that's why I picked it out of all the weeds.
I don't know how you propagate it but it's definitely a survivor plant to be able to live amongst the weeds in my mums garden.

 

You dont propagate it, it manages that itself from seed quite well.

 

Hi Fiwi
It is Euphorbia lathyris, known as caper spurge as well as mole plant, as Pete says, it deters moles (something to do with root secretions). You propagate it by sowing seeds, but it is quite handy at doing this itself as the seed capsules "explode" propelling the seeds noisily quite a ways. Watch out for the sap though - toxic (carcinogenic & photosensitive)
Have a look at this link for indepth info'
http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Euphorbia+lathyris&CAN=LATIND