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Euonymus europaeus
Euonymus europaeus, European spindle, is a handsome, small deciduous tree with a number of ornamental and useful attributes, but it also has a sinister side.
Euonymus europaeus (Celastraceae) has green shoots, vibrant pink autumn leaves, deep pink fruit and contrasting, dangling, vermillion seeds. The dense, easily-worked wood was traditionally used for spindles, toothpicks, violin bows and producing charcoal for gunpowder. In the past, the richly coloured seeds were used to produce a yellow dye for butter; however, they contain a number of toxins, including cardiotoxic glycosides, and have been implicated in serious poisonings.
