The evergreen Daphne oleoides is a two-foot shrub with blue-green leaves (similar to those of the olive tree, as its name indicates), white-yellow flowers, and light red berries. Eating just a few of the flowers or berries especially by children causes serious poisoning: intense diarrhea, difficulty in breathing, and cramps. The lethal dose for a child is 10 to 12 berries. Just touching the plant may cause inflammation of the skin. The toxic substance is merzerein. Southwestern Asia (including Turkey ), Southern Europe, North Africa , up to altitudes of 10,500 feet .Historical Data
Despite its toxicity, daphne was used in the 20 th century as a pain reliever for gout and rheumatism. To arise sympathy, beggars in the Orient used an extract from it to cause wounds. Even in the 1960s, however, the plant was still used as a source of dyestuffs for carpet wool in the area around Dösemealti in Southern Turkey .
