Biology:Euphorbia lactea

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Short description: Species of flowering plant

Euphorbia lactea
E lactea ies.jpg
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[1]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Euphorbia
Species:
E. lactea
Binomial name
Euphorbia lactea
Haw.

Euphorbia lactea is a species of spurge native to tropical Asia, mainly in India .[2]

Euphorbia lactea in Kourou, French Guiana.

It is an erect shrub growing up to 5 metres (16 ft) tall, with succulent branches 3–5 centimetres (1.2–2.0 in) diameter, ridged, with a triangular or rhombic cross-section; the ridges are spiny, with short spines up to 5 millimetres (0.20 in) long. The leaves are minute, and soon deciduous.[2] All parts of the plant contain a poisonous milky latex.[3] Common names include mottled spurge,[4] frilled fan[citation needed], elkhorn[citation needed], candelabra spurge,[4] candelabrum tree, candelabra cactus, candelabra plant, dragon bones,[4] false cactus,[4] hatrack cactus,[4] milkstripe euphorbia, mottled candlestick.

60 year old Euphorbia lactea var. Cristata located at the Duke University greenhouse, Durham, USA.

It is used medicinally in India .[5] It is widely grown as an ornamental plant, both in the tropics, and as a houseplant in temperate regions; a number of cultivars have been selected for ornamental use, notably 'Cristata' with frilled branching.[2][6]

References

  1. "Appendices | CITES". https://cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Huxley, A, ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. ISBN:0-333-47494-5
  3. Poisonous plants: Euphorbia lactea
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 {{citation | mode = cs1 | title = Euphorbia lactea | work = Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) | url = | publisher = [[Organization:Agricultural Research ServAgricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) | access-date = 16 January 2018 }}
  5. Plant of the Week.org Euphorbia lactea
  6. Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk: Euphorbia lactea

Wikidata ☰ Q5410474 entry