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Euphorbia milii
| Family Name: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Synonyms: | Euphorbia milii var. splendens, Euphorbia bojeri,, Euphorbia splendens var. bojeri, Euphorbia breonii, Euphorbia bojeri var. mucronulata, Euphorbia , Euphorbia splendens, Acalypha bojeri |
| Common Name: | Crown of Thorns, Christ Thorn, Christ Plant, Christ's Thorn |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Dwarf |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Western Madagascar |
|---|
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | A scrambling succulent, containing milky sap, multi-branched with spines all over branches. |
|---|---|
| Others - Plant Morphology | Stem: Stems obscurely 3 to 5 angled, greyish-brown, covered with many prominent grey spines. Foliage: Leaves simple, alternate, obovate to oblong-oblanceolate, green, margin entire, 1.5 to 5 cm long, 0.8 to 1.8 cm wide, clustered near apical branches; stipules forming spines, 1 to 1.3 cm long; petiole absent or subsessile. Flower: Cyathia (inflorescences consisting of cuplike clusters of bracts enclosing unisexual flowers) in subapical, dichasial (having two lateral flowers originating from opposite points beneath a terminal flower) cymes; each cluster bears 2 bright red (pink, white or yellow in some cultivars), broadly ovate bracts beneath the miniscule flowers, up to 1.5 cm across; male flowers numerous in each cyathium, calyx, absent, corolla absent, stamen 1; female flowers 1 in each cyathium; calyx absent; corolla absent; pistil 1. Fruit Fruit capsule 3-lobed-ovoid, 3.5 mm long, 4 mm wide, smooth and glabrous; 1 seed per capsule; Seed ovoid-terete, 2.5 mm long, 2 mm wide, brown, reticulate (net-veined). |
| Cultivation | Prefers well-drained soil that can be watered regularly and is moderately salt tolerant. Though very drought tolerant, regular watering will keep it from defoliating and encourages blooming. Prone to botrytis or powdery mildew when water collect on the leaves and flowers. Propagated by tip cuttings, whereby bleeding is stopped and allowed to dry and callus over a few days before inserting into propagation media. Rooting occurs in a few weeks. |
| Etymology | The genus epithet ‘Euphorbia’ is derived from 'Euphorbus', the Greek physician to Juba II, King of Mauretania. Juba II was treated by a plant (probably the Resin Spurge, Euphorbia resinifera) with powerful medicinal properties, of which he named after his Greek physician 'Euphorbus'. The species epithet is named after Baron Milius, a former governor of the island of Bourbon, who introduced the species in France in 1821. Its common names like ‘Crowns of Thorns’, ‘ Christ Plant’ and ‘Christ’s Thorn’ were derived from the belief that during Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, the crown of thorns was made from the stems of this plant. Ironically, the stems of this plant are pliable and can be entwined into circular weavings. There was also substantial evidence that the species was brought to the Middle East before the time of Christ. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Suitable for Rooftops, Container Planting, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Coastal |
| Thematic Landscaping | Rockery / Desert Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Spines/Thorns - Stem/Branch, Irritant - Sap |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Little Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Poor Infertile Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Drought Tolerant, Shallow Media |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Thin |
| Foliar Modification | Spine (axillary) |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
|---|---|
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Aboveground |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Pink, Red, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 710 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2005 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
