Euphorbia tirucalli L.
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Description
Euphorbia tirucalli is an evergreen succulent shrub or small tree, usually 3–10 m tall, with a highly branched, pencil-like appearance. The main stem becomes woody and greyish-brown with age, while young branches are cylindrical, green, succulent, and nearly leafless. The plant produces abundant white milky latex when stems are damaged. Leaves are simple, small, linear to lanceolate, usually 5–15 mm long, and are short-lived, falling quickly after development; photosynthesis is mainly carried out by the green succulent branches. Flowers are very small, unisexual, and arranged in specialized cyathia typical of Euphorbia. The cyathia occur near the tips of branches and are surrounded by reduced bracts. Fruits are small, dry, three-lobed capsules containing three seeds.
Diagnostic Characters
Distribution
Native range: Native to Tropical Africa. Widely cultivated and naturalized in Asia, Australia, Tropical America, Mediterranean regions.
In Pakistan: Cultivated as an ornamental succulent in Gardens, Parks, Botanical collections, Dry landscapes.
Phenology
Ethnobotany & Uses
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Where it grows on campus
Taxonomic Notes
Euphorbia tirucalli belongs to the succulent group of Euphorbia and is one of the most distinctive species due to its almost complete loss of leaves and reliance on green stems for photosynthesis.