Euphorbia didiereoides
Euphorbia didiereoides
Safety & Hazards
Although we have seen no specific information for this plant, the latex in most, if not all Euphorbias is caustic and toxic - skin contact often causing irritation and blistering; contact with the eyes causing temporary or even permanent blindness; whilst ingestion can cause purging or more severe problems[ K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ].
Botanical Description
Euphorbia didiereoides is a very spiny, succulent perennial plant or shrub with many erect stems developing from the base. The plant can grow up to 2.5 metres tall with stems up to 15cm in diameter near the base, tapering to around 3cm at their apex, with many short branches 1 - 2cm long[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is cultivated as an ornamental pot plant[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. Euphorbia didiereoides has a limited distribution area, and numbers are diminishing due to habitat degradation, fires and collection for horticultural trade. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].