Euphorbiaceae FAMILY

Euphorbia thymifolia

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

4/5

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 thymifolia is a prostrate annual plant producing stems up to 25cm long. The stems usually produce numerous adventitious roots[ 328 Title African Flowering Plants Database Publication Author Website http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php Publisher Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. Year 0 ISBN Description Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map. ]. The plant is a very popular medicinal herb in much of Africa and also in many other areas of the tropics. It is commonly harvested from the wild and is also sold in local markets.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeOriginally native to the tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas, but widely naturalized in many other areas of the tropics.

HabitatA common weed of cultivated and waste ground, often on sandy or gravelly soils, at elevations up to 1,650 metres[ 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. ].