Euphorbiaceae FAMILY

Euphorbia polycnemoides

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

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 polycnemoides is an unarmed, annual or short-lived perennial plant with branching erect stems; it can grow up to 35cm tall[ 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 harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeAfrica - drier areas from Senegal to Ethiopia and Somalia, south to Gabon, DR Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania; Arabia - Yemen, Saudi Arabia.

HabitatWooded grassland; disturbed areas, often on rocky slopes in areas of open deciduous woodland; dunes and fixed sands; screes; humid places; laterite flags; Brachystegia woodland; at elevations from 275 - 2,000 metres[ 29 Title Hedges and Screens. Publication Author Shepherd. F.W. Publisher Royal Horticultural Society. Year 1974 ISBN 0900629649 Description A small but informative booklet giving details of all the hedging plants being grown in the R.H.S. gardens at Wisley in Surrey. ].