This species is very similar to Euphorbia candelabrum, from East and northeastern Africa, and may be conspecific[].

Common Name:

General Information

Euphorbia ingens is a spiny, evergreen, succulent tree with a short trunk, usually growing up to 12 metres tall, exceptionally to 15 metres. It has an abundant latex; the bole is stout; the bark grey and roughly fissured; the branches persistent from around 3 metres upwards, almost erect, rebranching, fand orming a large, broadly rounded crown[]. The leaves are rudimentary and ephemeral, most photosynthesis being carried out by the almost spine-free, green, cactus-like stems[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, and occasionally for its wood. It is planted as an ornamental in succulent gardens or rock gardens in South Africa and the United States[].

Known Hazards

The latex is very toxic, causing intense irritation and blistering to the skin and mucous membranes. If the latex comes into contact with the eyes, it causes temporary or even permanent blindness[].
A bundle of grass is soaked in the latex and then thrown into water as a fish poison[].
Different concentrations of latex were used in mortality tests with several aquatic animals. The latex was found to be a short-lived and effective fish poison. Within 12 hours all the fish and half the frogs died, whereas crabs and snails appeared not to suffer any detrimental effects. The poison degraded and became harmless to fish within 48 hours[].
The flowers of this species, and several other tree-sized Euphorbia species, produce an abundance of nectar, but the honey, known as ‘noors honey’, causes a burning sensation in the mouth, which is intensified by drinking water[].

Botanical References

Range

Africa - Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland, S. Africa.

Habitat

Dry mopane and wooded grassland, often on rocky outcrops, at elevations from sea-level up to 1,600 metres[]. Rocky hills, termite mounds; also in alluvial clay[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	9.00 m
Pollinators	Butterflies, Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant can survive in areas that go through long periods of drought or are generally very dry[]. Plants can survive moderate frosts down to around -2°c[].
Prefers an open, sunny position[, ]. Succeeds in dry, gritty, well-drained soils[]. This tree prefers warm areas and can survive in areas that go through long periods of drought or are generally very dry. It usually grows on rocky outcrops or in deep sand within bushveld vegetation[].
Birds like nesting in these trees; hole-nesting birds such as woodpeckers often use dead sections[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Although the latex is very toxic, known to cause intense irritation and blistering to the skin and mucous membranes as well as temporary or even permanent blindness if it comes into contact with the eyes, it is often used in traditional medicine[]. There are several cases recorded of overdoses, causing vomiting, violent abdominal pain and excessive purging, sometimes even death[].
The latex and roots contain ingenol, a tetracyclic diterpene ester of the ingenane type, based on the parent alcohol 16-hydroxyingenol and several derivatives. Ingenol and its derivatives show tumour-promoting, anti-HIV and anti-leukaemia activities. Much research is directed toward synthesis and biological evaluation of ingenol analogs and derivatives. The irritant ingenol esters of the latex have ID50 values of 0.004 - 0.02 μg in mice-ear tests.[]
An extract of the pounded branches in water was given to chickens before or during a Newcastle disease outbreaks. The rate of mortality reduction ranged between 38% for chickens given the extract during Newcastle disease outbreak as a therapeutic measure and 100% for chickens given the extract as a prophylactic measure[].

The latex is taken in very small amounts, often on sugar, as a drastic purgative and to treat alcohol dependency[].
The stems of Brachystegia spiciformis are chewed and the fibres dipped into the latex of this plant; the fibres are then dried and burnt and the smoke inhaled to treat asthma and bronchitis[]. The latex is used to treat chronic ulcers, warts and cancer[].
Pulverized root or a few drops of latex in porridge is eaten to treat bronchitis[].

Other Uses

The wood is light and tough and is used to make boats, planks and doors. Before cutting, the trunk is scorched to prevent the toxic latex from splashing[, ].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings root easily. They need to be stored in light shade for a few days to dry before being planted, or else they will rot. It is best to plant the cuttings when the rain is about to stop, in a well-drained soil[].

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