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Useful Tropical Plants

Euphorbia polycnemoides

Hochst. ex Boiss.

Euphorbiaceae


This species does not occur in Somalia - the plant there is Euphorbia arabica[
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.
].

+ Synonyms

Anisophyllum polycnemoides (Hochst. ex Boiss.) Klotzsch & Garcke

Chamaesyce polycnemoides (Hochst. ex Boiss.) Soják

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

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.

Known 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 References


Range

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

Habitat

Wooded 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.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitAnnual/Perennial
Height0.30 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The crushed leaves are taken to treat diarrhoea and an infusion of the dried leaves is taken against dysentery[
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 crushed leaves, mixed with palm oil, are applied topically to dry up the rashes associated with measles, chickenpox and formerly also smallpox[
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.
].

An infusion of the whole plant is taken orally or as an enema for its laxative effects[
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.
]. An extract of the plant is taken to treat coughs, a sore throat, asthma and bronchitis[
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.
]. In Tanzania a decoction of the whole plant, combined with the whole plant of Euphorbia convolvuloides, is taken to treat dysentery[
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 latex is rubbed on the breasts to stimulate milk flow[
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.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Euphorbia%20polycnemoides>

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