Euphorbia bracteata
Jacq.
Euphorbiaceae
Diadenaria articulate Klotzsch & Garcke
Diadenaria involucrate Klotzsch & Garcke
Diadenaria pavonis Klotzsch & Garcke
Pedilanthus articulates (Klotzsch & Garcke) Boiss.
Pedilanthus bracteatus (Jacq.) Boiss.
Pedilanthus greggii Millsp.
Pedilanthus involucratus (Klotzsch & Garcke) Boiss.
Pedilanthus olsson-sefferi Millsp.
Pedilanthus pavonis (Klotzsch & Garcke) Boiss.
Pedilanthus rubescens Brandegee
Pedilanthus spectabilis Rob.
Tithymalodes articulatum (Klotzsch & Garcke) Kuntze
Tithymalodes bracteatum (Jacq.) Kuntze
Tithymalodes involucratum (Klotzsch & Garcke) Kuntze
Tithymalodes pavonis (Klotzsch & Garcke) Kuntze
Tithymalus aztecus Croizat
Tithymalus bracteatus (Jacq.) Haw.
Tithymalus eochlorus Croizat
Tithymalus greggii (Millsp.) Croizat
Tithymalus olsson-sefferi (Millsp.) Croizat
Tithymalus spectabilis (Rob.) Croizat
Tithymalus subpavonianus Croizat
Ventenatia bracteata (Jacq.) Tratt.
Common Name: Slipper Plant
General Information
Euphorbia bracteata is a succulent shrub growing about 2.5 metres tall and branching from the base.
The plant is gathered from the wild for local medicinal use and as the source of a wax.
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
Central America - Mexico.
Habitat
Dry deciduous woodlands.
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 2.50 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of low elevations in the tropics and subtropics. It can tolerate occasional short-lived frosts down to about -3°c.
Requires a position in full sun. Requires a well-drained soil. Established plants are drought tolerant.
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant is reputed to have purgative, emetic, emmenagogue, and antisyphilitic properties[
411- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
- Publication
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Other Uses
The plant is the source of a candelilla wax, which is used in the same way as carnauba wax (obtained from Copernicia cerifera)[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
Carnauba was is very hard and has a high melting point[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. It is used to make various high quality polishes and varnishes, phonographic records, candles etc[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
297- Title
- Palms of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Blombery. A. & Rodd. T.
- Publisher
- Angus and Robertson
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-207-14848-1
- Description
- An excellent guide, well illustrated, with information on cultivation, uses, habitat etc of almost 200 species of Palms.
].
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[
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.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
