This species is treated by many botanists as Elaeophorbia grandifolia, but we are using the old name of Euphorbia in line with the World checklist of Plants produced by Kew Botanic Gardens[].
Closely related to Euphorbia drupifera - the two are perhaps part of a single, variable species[].

Common Name:

General Information

Euphorbia grandifolia is an evergreen tree with spreading branches that form a large, rounded crown; it usually grows up to 15 metres tall, occasionally to 25 metres. The stout bole can be up to 80cm in diameter, but usually branches from low down[, ].
Although very poisonous, the tree is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use. It is grown as a hedge and is widely planted in Africa as a fetish tree for protection against thunder-bolts and to ward off ghosts and evil spirits[, ].

Known Hazards

The latex present in all parts of the tree is caustic. It is an ingredient of arrow-poison and is also used as a fish-poison[].
The latex is recognised as being dangerous to the eyes. It is a common ordeal-poison, being applied directly to the eye. Anyone admitting their crimes quickly receives an antidote - a decoction of dried leaves of this plant made in a young virgin’s urine, or a decoction of an (unspecified) mucilaginous plant. Nevertheless the latex can still cause irreparable damage[].
The latex is particularly toxic to the mucosae, causing blistering in the mouth[].
Recent work has shown that the esters of the two groups of diterpene alcohols commonly present in the Euphorbiaceae are responsible for the irritant, co-carcinogenic, piscicidal and toxicological properties[].

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Senegal to Central African Republic, south through Gabon to Angola.

Habitat

Dry forest, on rocky slopes; sometimes also in moist lowland forest; at elevations from sea-level up to 800 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A leaf-extract is drunk or the dried powdered leaves are eaten as a remedy for angina and chest-complaints[, ]. A decoction is used as a contraceptive[].
The leaves are used as a treatment for sore-throat: softened over a fire and beaten, the sap is squeezed out[]. A leaf decoction is applied externally to heal boils, ringworm and warts[].

The liquid from a bark-decoction is used to wash guinea-worm sores and the pulped bark is then applied as a dressing299, [].

The latex is poisonous and is particularly toxic to the mucosae. It causes blistering in the mouth. The latex is a drastic purgative, in general too violent for use and then only in grave situations[]. It is seldom taken internally but is, however, sometimes taken in a prescription with food for the treatment of food poisoning and severe constipation[, ].. Frequent taking of the latex has a cumulative effect, and fatal cases of pericarditis and dropsy have been attributed to it[].
A few drops are placed on carious teeth to facilitates extraction, perhaps by causing the gum to recede so that a broken stump is the more easily got at[, ] It Taken externally, it is applied to maturate furuncles and has been applied to relieve the pain of scorpion stings and to remove warts[, ].

Examination of the latex has indicated the presence of diterpenes of the phorbol and ingenol types. This could explain the plant's pharmacological activity[].
Recent work has shown that the esters of the two groups of diterpene alcohols commonly present in the Euphorbiaceae are responsible for the irritant, co-carcinogenic, piscicidal and toxicological properties[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is grown as a hedge[].

Other Uses

All parts of the plant contain a copious white latex[]. It is used medicinally.

Propagation

Seed -
Stem cuttings root easily. They should be at least 20cm long and, after being taken they should be allowed to lie in a shaded place for at least a week prior to planting in order to develop a callus on the cut end[].

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