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Useful Tropical Plants

Euphorbia cuneata

Vahl

Euphorbiaceae

+ Synonyms

Euphorbia carpasus Ehrenb. ex Boiss.

Euphorbia fruticosa Edgew.

Euphorbia lyciopsis Pax

Euphorbia perrottetii Jaub. & Spach.

Euphorbia spinescens Pax

Lyciopsis cuneata (Vahl) Schweinf.

Tirucalia cuneata (Vahl) P.V.Heath

Common Name:

Euphorbia cuneata
Leaves
Photograph by: Frank Vincentz
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Euphorbia cuneata Euphorbia cuneata Euphorbia cuneata

General Information

Euphorbia cuneata is a shrub or a tree that can grow 1 - 4 metres tall; branches with alternating spine-tipped branchlets to 12 cm long, spreading at right-angles[
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 stem can be 15cm or more in diameter[
385
Title
Bihrmann's Caudiciforms
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.bihrmann.com/caudiciforms/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An internet site giving information on caudiciform plants (plants with swollen stem bases such as the Baobab tree, cycads and many succulents). Excellent photos, usually of cultivated plants in pots.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of wood. It is sometimes grown as a hedge.

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 - Guinea, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Egypt, ?Chad, Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique; Arabia - Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arab

Habitat

Sandy soils near the shore or in coastal forest; red- or dry-sandy soils and lava plains in open Acacia-Commiphora bushland; grassland; rocky slopes; limestone or basement complex slopes; on gypsum bearing soils; at elevations to 1,750 metres[
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.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitShrub
Height2.50 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details


Grows best in a sunny position[
385
Title
Bihrmann's Caudiciforms
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.bihrmann.com/caudiciforms/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An internet site giving information on caudiciform plants (plants with swollen stem bases such as the Baobab tree, cycads and many succulents). Excellent photos, usually of cultivated plants in pots.
]. Requires a well-drained grity or sandy soil[
385
Title
Bihrmann's Caudiciforms
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.bihrmann.com/caudiciforms/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An internet site giving information on caudiciform plants (plants with swollen stem bases such as the Baobab tree, cycads and many succulents). Excellent photos, usually of cultivated plants in pots.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The latex is applied to warts, wounds and sores[
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 sticky latex is used to remove dust from the eye[
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.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

Apparently introduced as a hedge plant along the E. African coast as far south as Mozambique[
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.
].

Other Uses

The stem is used to make earrings and knife handles. The stems are used for fencing during ceremonies[
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.
].

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.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Euphorbia+cuneata>

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