Common Name:

General Information

Euphorbia cupularis is a shrub or a tree with fleshy branches; it usually grows from 2 - 4 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

The latex is extremely toxic, irritant and blistering, and never taken internally[].

Botanical References

Range

Southeastern Africa - southern Mozambique, Swaziland, S. Africa.

Habitat

Open woodland[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant mainly of the subtropics, entering the tropical zone in southern Mozambique and northern S. Africa.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The latex is extremely toxic, irritant and blistering, and never taken internally.

Latex is placed in a hollow tooth to treat toothache; latex is also rubbed on infected wounds[].

The ground dry leaves, or the ground leaves in water, are sniffed to treat headache, catarrh and flu. Dried leaves are eaten to treat asthma[].

The burnt roots are used with other plants to treat paralysis[].

An ethanolic leaf extract significantly inhibited prostaglandin-synthesis[].

Other Uses

None known

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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