This species is very closely related to Euphorbia subsala, and was at one time considered to be no more than a form of that species. It has the same uses and applications.

Common Name:

General Information

Euphorbia kaokoensis is an evergreen, succulent perennial plant with spiny stems that usually become more or less woody. The plant forms a dense mat of growth up to 50cm tall with stems to 2cm in diameter[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.
This species is known from at least eight (possibly 20) subpopulations with extent of occurrence < 20,000 km². There are no known threats at present and the population is believed to currently be stable. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

The latex is apparently very poisonous. In northern Namibia it is occasionally added to arrow poison made from the bitter root sap or latex of Adenium boehmianum, or to arrow or spear poison made from the seeds or latex of Fockea multiflora, in order to increase their efficacy[].
The Himba people of Namibia mainly use the latex to kill wild animals by poisoning the drinking water[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Angola, Namibia.

Habitat

Rocky slopes; crevices and fissures on rocky slaps in mopane woodland; limestone ridges; stony soil; along rocky outcrops; at elevations up to 770 metres[]. The plant often occurs in colonies[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.40 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A powder is prepared by pounding the sun-dried stem, from which the thorns are burnt off. This powder is smeared on incisions of the skin to ease pain when making tattoos[].

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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