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Useful Tropical Plants

Euphorbia mainty

(Poiss.) Denis ex Leandri

Euphorbiaceae

+ Synonyms

Euphorbia intisy mainty Poiss.

Tirucalia mainty (Denis ex Leandri) P.V.Heath

Common Name:

Euphorbia mainty
Pot-grown plant
Photograph by: Frank Vincentz
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

General Information

Euphorbia mainty is a much-branched, evergreen, succulent shrub or tree that can grow up to 8 metres tall. Most of the time leafless, photosynthesis is carried out by the slender, cylindrical stems[
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 plant is a source of latex that is used locally for waterproofing, varnish and medicinally. It is grown as a pot plant in Europe and the United States[
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.
].
This species has a large extent of occurrence (20,326.9 km²) and a large area of occupancy (11,910.9 km²). Recorded from 16 localities and comprises three to six subpopulations. There are some threats, (habitat degradation, fire, habitat clearing for charcoal. Grazing by cattle) but these do not yet trigger a threatened status. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

The latex is very toxic[
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.
].

Botanical References


Range

Africa - southeastern Madagascar.

Habitat

Dry thickets and open forest, from sea-level up to 500 metres[
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.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Medicinal Rating *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height5.00 m
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The latex is taken in water as a vermifuge, despite its toxicity. The use is well-known and people are careful about the quantities used[
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.
].

Other Uses

The latex was formerly mixed with fibres from other plants to make wooden boats watertight; it was also made into varnish to make boats water resistant[
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 latex is mixed with latex from other plants to make a rubber[
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+mainty>

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