Common Name:

General Information

Euphorbia nyikae is a succulent, evergreen shrub or tree. Plants up to 7 metres tall are most likely to have branches persistent from ground-level upwards, whilst specimens to 15 or even 20 metres tall can develop a clear trunk for several metres. The trunk on larger specimens can be up to 30cm in diameter, occasionally reaching 50cm, and is marked by 4 - 6 vertical rows of spines[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is sometimes used to form hedges and living fences.

Known Hazards

The latex is added to Acokanthera arrow poison used by the Giriama people[].
Young pounded stems are thrown in water as fish poison[].

Botanical References

Range

East tropical Africa - Kenya, Tanzania.

Habitat

Sandy soils with fairly dense or open deciduous woodland; on cliffs and sand-dunes along the sea-shore; at elevations from 2 - 700 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	7.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A root decoction or latex in soup is drunk to treat urinary tract infections and epilepsy[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is used to make a hedge[]. Stems root easily and can be used to make a living fence[].

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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