This species is confused with the very similar species Euphorbia sudanica A.Chev., and part of its distribution area may need to be attributed to this last species[]. The two species have the same uses[].

Common Name:

General Information

Euphorbia paganorum is a spiny, evergreen, succulent shrub usually growing up to 1.5 metres tall, occasionally reaching 2 metres. The plant branches freely from the base with cylindrical stems 2 - 5cm in diameter[].
The plant is occasionally harvested from the wild for locaL medicinal use.

Known Hazards

The very caustic latex is used as an ingredient of arrow poison and in bait for trapping animal pests[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Nigeria, also in Gabon and Sudan.

Habitat

Rocky soils in arid savanna, often gregarious, at elevations up to 600 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Leaves are only present for about 3 months, during the rainy season; flowers appear at the end of the dry season, on bare branches[].
All parts of the plant have an abundant latex[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

In general, this species is considered to be too poisonous for medicinal use, though the following applications have been recorded.
A preliminary test of the latex showed the presence of diterpene esters of the alcohol 12-deoxyphorbol[].

A decoction of the stem ash, combined with the leaves of Sarcocephalus latifolius, is used to wash the body to treat leprosy[].

Stem or root decoctions, or the latex, are applied to wounds and sores[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings root easily and quickly. Cuttings should be at least 20cm long and preferably cut from the woody base of a branch. After cutting they need to dry in the shade for at least two weeks for a callus to form on the cut end before planting them into a rooting medium[].

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