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Useful Tropical Plants

Euphorbia pereskiifolia

Houllet ex Baill.

Euphorbiaceae

+ Synonyms

Euphorbia sulcata Lem. ex Boiss.

Synadenium carinatum Boiss.

Synadenium pereskiifolium (Houllet ex Baill.) Guillaumin

Synadenium piscatorium Pax

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Euphorbia pereskiifolia is a laxly-branched, evergreen, succulent shrub or a tree that can grow up to 5 metres tall[
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 highly regarded treatment for asthma in Africa, where it is often harvested from the wild for local medicinal use. A few trees are sometimes planted near villages and left to grow in order to supply material for medicinal use[
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.
].

Known Hazards

The latex is an ingredient in arrow poison in Kenya. In Kenya and Tanzania the latex is used as fish poison[
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

East tropical Africa - Kenya, Tanzania.

Habitat

Sandy soil or on rocks in coastal or riverine woodland, at elevations from sea-level up to 250 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

Medicinal Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height3.50 m
Cultivation StatusSemi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Although this is a highly poisonous plant, traditional doctors have used a leaf decoction, mixed with lemon juice, baking soda and honey, as an effective treatment for asthma. This treatment is said to have been used for decades with no adverse effects[
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 leaves are reported to be a strong purgative. Women suffering from excessive menstruation drink the juice of freshly crushed leaves[
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.
].
Leprosy is treated topically with the ash of dried burnt leaves[
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 highly irritating to the skin and mucous membranes, causing blisters and pain. Even so, several peanuts dipped into the latex are eaten as a drastic purgative[
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.
].
Applied topicallly, the latex is used in the treatment of boils[
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 roots also contain the strong latex. A cold water extract of the peeled roots is mixed with sugar and left standing for three days, after which it is drunk as a treatment against heavy coughs and tuberculosis[
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.
].

Preliminary phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract of the leaves and stems revealed the presence of glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids and other phenolic compounds[
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.
].
An aqueous extract of the stems and leaves contracted the isolated guinea pig ileum. A glycoside, 2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-L-malic acid was isolated from the aqueous extract, but this was found to be inactive[
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

None known

Propagation

Seed -
The plant is easily and quickly propagated by stem cuttings, which should be at least 20 cm long. After cutting they should be allowed to lie in a shaded place for at least a week for a callus to form on the cut end. Care should be taken that the latex does not touch the skin or mucous membranes because of its irritating properties[
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. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Euphorbia+pereskiifolia>

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