This species does not occur in Somalia - the plant there is Euphorbia arabica[].

Common Name:

General Information

Euphorbia polycnemoides is an unarmed, annual or short-lived perennial plant with branching erect stems; it can grow up to 35cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

Although we have seen no specific information for this plant, the latex in most, if not all Euphorbias is caustic and toxic - skin contact often causing irritation and blistering; contact with the eyes causing temporary or even permanent blindness; whilst ingestion can cause purging or more severe problems[].

Botanical References

Range

Africa - drier areas from Senegal to Ethiopia and Somalia, south to Gabon, DR Congo, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania; Arabia - Yemen, Saudi Arabia.

Habitat

Wooded grassland; disturbed areas, often on rocky slopes in areas of open deciduous woodland; dunes and fixed sands; screes; humid places; laterite flags; Brachystegia woodland; at elevations from 275 - 2,000 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The crushed leaves are taken to treat diarrhoea and an infusion of the dried leaves is taken against dysentery[].
The crushed leaves, mixed with palm oil, are applied topically to dry up the rashes associated with measles, chickenpox and formerly also smallpox[].

An infusion of the whole plant is taken orally or as an enema for its laxative effects[]. An extract of the plant is taken to treat coughs, a sore throat, asthma and bronchitis[]. In Tanzania a decoction of the whole plant, combined with the whole plant of Euphorbia convolvuloides, is taken to treat dysentery[].

The latex is rubbed on the breasts to stimulate milk flow[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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