Common Name:

General Information

Euphorbia schizacantha is a spiny, cactus-like succulent plant growing 30 - 60cm tall. Usually densely branched, it has a main stem up to 50cm tall and 6cm thick, with branches up to 40cm long that are erect at first then drooping and trailing. These side branches are usually themselves unbranched, cylindrical and up to 12mm thick[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. The plant is sought after by specialist growers because of its drooping branches and because the fusion of the 2 main spines is not complete, thus having a forked tip[].

Known Hazards

The latex is very caustic and toxic. It is used as part of an arrow poison and also as a fish poison[].

Botanical References

Range

Northeast Africa - southern Ethiopia, southern Somalia, northern Kenya.

Habitat

Stony soils in Acacia-Commiphora bushland; on a variety of soil types including gypsum; at elevations from 200 - 750 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.50 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of drier areas in the tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 750 metres.
Succeeds in full sun to dappled shade. Requires a well-drained soil. Established plants are drought tolerant.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Although toxic, the plant is sometimes used in traditional medicine.

The crushed plant is applied to the anus to treat haemorrhoids[].

A root infusion is drunk to treat coughs[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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