Common Name:

General Information

Euphorbia subsalsa is a spiny, succulent, evergreen perennial plant with stems that often become woody at the base. The plant usually grows up to 60cm tall, occasionally reaching 120cm, branching freely from the base[].

Known Hazards

The latex is apparently very poisonous. In northern Namibia it is occasionally added to arrow poison made from the bitter root sap or latex of Adenium boehmianum, or to arrow or spear poison made from the seeds or latex of Fockea multiflora, in order to increase their efficacy[].
The Himba people of Namibia mainly use the latex to kill wild animals by poisoning the drinking water[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Angola, Namibia.

Habitat

Shrubland, often dominated by mopane (Colophospermum mopane), at elevations about 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.60 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Found in the wild mainly on calcareous soils[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A powder is prepared by pounding the sun-dried stem, from which the thorns are burnt off. This powder is smeared on incisions of the skin to ease pain when making tattoos[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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