Common Name:

General Information

Euphorbia trigona is a spiny, succulent, evergreen shrub or tree, usually growing up to 1.8 metres tall[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local medicinal use. It is commonly planted as a ritual plant and hedge near villages, especially in Gabon, and is widely cultivated as an ornamental, often as a pot plant[].

Known Hazards

The latex is an additive to Periploca nigrescens arrow poison, and is also used as fish poison or as a criminal poison[].
The latex is also used during trials by ordeal[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Gabon, Congo, DR Congo, Angola, Malawi.

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	1.50 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants are not tolerant of frosts[].
Prefers a position in light shade[].
It is possibly of hybrid origin, as it is only known in cultivation and is not known to flower[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Some drops of latex in palm wine are taken in severe cases of constipation or in case of an epileptic attack[].

The latex contains 8-methoxyingol esters, which are very irritant to the skin. It also contains lectins with potent erythrocyte agglutinating ability[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is grown as a hedge[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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