FloraFinder uses cookies only for correct operation. More info. Okay
Euphorbia tirucalli L.
Indian tree spurge, naked lady, pencil tree, sticks on fire milk bush, Madagascar milkbush, milkbush, milk bush, finger tree, sticks of fire, Indiantree spurge, pencil tre
An extremely diverse-looking genus of mostly tropical and subtropical succulent plants. For Euphorbus, corpulent Greek physician of Juba II, King of Mauretania. Literally, “euphorbia” means “well-fed”
Pencil tree is a native of northeastern, central and southern Africa. It is also found in China,
Indonesia, India, and the Philippines. It is not
native to North America, but has become naturalized in some areas.
Identification: Branches are smooth, cylindrical, green, about
the diameter of a pencil. (Branches may also have orange-red tips.) Plants are up to 20′ (6.1 m) high. There are no spines. Leaves are small,
about ½″ (1.3 cm) long and less than ⅛″ (3.2 mm) wide. They fall off early, so usually
the stems appear naked. Flowers are pale yellow and inconspicuous.
Edibility: Poisonous The milky sap that oozes
from any broken part of this plant causes dermatitis and severe pain in some. It can cause
extreme pain and induce temporary blindness,
lasting several days, if it comes in contact with the eyes. If you get any in your eyes,
flush them with water for at least 15 minutes, then seek immediate medical attention.
Deaths have been recorded from ingestion.