Euphorbia milii ‘Lutea’
The natural crown of thorns looks more like a rose bush on steroids than a cactus-like euphorbia, but a euphorbia it is. The red-flowering native of Madagascar is not found in the wild in North America (although it may be becoming naturalized in Florida). The variety here is white or cream-colored. Other cultivars are pink, yellow, and orange, as well as red.
Identification: Flowers (actually bracts—modified leaves) are white.
Plants: This climbing shrub grows to 4′ (1.2 m) tall, spewing densely spine-covered branches in every direction. The randomly curving branches are in search of other plants, which the shrub uses to support itself as it grows. Branches are dark and woody, not the green cactus-like color of many euphorbias.
Leaves: Alternate, in spirals along branches, and obovate, spatulate, or lanceolate. Leaves are ⅜–1¾ ⨉ ½–¾″ (1–5 ⨉ 1.5–2 cm), with smooth edges.
Flowers: Flowers (actually bracts called cyathia) are white.
Fruits: Capsules contain one seed.
Habitats: A variety of bush and forest habitats, but always on rocks (usually granite formations).
Edibility: Poisonous 
All euphorbias can cause
dermatitis and are poisonous when ingested.
Online References:
Euphorbia milii var. lutea
2/26/2012 · Joy and Jim’s, Manfield, Massachusetts · ≈ 10 × 15″ (26 × 37 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
2/26/2012 · Joy and Jim’s, Manfield, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) ID is uncertain 
2/26/2012 · Joy and Jim’s, Manfield, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain 
4/6/2011 · Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, Maryland · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (56 × 36 cm) ID is uncertain 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Malpighiales | A broad group encompassing 16,000 species |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae | Euphorbia or spurge family |
| Genus | Euphorbia | 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” |
| Species | milii | Named for Baron Milius, once governor of Réunion, who introduced the species to France |
Euphorbia milii ‘Lutea’ description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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