Euphorbia tirucalli       0

The variable shaped, spineless, succulent straight tree is usually up to 8m but may reach 12m high and is often branched near the base. It can also be a succulent shrub and grows in dense stands. The straight stem has a slightly rough, longitudinally ridged, grey bark. Bulges, swellings or knobs may occur on the branches and on old trunks. Black rough crosswise bands may be visible. The broom-like crown may be more or less spherical or spreading. Small, much divided, hairless, usually green, cylindrical, and usually 3 angled, green branchlets are visible. They form a dense mass and are up to 8mm wide and divided into segments. Small longitudinal parallel lines are visible. An orange form is also available at nurseries. These branchlets are spineless, opposite, alternate or clustered at the ends of the main branches. They appear to grow without a pattern.

The small leaves are up to 12 x 2mm. They are seldom noticed as they fall early. Recent leaf scars initially form dents on young stems.

The small yellow flowers appear at the ends of branches in clusters of cyathia. All flowers within the cyanthium are unisexual and lack a perianth. Many male flowers surround the single female flower. Each male flower has only 1 protruding stamen i.e. each of the visible stamens is produced from a single male flower. The 2 longitudinally dehiscent anther thecae are distinctly not parallel with each other. The solitary female flower has only a single pistil (with a single trilocular ovary, pollen receiving stigmas and 3 persistent supportive styles). Here the ovary has one pendulous ovule in each locule. The surrounding colored, modified bracts and nectar glands attract pollinators.

When mature, the globose, green to pink and a slightly 3-lobed fruit is a small capsule (a dry fruit resulting from the maturing of a compound ovary that usually opens at maturity by one or more lines of dehiscence). It is up to 1cm wide and rests on a short, often bent stalk. The capsule becomes woody at maturity and splits open to release the smooth, brown seeds that are marked with white.

The common name rubber-hedge euphorbia refers to its widespread use as planted hedges around smallholdings, habitations and livestock pens, which help to keep intruders out. The latex, as in other euphorbias, is very toxic and may cause blindness, blisters on the skin, and even prove fatal if enough of it is swallowed.

Medicinal plant
In traditional medicine it is regarded as a cure for sexual impotence and an antidote for snakebite. The use of various euphorbias including Euphorbia tirucalli as a fish poison is also well documented.

References
- Indigenous Plants A South Africa Guide, Pitta Joffe & Tinus Oberholzer. 2012 pag. 207. ISBN
- Phenology of different vegetation types in Tsimanampetsotsa National Park, southwestern Madagascar, Ratovonamana, R. Y., Rajeriarison, C., Roger, E. & Ganzhorn, J. U. Malagasy Nature 2011 Vol. 5 pag. 14-38. Link
- PlantZafrica, Werner Voigt. Harold Porter NBG 2007. Euphorbia tirucalli
- Trees of Southern Africa, Meg Coates Palgrave. 2002 pag. 577-578. ISBN

- A taxonomic revision of Euphorbia section Anisophyllum Roeper (Euphorbiaceae) in Australia, Halford, David and Harris, Wayne. Austrobaileya 2012 Vol. 8 pag. 441-600. DOI
- A worldwide molecular phylogeny and classification of the leafy spurges, Euphorbia subgenus Esula (Euphorbiaceae), Riina, Ricarda and Peirson, Jess A. and Geltman, Dmitry V. and Molero, Julián and Frajman, Božo and Pahlevani, Amirhossein and Barres, Laia and Morawetz, Jeffery J. and Salmaki, Yasaman and Zarre, Shahin and Kryukov, Aleksey and Bruyns. Taxon 2013 Vol. 62(2) pag. 125-132. DOI
- Euphorbia species from the Flora Zambesiaca area: VII, Leach, L C. Journal of South African Botany 1967 Vol. 33 pag. 247-262. Address
- Euphorbiae succulentae Angolenses: I, Leach, LC. Boletim da Sociedade Broteriana 1968 Vol. 42 pag. 161-179. Address
- Flora iberica, Santiago Castroviejo. 2010 Vol. 8 pag. 210-285. ISBN
- Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, P.H. Davies. 1984 Vol. 7 pag. 571-630. ISBN
- Mountain Flora of Greece, Volume 1, Arne Strid. 1989 pag. 566-576. ISBN
- Nomenclature and typification of southern African species of Euphorbia, Bruyns, Peter. Bothalia 2012 Vol. 42. DOI
- Notes on Euphorbia species of the Eastern Cape Province: With descriptions of three new species, Dyer, Robert Allen. Records of the Albany Museum / Committee of the Albany Museum 1931 Vol. 4(1) pag. 64-110. Address
- Phylogenetics, morphological evolution, and classification of Euphorbia subgenus Euphorbia, Dorsey, Brian L. and Haevermans, Thomas and Aubriot, Xavier and Morawetz, Jeffery J. and Riina, Ricarda and Steinmann, Victor W. and Berry, Paul E. Taxon 2013 Vol. 62(2) pag. 291-315. DOI
- Phylogeography and character evolution of Euphorbia sect. Aphyllis subsect. Macaronesicae (Euphorbiaceae), Barres, Laia and Galbany-Casals, Mercè and Hipp, Andrew L. and Molero, Julià and Vilatersana, Roser. Taxon 2017 Vol. 66(2) pag. 324-342. DOI
- Prodromus systematis naturalis regni vegetabilis, sive, Enumeratio contracta ordinum generum specierumque plantarum huc usque cognitarium, juxta methodi naturalis, normas digesta, Candolle, Augustin Pyramus de, and Candolle, Alphonse de,. 1862 Vol. 15(2) pag. 7-187. Address
- The classification of species of Euphorbia with stipular spines, Dyer, RA. Bulletin du Jardin botanique de l'Etat, Bruxelles/Bulletin van den Rijksplantentuin, Brussel 1957 pag. 487-493. JStor
- The submersion of Pedilanthus into Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae), Steinmann, Victor. Acta Botánica Mexicana 2003 Vol. 65. DOI
- Three new species of Euphorbia L. subgenus Chamaesyce Rafinesque (Euphorbiaceae) from central and northern Australia, Thomson, B. G. Nuytsia 1992 Vol. 8 pag. 351-360. Address
- British Cactus and Succulent Society. bcss.org.uk Vol. euphorbia-part-1. Euphorbia
- Wild Crop Relatives: Genomic and Breeding Resources: Plantation and Ornamental Crops. 2011 pag. 125. DOI

Biological type: succulent
Frost resistance: 41ºF
Leaf color: bright green
Flower color: yellow
Reproduction mode: monoecious plant where both sperm and eggs are produced on the same gametophyte
IUCN Red List of threatened species status: Least Concern

Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 16,4ft x 16,4ft
Sun exposure: full sun (Sun hours: >6h
Foliage: evergreen
Growth: average
Flowering time from September until December

Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 30%Compost+30%Coco+40%Sand
Plant watering: 1x a week pH 6.5
Logical sequence of containers for: Perennials; forestry plate 8cm, 1L container, 2L forestry pot, 6L container, 55L container
Propagation is done by cuttings

Groupe : SVc22 VhaVenda Miombo. MAP 670mm-680mm APCV 27% MAT 68ºF MFD 1 day MAPE 2109 mm MASMS 78% Alt 750m-850m
Groupe : SVc25 Poung Dolomite Mountain Bushveld. MAP 500mm-900mm APCV 26% MAT 64ºF MFD 5 day MAPE 2040 mm MASMS 76% Alt 600m-1500m
Groupe : SVc26 Ohrigstad Mountain Bushveld. MAP 500mm-800mm APCV 27% MAT 64ºF MFD 3 day MAPE 2009 mm MASMS 77% Alt 500m-1400m
Groupe : SVc27 Sekhukhune Plains Bushveld. MAP 400mm-600mm APCV 30% MAT 66ºF MFD 4 day MAPE 2084 mm MASMS 79% Alt 700m-1100m
Groupe : SVl16 Southern Lebombo Bushveld. MAP 550mm-1000mm APCV 24% MAT 69ºF MFD 1 day MAPE 1882 mm MASMS 74% Alt 100m-600m
Groupe : SVl24 Zululand Coastal Thornveld. MAP 800mm-1050mm APCV 21% MAT 70ºF MFD 0 day MAPE 1808 mm MASMS 68% Alt 40m-300m
Groupe : SVs01 Thukela Valley Bushveld. MAP 500mm-850mm APCV 26% MAT 64ºF MFD 6 day MAPE 1824 mm MASMS 75% Alt 350m-1000m
Groupe : SVs06 Eastern Valley Bushveld. MAP 550mm-1000mm APCV 24% MAT 64ºF MFD 3 day MAPE 1688 mm MASMS 72% Alt 100m-1000m

SPRING Sow the seeds on the surface of Well Drained Seed Sowing Mix and pouwder with Pebbles 6mm between 68-77°F. During germination keep the substrate moist and in daylight.

Germination references
- PlantZafrica, Werner Voigt. Harold Porter NBG 2007. Euphorbia tirucalli


Germination references for the genus
- British Cactus and Succulent Society. bcss.org.uk Vol. euphorbia-part-1. Euphorbia
- High temperature and burial inhibit seed germination of two perennial Mediterranean Euphorbia species, Narbona Eduardo, Arista Montserrat and Ortiz Pedro L. Botanica Helvetica 2007 Vol. 117(2) pag. 169-180. DOI
- Temperature and storage time strongly affect the germination success of perennial Euphorbia species in Mediterranean regions, Cristaudo Antonia, Catara Stefania, Mingo Antonio, Restuccia Alessia and Onofri Andrea. Ecology and Evolution 2019 Vol. 9 pag. 10984-10999. DOI