Botanical Name : Euphorbia milii.
Family : Euphorbiaceae
Introduction :
Euphorbia milii, the crown of thorns, Christ plant, or Christ thorn, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaciae, native to Madagascar. The species name commemorates Baron Milius, once Governor of Réunion, who introduced the species to France in 1821. It is imagined that the species was introduced to the Middle East in ancient times, and legend associates it with the crown of thorns worn by Christ. It is commonly used as an ornamental houseplant that can be grown in warmer climates.
Names in different Indian languages :
English: crown-of-thorns
Other Scientific Names :
Euphorbia bojeri Klotzsch
Euphorbia bojeri Hook.
Euphorbia breonii Nois.
Euphorbia rubrostriata Drake
Euphorbia splendens Bojer ex Hook.
Sterigmanthe bojeri (Hook.) Klosch & Garcke
Tumalis bojeri (Hook.) Raf.
Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants) :
Euphorbia milii var. bevilaniensis
Euphorbia milii var. hislopii (N.E.Br.)
Euphorbia milii var. imperatae
Euphorbia milii var. longifolia
Euphorbia milii var. milii
Euphorbia milii var. roseana
Euphorbia milii var. splendens
Euphorbia milii var. tananarivae
Euphorbia milii var. tenuispina
Euphorbia milii var. tulearensis
Euphorbia milii var. vulcanii
Morphology :
It is a woody succulent subshrub or shrub growing to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) tall, with densely spiny stems. The straight, slender spines, up to 3 cm (1.2 in) long, help it scramble over other plants. The fleshy, green leaves are found mainly on new growth, and are up to 3.5 cm (1.4 in) long and 1.5 cm (0.59 in) broad. The flowers are small, subtended by a pair of conspicuous petal-like bracts, variably red, pink or white, up to 12 mm (0.47 in) broad. Wat Phrik in Thailand claims to be the home of the world’s tallest Christ thorn plant. The plant thrives between spring and summer but produces flowers all year round.e
Distribution & Habitat :
Cultivated
Uses :
The use of E. milii latex as a molluscicide has been suggested as a promising alternative to synthetic molluscicides used in the control of schistosomiasis
