But that of Euphorbus is perdurable, perennial, nor can it ever be destroyed)'. Linnaeus wrote in 1737: ' Ubi nam Musae statua? Periit, evanuit! Euphorbii autem perdurat, perenat, nec unquam destrui protest (Where now is the statue of Musa? It has perished, vanished. Linnaeus was impressed by the contrast between fame, which rests on the apparent endurance of bronze, and that fame, which is associated with the name of a plant. Euphorbus is only remembered by his association with a plant from 'distant Africa '. Euphorbus was not as distinguished a physican as his brother, Antonus Musa, who was rewarded for his services by the erection of a bronze statue. Linnaeus established the genus, commemorating Euphorbus, the (1st century) physician to King Juba II of Mauritania, and who is thought to have used plants, such as euphorbias, medicinally. Derivation of name and historical aspects The milky latex (often poisonous) produced when the plant is damaged, makes them easily recognizable.Ĭarter & Eggli (1997) list 850 succulent Euphorbia names 723 of these are distributed only in Africa and Madagascar 188 are distributed in South Africa where they are widespread and occur in different habitats from deserts to forests.

Succulent species are mostly confined to Africa and Madagascar, where many species with prominent thorns or spines resemble one another and are often confused with the cacti of North and South America.

Species of Euphorbia can be flat, prostrate weeds found in gardens everywhere, perennial herbs chiefly from Europe, North America and Asia, or majestic trees characteristic of the dry parts of eastern and southern Africa. For more see links included there.Įuphorbia represents one of the largest and most diverse genera of flowering plants in the world, with ± 2 000 species, and with the exception of the polar regions, is present in almost every part of the world. Just a few of the many South African species are illustrated below. Capsules usually consist of three cells the cells separate at maturity from a persistent axis, often freeing the seeds with great force. Curiously there is never more than one female flower in a cyathium, whereas the male flowers are always numerous. The flowers are unisexual, with the male flower reduced to a single stamen on its own pedicel and the pistillate flower on its own pedicel. The individual flowers, set within a cyathium, which is the basic unit of the inflorescence of Euphorbia, are surrounded by a number of bracts which form a unique floral envelope or involucre. In some species these persistent peduncles become sharpened at the tip and become true spines. Many species produce peduncles (inflorescence stalks) which persist after the cyathia (cup-shaped structures) and capsules have withered. Stipules are usually present, often modified into prickles and spines. Leaves in the succulent species are usually reduced or deciduous. The plants may be herbs, shrublets, shrubs or trees, herbaceous, woody or succulent, but are always characterized by conspicuous milky latex.

Euphorbia tirucalli