Neha Patil (Editor)

Euphorbia virosa

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Kingdom
  
Family
  
Scientific name
  
Euphorbia virosa

Order
  
Genus
  
Euphorbia

Rank
  
Species

Euphorbia virosa Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Euphorbia virosa

Similar
  
Euphorbia stenoclada, Euphorbia pteroneura, Euphorbia caput‑medusae, Euphorbia avasmontana, Euphorbia aeruginosa

Euphorbia virosa, the Gifboom or poison tree, is a plant of the spurge family Euphorbiaceae. It has a short main stem, usually twisted, from which 5–10 cm branches emerge. These leafless branches have 5 to 8 edges. Paired thorns grow in regularly spaced intervals from the edges.

Euphorbia virosa FileEuphorbia virosa 3 iesjpg Wikimedia Commons

Euphorbia virosa is commonly distributed from the Orange River in South Africa to Southern Angola, occupying mainly arid areas in Namibia. The plant contains within the branches a milky and creamy substance with carcinogenic properties. This substance is very poisonous and is used by San (Bushmen) to dip the tips of their hunting arrows. Contact with it causes skin irritation, and if the eyes are afflicted, blindness may occur.

Euphorbia virosa httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu
Euphorbia virosa FileEuphorbia virosa MS 9803jpg Wikimedia Commons

Euphorbia virosa Euphorbia virosa Wikipedia


Euphorbia virosa FileEuphorbia virosaJPG Wikimedia Commons

References

Euphorbia virosa Wikipedia


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