Euphorbia milii

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Euphorbia milii
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Euphorbia
Species: E. milii
Binomial name
Euphorbia milii
Des Moul.

Euphorbia milii (crown of thorns, Christ plant, Christ thorn) is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaciae, native Madagascar. The species name commemorates Baron Milius, once Governor of Réunion, who introduced the species to France in 1821.[1] It is suspected that the species was introduced to the Middle East in ancient times, and legend associates it with the crown of thorns worn by Christ.[1]

Description

Stamens and carpels

It is a succulent climbing shrub growing to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) tall, with densely spiny stems, the straight, slender spines up to 3 cm long, which help it scramble over other plants. The leaves are found mainly on new growth,[1] and are obovate, up to 3.5 cm long and 1.5 cm broad. The flowers are small, subtended by a pair of conspicuous petal-like bracts, variably red, pink or white, up to 12 mm broad.[2] The sap is moderately poisonous. Wat Phrik in Thailand claims to be the home of the world's tallest Christ plant.[3]

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[4]

Varieties

E. milii is a variable species, and several varieties have been described; some of these are treated as distinct species by some authors.[2]

  • Euphorbia milii var. bevilaniensis (Croizat) Ursch & Leandri 1955
  • Euphorbia milii var. hislopii (N.E.Br.) Ursch & Leandri 1955 (syn. E. hislopii)
  • Euphorbia milii var. imperatae (Leandri) Ursch & Leandri 1955
  • Euphorbia milii var. longifolia Rauh 1967
  • Euphorbia milii var. milii
  • Euphorbia milii var. roseana Marn.-Lap. 1962
  • Euphorbia milii var. splendens (Bojer ex Hook.) Ursch & Leandri 1955
  • Euphorbia milii var. tananarivae (Leandri) Ursch & Leandri 1955
  • Euphorbia milii var. tenuispina Rauh & Razaf. 1991
  • Euphorbia milii var. tulearensis Ursch & Leandri 1955
  • Euphorbia milii var. vulcanii (Leandri) Ursch & Leandri 1955

Gallery

  • Euphorbia milii var splendens

  • Euphorbia milii var. splendens

  • Euphorbia milii

  • Euphorbia milii var. vulcanii

  • Euphorbia milii var.milii

  • Cross-section of the cyathium

  • Grown in Malaysia

  • Close-up view of Euphorbia milii

  • Christ plant

  • In Prague botanic garden

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Euphorbia milii.
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ombrello, Dr T., Crown of Thorns, Plant of the Week, UCC Biology Department, retrieved 1 October 2009 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. ISBN 0-333-47494-5
  3. ↑ ThaiTambon.com
  4. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Euphorbia milii". Retrieved 07 July 2013. 
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