Volume 8 > Part 1 > Year 2005 > Page 288 > Euphorbiaceae > Euphorbia

22. Euphorbia cotinifolia subsp. cotinoides (Miq.) Christenhusz

Harvard Papers Bot. 7: 3. 2002.— Euphorbia cotinoides Miq., Linnaea 21: 473. 1848; Boiss. in DC., Prodr. 15(2): 60. 1862; Binojkumar & N.P.Balakr., J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 15: 463. 1991.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Shrub, up to 2 m high, neither succulent nor spiny, most parts often pinkish to reddish purple; terminal branches in whorls. Indumentum very short, only on cyathia. Stipules ca 0.3 mm long, soon caducous. Leaves: petiole 3–6 cm long, nearly as long as the blade; in whorls of 3 (rarely opposite); blade ovate, 4–6 by 3–4 cm, base obtuse-rounded, margin entire, apex acute (rarely obtuse); venation distinct. Cyathia yellow-cream, in terminal and axillary, elongate dichasia, bracts linear-triangular, ca 2 mm long; cyathial glands 4, ca 0.7 by 1 mm; appendages ca 1 by 2 mm, whitish. Fruits ca 4 mm in diam., sparsely hairy to glabrous. Seeds ca 2.5 by 2 mm, brown, foveolate, ecarunculate.

Distribution : Typical Euphorbia cotinifolia (from Mexico to the Antilles and Venezuela, type from Curaao) differs in orbiculate, apically rounded leaves and some additional minor characters. Only the ovate-leaved form, described as E. cotinoides (type from Suriname) and originally South-American, is found cultivated throughout the tropics.

Vernacular : Pho daeng yai (โพแดงใหญ่)(Central).

Uses: Ornamental shrub, the leaves being reddish-purple. The latex of this species is very toxic and blisters the skin. In the Neotropics therefore used as a fish poison.