e-Flora of Thailand

Volume 8 > Part 1 > Year 2005 > Page 290 > Euphorbiaceae > Euphorbia

26. Euphorbia neriifolia L.wfo-0000963554

Sp. Pl.: 451. 1753; Lour., Fl. Cochinch: 298. 1790; Boiss. in DC., Prodr. 15(2): 79. 1862: Kurz, Forest Fl. Burma 2: 416. 1877; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 5: 255. 1887; Ridl., Fl. Malay Penins. 3: 182. 1924; Gagnep. in Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 5: 239. 1925; Merr., Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. n.s. 24: 242. 1935; Burkill, Dict. Econ. Prod. Malay Pen. 1: 979. 1935; Wijnands, Bot. Commel.: 100. 1983; Corner, Wayside Trees Mal. ed. 3, 1: 291. 1988; J.S.Ma, Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 44(3): 60, fig. 1–3, pl. 15. 1997.


Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.



Synonyms & Citations :

Ligularia Rumphius, Herb. Amb. 4: 88, t. 11. 1743.
Euphorbia ligularia Roxb. (Hort. Bengal.: 36. 1814, nomen) ex Buch.-Ham., Trans. Linn. Soc. 14: 285. 1825; Roxb, Fl. Ind. ed. 1832: 465. 1832; Miq., Fl. Ind. Bat. 1.2: 418. 1859; Boiss. in DC., Prodr. 15(2): 79. 1862 (as syn. nov.); Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 1: 501. 1964; Radcl. Sm., Kew Bull. 26: 265. 1972; P.H.Hô, Câyco Viêtnam 2, 1: 358, pl. 4663. 1992.
Euphorbia edulis Lour., Fl. Cochinch.: 298. 1790; Boiss. in DC., Prodr. 15(2): 80. 1862; Gagnep. in Lecomte, Fl. Indo-Chine 5: 254. 1925 (as probable var.); Merr., Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. n.s. 24: 242. 1935 (as syn. nov.).


Description : Erect shrub, up to 4 m high, fleshy and slightly succulent, base diam. to 6 cm, spiny, branching, usually with terminal leaves; stem and branches without articulation, base nearly terete, otherwise with 5 indistinct angles (not winged) and spine-shields in 5 distinct rows, younger branches ca 15 mm in diam., sinuses between spine-shields shallow to absent; spine shields 2–3 cm apart, spines in pairs, 2 mm long, greyish-brown to blackish, persistent, glabrous. Leaves subsessile, obovate, 10–18 by 3–4 cm, base attenuate, margin entire, apex rounded, persistent during the vegetation period. Cyathia not seen in Thailand, outside of Thailand arranged in axillary groups of 3, the central one subsessile, the lateral ones with a peduncle of 6–7 mm; bracts 4 mm long, cyathial glands 5, 1 by 3 mm. Flowers and fruits not seen.


Distribution : Dry tropics of S India, but widely cultivated in tropical Asia (type from Maluku) as hedge plant and garden ornamental.


Vernacular : Som chao (ส้มเช้า)(Central).


Uses: Latex used to remove warts. The root mixed with black pepper is applied to cure snake bites (Roxburgh, loc. cit.). Leaves after extraction of latex by punctures preserved in syrup as sweetmeat (Ridley, loc. cit.). Loureiro (under Euphorbia edulis) noted the leaves are, together with other pot herbs, eaten. The juice of heated leaves is dropped into ears for ear-ache in Malacca (Burkill, loc. Cit.). The latex is purgative. Fish-poison.


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