Euphorbia tithymaloides L.
Vernacular name: Devil’s backbone, Zigzag plant, Slipper spurge, Japanese poinsettia; Vilayati sher (Hindi: विलायती शेर)
Species Name: Euphorbia tithymaloides L. (syn. Pedilanthus tithymaloides (L.) Poit.)
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Habit: Evergreen succulent shrub, about 0.5–2 m tall.
Stem: Succulent, green, distinctly zigzagged, often branching; milky latex present.
Leaf: Opposite, simple, ovate to elliptic, entire, shortly petiolate, glabrous, green and sometimes variegated.
Flowering: Mainly spring–summer.
Flowers: Cyathia borne terminally; surrounded by conspicuous bright red slipper-shaped involucral bracts; flowers unisexual, characteristic of Euphorbia.
Fruit: Small, 3-lobed capsule containing three seeds.
Uses:
- Traditional medicinal uses are recorded for the latex, leaves, stems and roots, although the plant is also reported as toxic to human and animals, so medicinal use should not be undertaken without appropriate expertise.
- Various folk remedies uses this plant to soothe earaches, toothaches, joint pain and swellings.
- Traditional practices uses the topical application of poultice of plant to treat ringworm, warts, callouses, insect stings and minor skin issues.
- Many cultural practices or regional medicinal systems uses this plant to treat mouth ulcers, cough and asthma.
- It is commonly cultivated as an ornamental hedge and garden plant because of its unusual zigzag stems and bright red coloured bird-shaped bracts.
- All parts of plant contains milky white latex that is rich in diterpene esters that are toxic and irritating. Skin contact can cause blisters and inflammation where as contact with eye can cause pain and irritation. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea and irritation of digestive tract.
