Euphorbia Cactus
Things You Should Know About Euphorbia Cactus Plants
Despite what many people think, the Euphorbia Cactus is not a cactus at all. Euphorbia is, in fact a genus of different plants that belong to the family Euphorbiaceae. Euphorbia has over 2,100 different species, including Poinsettias and the Devil’s Backbone, which result in it being the second most diverse plant kingdom genera.
Background and History
The genus name Euphorbia dates all the way back to ancient Numidia. King Juba II, educated in Rome and friend to Caesar Augustus, delighted in arts and natural sciences. During one of his expeditions to the Canary Islands, he did research on the many plants there and wrote a scholarly book about one of the plants. He later named this book Euphorbia, after his Greek physician who reportedly used the milk-like secretions in the plant to ease a stomach ailment in the king.
Carolus Linnaeus, writer of Species Plantarum in 1753, carried on the tradition of the ancient king and named an entire plant genus after the book title inspired by the Greek physician, thus resulting in the Euphorbia genus.
Euphorbia plants are also commonly referred to as Spurges, a term that comes from Middle English and Old French meaning “to purge.” It is thought that this choice in name is in reference to the plants’ milky sap being used as a purgative.
Euphorbia Locations
The many Euphorbia species thrive primarily in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, particularly in the Africa, Madagascar, the Americas, and the Canary Islands. It is also possible to find certain species in temperate climate zones throughout the world.
Cactus Controversy
Many people mistakenly use the term Euphorbia Cactus to describe many spiny Spurges. It is easy to understand why so many people are fooled by this genus since many of the plant species look more like cacti than some actual species of cactus.
There are, however, several differences between the two. To the untrained eye, many people see the spines and flowers on a Euphorbia and assume that it is a cactus. Cactus blossoms, however, are quite complex in nature with petals and vibrant colors. Euphorbia plants, however, feature button flowers that have neither petal nor sepals. The spine that one might identify as similar to those on a cactus, are not spines at all. They are, in fact, thorns; something that no cactus has.
One of the biggest distinguishing factors of Euphorbia species is the presence of a thick, milky substance that leaks from the plant when it is cut or injured. If you keep this in mind, you will be able to spot the difference between a real cactus and a Euphorbia cactus-like plant.
Toxicity
The milky substance, or latex, that Euphorbia plants are known for can house many dangers. Although not every person will react to the substance as strongly, the sticky white liquid of many species contains the carcinogen euphorbon and can cause severe health problems, even leading to the death of some individuals.
Many people get an extreme reaction to the latex just by getting one drop of it on their skin. The latex can be extremely caustic, and should therefore be washed off immediately. If it is allowed to dry on the skin, it is no longer water-soluble and must then be removed with milk or body lotion.
If the substance comes in contact with mucous membranes, it is exceedingly important to flush with water immediately. Contact with the eyes can lead to permanent blindness, so take care to wear protective goggles if handling the plants up close. Inhaling any fumes from a cut plant can inflame the lungs and airways as well, so be sure to prune or trim them in well-ventilated areas, and wear a mask as needed. Under no circumstance should the milky goo be ingested, as several people have died from the poisons of some plants.