Euphorbia trigona, the African milk tree,[1]cathedral cactus,[1] or Abyssinian euphorbia,[2] is a species of flowering plant that originates from Central Africa. Somewhat common in cultivation as a houseplant or as a hedge, the species is one of the euphorbias with succulent stems and branches as an adaptation to arid climates.
Description
Royal Red cultivar
This succulent shrub has an upright stem and many branches that also grow upward. The stem and branches can have two or three sides. The stem itself is dark green with V-shaped light green patterns. The 5 mm (1⁄4 in) thorns occur in pairs on the stem's ridges. The drop shaped leaves grow from between the two thorns on each ridge. The plant has never been known to flower,[3][4] and is possibly a hybrid.[4]
Cultivation
Euphorbia trigona can withstand brief cold temperatures of down to −3 °C (27 °F). It prefers sandy soil but can cope with most types of well-drained soil. It can root easily from stem cuttings, if allowed to dry for 3–7 days before planting so that it can form a callus and not rot. It grows to a height of 1.5–3 m (4 ft 11 in – 9 ft 10 in).
Chemistry
As with many other Euphorbia species, the latex from the plant is poisonous and can cause skin irritations.[4] It is a pest-free plant. A problem that some trigonas face is that they are susceptible to falling over when fully grown because of their shallow and small root system.[5]
Uses
The plant is known only in human cultivation and is commonly used as a house plant.[4] It is used as a ritual plant and a hedge in Gabon.[4]
References
^ abTimothy K. Broschat, Alan W. Meerow. Betrock's Reference Guide to Florida Landscape Plants. Betrock Information Systems, 1991. p. 123. ISBN9780962976100
^Thomas C. Fuller. Poisonous Plants of California. University of California Press, 1986. p. 372. ISBN9780520055698
^James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey. The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass. Cambridge University Press, 2011. p. 498. ISBN9780521761550
