Botanical name |
Euphorbia ingens |
Other names |
Tree euphorbia, gewone naboom (Afrikaans); nkonde (Tswana); |
Family |
Euphorbiaceae |
Dimensions |
A small to medium-sized, many-branched and dense tree with rounded crown, up to 10m in height; the shape has been compared to a hot-air balloon |
Description of stem |
Unlike other euphorbia tree species the branches do not die off as much (and leaving only a small crown), thus resulting in branches at lower level in E. ingens; uneven markings of the discarded branches on the grey lower trunk; smaller branches retain the typical four-angular appearance, young branches are green with irregular whitish marks in the hollows between the spiny ridges, four or occasionally five angled, small spines persist on younger branch ridges |
Description of leaves |
Absent, photosynthesis occurs in the younger branched stems |
Description of flowers |
Yellow, unisexual flowers occurring in April and May on the ridges of the terminal or youngest stem segments; pollinated by bees, butterflies and a variety of other insects; unlike several other euphorbias, E. ingens is monoecious, i.e. the male and female flowers occur on the same tree |
Desciption of seed/fruit |
Fleshy, globose to three-lobed purple capsule of about 1 cm in diameter, appearing up to September |
Description of roots |
|
Variation |
|
Propagation and cultivation |
Transplants easily, also grown from seed, truncheons or cuttings; frost sensitive; best in sandy soil in full sun; fast growing |
Tolerances |
Fare better in areas with higher temperatures; cope with varying rainfall; drought resistant |
Uses |
The latex is used by the indigenous population for paralysing fresh-water fish in order to capture them; the latex is said to be used as a purgative, in treating dipsomania and cancer; overdoses have reportedly caused patients severe problems; honey from the nectar may cause a burning sensation in the mouth; birds eat the seeds |
Ecological rarity |
Common, not threatened, although since 2005 more reports of widespread dying off of E. ingens trees has been reported in different areas |
Pests and diseases |
There may be a recently introduced threat, not yet identified |
Other |
The milky latex is toxic, causing skin irritation and sometimes blindness |
Location |
On rocky outcrops, in woodland and often in sandy areas in bushveld |
Distribution |
|
Country |
South Africa; Mozambique; Swaziland; Botswana; Angola; Zambia; Zimbabwe; Tanzania; Malawi; Kenya |