Euphorbia milii

The crown of spines ( Euphorbia milii ) still called crown of Christ or spine of Christ (because of the spine S, but also of the red flowers evoking of taste blood) is a long-lived thorny shrub of the family of the Euphorbiacée S, which can reach 1,5m. It is originating in Madagascar.

In the moderated countries, it is used like plants ornament, in interior.

Its period of flowering recovers all the year. Its spines can reach more 5cm length. There exist several colors of the flowers (still called cyathes ): clear flowers surrounded by two bractées red, oranges, yellows or white. Its fruits which however seldom appear in culture, comprise three cabins expelling seeds with maturity.

  • Rusticity: The temperature should not drop under 10°C

  • Exposition: semi-shade, luminous even in full sun, after one period of acclimatization.
  • foreign Names:
      • English
    • : Christs' thorn, German Christplant, crown off thorns
    • : Christusdorn .

Species - cultivars

  • Euphorbia milii Splendens the spine of Christ, variety to the semi port crawling
  • Euphorbia milii Hislopii with the thicker stems (4-5cm of diameter) and with the shorter spines, the sheets of 10-12cm length and bractées larger.
  • Euphorbia milii Kuentzii with the pink cyathes and the lengthened sheets
  • Euphorbia milii Tulearensis with the pink cyathes
  • Euphorbia milii Syraya with the giant flowers
  • Euphorbia milii tenuispina with the stems incipient from a caudex

Diseases and harmful insects : rot by excess of moisture, aleurodes, slugs, red spiders.

Attention with its toxicity : strong toxicity of the latex (sap), digestive disorders in the event of ingestion. Reproduction by propagation by cutting of stems.

Summary bibliography

  • L.E. Newton, standard The off Euphorbia milii Of the Mills, Cactus and Succulent Newspaper off America (Los Angeles), 72 (4): 206,207 (2000).
  • L.E. Newton, The identity off Euphorbia milii VAr. breonii, name. nud. (Euphorbiaceae), Taxon 43:85 - 87 (1994).
  • Charles Of the Mills, Bulletin of Natural history of the Linnéenne Company of Bordeaux 1 (1): 27-30, pl. 1 (1826).

References

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