Euphorbia ammak | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Malpighiales |
Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
Genus: | Euphorbia |
Species: | E. ammak |
Binomial name | |
Euphorbia ammak | |
Euphorbia ammak, commonly known as giant milk bush, African candelabra and candelabra spurge, [2] is a species of plant in the family Euphorbiaceae native to the Arabian Peninsula. As most other succulent members of the genus Euphorbia, its trade is regulated under Appendix II of CITES. [3] In 1998, the plant was assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and was listed as Vulnerable. [1]
It forms a tree up to 10 meters high with upright and curved main shoots. The square shoots reach a thickness of 12 to 15 centimeters. On the wing-like edges there are curved teeth at a distance of up to 1 centimeter from each other. The inverted triangular thorn shields stand individually. Thorns up to 1 centimeter long are formed. In a suitable climate (humid and warm at the same time) the leaves appear at the tops of the branches. [4]
On seedlings, the lanceolate leaves are up to 40 millimeters long and up to 7 millimeters wide; on younger shoots of older plants the leaves are not so large. Branches initially about 60 cm long, rising vertically upwards, 4-5-ribbed, deeply furrowed, dark green; ribs thick, wavy; young non-flowering shoots with a pair of thorns at a distance of 1 cm from each other. The branches are covered with spines around 1 cm long. Thorns dark brown, 1 cm long, in the form of horns or inverted triangles. Its short trunk, which is 10-15 cm thick, resembles a cactus, and its inversely conical crown makes it look like a candelabrum, hence one of its common names. [4] [2]
The inflorescence is formed from individual, simple and almost sessile cymes. The cyathia reach about 10 millimeters in diameter. The nectar glands are elliptical and the ovary has a three-lobed, slit perianth. The deeply lobed fruit is on a thick, 9 to 14 millimeter long stalk and is 9 millimeters long and 14 millimeters wide. The almost round and smooth seed reaches 3 millimeters in diameter. [4]
It is native to the arid regions of Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It grows in shrubby areas between 1000 and 1500 m above sea level, possibly as high as 2500 metres above sea. It is also found in rocky places in plains, on precipitous hillsides and thorny scrublands where it has now become rare in its native range (though it remains common in areas in North Yemen). [4]
The plant is easy grow and prefers well drained soil (such us clay and pumice) in full sun, though younger plants may perform better indoors as the plant tolerates some shade. Watering should be regular in summer, and the plant should be kept dry in winter. A moderately fast grower and long-living, it matures and becomes large in 3-5 years. In addition to being frost-tender, the plant can be affected by mealybugs and, very rarely, scales. Strong winds can also affect the columns. It can easily be propagated by cuttings, though the cutting must callus for a week or two before placed in dry soil. [2]
In Australia, the plant has adapted well in coastal areas. [5] Euphorbia ammak 'Variegeta', a variegated form found in cultivation, features a creamy-yellow and pale blue-green surface. [6]
Euphorbia is a very large and diverse genus of flowering plants, commonly called spurge, in the family Euphorbiaceae.
Euphorbia esula, commonly known as green spurge or leafy spurge, is a species of spurge native to central and southern Europe, and eastward through most of Asia north of the Himalaya to Korea and eastern Siberia. It can also be found in some parts of Alaska.
Euphorbia heterophylla, also known under the common names of Mexican fireplant, painted euphorbia, Japanese poinsettia, paintedleaf, painted spurge and milkweed, is a plant belonging to the Euphorbiaceae or spurge family.
Euphorbia milii, the crown of thorns, Christ plant, or Christ's thorn, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae, native to Madagascar. The species name commemorates Baron Milius, once Governor of Réunion, who introduced the species to France in 1821.
Euphorbia lactea is a species of spurge native to arid and subtropical regions of South Asia, mainly the Indian Subcontinent.
Candelabra tree can refer to:
Crataegus douglasii is a North American species of hawthorn known by the common names black hawthorn and Douglas' thornapple. It is most abundant in the Pacific Northwest.
Euphorbia dentata is a species of spurge known by the common names toothed spurge and green poinsettia. It is native to parts of North and South America, and is present elsewhere on the continents. Its true native range is uncertain. It is a noxious weed in some areas. This is a hairy annual herb with an erect or somewhat erect stem reaching anywhere from 20 to 50 centimeters tall. Its hairy, pointed leaves are a few centimeters long, widely to narrowly lance-shaped, and generally toothed. The inflorescence appears at the end of branches and contain cream or yellowish staminate or pistillate flowers just a few millimeters wide. The fruit is a lobed spherical or heart-shaped capsule about half a centimeter wide which contains three bumpy rounded seeds.
Euphorbia eriantha is a species of spurge known by the common name beetle spurge. It is also called the Desert Poinsettia and Mexican Poinsettia. It is native to the deserts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States from California to Texas. Its flowering season is from February to October in Arizona; March to April in California; January to December in Texas.This is an annual herb reaching anywhere from 15 to 50 centimeters in height. The leaves are long, narrow, and pointed, sometimes with sparse hairs, and 2 to 7 centimeters long. The foliage may be dark in color, from greenish to purplish or reddish. The inflorescence appears at the tip of the branch and contains staminate or pistillate flowers which are just a few millimeters wide. The fruit is an oblong, hairy capsule half a centimeter long, with gray and black mottling. It contains bumpy white or gray seeds.
Euphorbia spathulata is a species of spurge known by the common names warty spurge and roughpod spurge.
Euphorbia ingens is a species of flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae. It is native to dry areas of southern Africa. It is popularly known as the candelabra tree or naboom. Its milky latex can be extremely poisonous and is a dangerous irritant.
Euphorbia ocellata is a species of Euphorbia known by the common name Contura Creek sandmat. It is native to the southwestern United States where it grows in many types of habitats. This is a small annual herb with pairs of oblong to lance-shaped leaves, each leaf up to about 1.5 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a cyathium only 2 millimeters wide. It consists of petal-like appendages surrounding the actual flowers, each with a round nectar gland at its base. The appendages are sometimes absent. The flowers include one female flower ringed by up to 60 male flowers. The fruit is a lobed, spherical capsule less than 3 millimeters wide.
Euphorbia serpyllifolia is a species of euphorb known by the common names thymeleaf sandmat or thyme-leafed spurge. It is native to a large part of North America from Canada to Mexico, where it is a common member of the flora in many types of habitat. This is an annual herb growing as a prostrate mat or taking a somewhat erect form. The oblong leaves are up to about 1.5 centimeters long, sometimes hairy and finely toothed along the edges. The tiny inflorescence is a cyathium about a millimeter wide. It bears scalloped white petal-like appendages arranged around the actual flowers. At the center are several male flowers and one female flower, which develops into a lobed, oval fruit up to 2 millimeters wide. This plant had a number of traditional medicinal uses for many Native American groups.
Euphorbia balsamifera is a flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae. It is distributed in the Canary Islands and the western Sahara. It is the vegetable symbol of the island of Lanzarote. Euphorbia adenensis has been treated as a subspecies of this species.
Cochemiea conoidea, common name Texas cone cactus or Chihuahuan beehive, is a species of cactus native to southern United States to central Mexico.
Euphorbia abyssinica, commonly known as the desert candle or candelabra spurge, is a species of plant in the family Euphorbiaceae. E. abyssinica is endemic to Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and Eritrea. It was first described in 1791, by the German botanist Johann Friedrich Gmelin. In its native habitat, it can grow up to 10 m (33 ft) tall. The woody stem is used for firewood and as timber in roofing, furniture and other items, and the sap is used in traditional medicine. It is also cultivated as an ornamental house plant.
Cereus pierre-braunianus is a species of columnar cactus found in NE Goiás in Brazil.
Euphorbia neriifolia, also known as Indian spurge tree, hedge Euphorbia, Oleander spurge and fleshy spurge, is a species of spurge native to India, which was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. Leaves from the plant are used in traditional kajal making in West Bengal, India.
Maihuenia patagonica, commonly known locally as chupasangre or siempre verde, is a succulent cactus shrub native to Chile and Argentina. Maihueniapatagonica is remarkably tolerant to moisture and cold temperatures.
Euphorbia grandicornis, the cow's horn plant, is a succulent plant of the Euphorbiaceae or spurge family. It is native to the KwaZulu-Natal province and the Northern Provinces of South Africa and to Mozambique and Eswatini.