Excoecaria cochinchinensis

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Excoecaria cochinchinensis
Excoecaria cochinchinensis along Jalan Cecawi 6-29 in Seksyen 6 Kota Damansara 20231208 142327.jpg
Excoecaria cochinchinensis "Firestorm"
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Excoecaria
Species:
E. cochinchinensis
Binomial name
Excoecaria cochinchinensis
Synonyms [2]
  • Sapium cochinchinense(Lour.) Kuntze
  • Excoecaria bicolor(Hassk.) Zoll. ex Hassk.
  • Excoecaria bicolor var. orientalis(Pax & K.Hoffm.) Gagnep.
  • Excoecaria bicolor var. purpurascensPax & K.Hoffm.
  • Excoecaria bicolor var. viridisPax & K.Hoffm.
  • Excoecaria cochinchinensis var. viridis(Pax & K.Hoffm.) Merr.
  • Excoecaria orientalisPax & K.Hoffm.
  • Excoecaria quadrangularisMüll.Arg.
  • Antidesma bicolorHassk.

Excoecaria cochinchinensis is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae . [2] [3] It is sometimes referred to by the common names Chinese croton, blindness tree, buta buta, and jungle fire plant. It is native to Southeast China, Hainan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. [2]

Contents

It is a subtropical evergreen shrub with a woody stem, growing up to 1–2 meters (3.3–6.6 ft) high. Its leaves are opposite, their texture shiny and papery, the upper surface dark green or variegated and the underside a deep maroon. The leaves measure 6–14 cm by 2–4 cm (2.4–5.5 in by 0.8–1.6 in). [4] It is dioecious. [5]

Etymology

The common name of blindness tree comes from Latin, "excoecaria", to make blind. Sap in the eyes is reported to causes blindness. The Latin name cochinchinensis derives from Cochinchina, an old name for Vietnam. [6]

Uses

Excoecaria cochinchinensis is cultivated as an ornamental tropical plant, greenhouse plant, or houseplant. A popular colorful cultivar is "Firestorm." [6]

Precautions

As with many of the Euphorbiaceae, the sap is toxic and can cause skin eczema in some people. It is also toxic if eaten, though in small quantities, it has been used in herbal medicine to treat gastric ulcers.

Though the plant is considered poisonous, it has beneficial uses as an antiparasitic, antipruritic, and haemostatic treatment. [7]

References

  1. ↑ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2018). "Excoecaria cochinchinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T136140927A136140929. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T136140927A136140929.en . Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Excoecaria cochinchinensis Lour". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Excoecaria cochinchinensis Lour". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000. n.d. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  4. ↑ Hong Kong Flora and Vegetation Excoecaria cochinchinensis Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Zhou, Yubing; Wu, Wei; Ning, Zulin; Zhou, Renchao (2018). "Identification and characterization of sex-specific markers in the milky mangrove Excoecaria agallocha using double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing". Aquatic Botany. 144: 54–60. doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2017.11.004.
  6. 1 2 Landscape Plants For South Florida Excoecaria cochinchinensis
  7. ↑ Global Information Hub On Integrated Medicine Excoecaria cochinchinensis
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