Euphorbia milii

Euphorbia milii
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2][note 1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Euphorbia
Species:
E. milii
Binomial name
Euphorbia milii

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.[3]

The native Malagasy name for this plant is songosongo also applied to several other Euphorbia species.[4] It is imagined that the species was introduced to the Middle East in ancient times, and legend associates it with the crown of thorns worn by Jesus.[5] It is commonly used as an ornamental houseplant that can be grown in warmer climates. The common English name[6] is due to the thorns and deep red bracts referring to the crown thorn Jesus had to wear during his crucifixion and his blood.

  1. ^ Razanajatovo, H. (2020). "Euphorbia milii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T44389A153299391. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T44389A153299391.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ Ombrello, Dr T., Crown of Thorns, Plant of the Week, UCC Biology Department, archived from the original on 17 September 2009, retrieved 1 October 2009
  4. ^ See:
    • de La Beaujardière, Jean-Marie, ed. (2001). "Botanical scientific names: Euphorbia". Malagasy Encyclopedic Dictionary.
    • Fouché, J. G.; Andriamanalintsoa, J.-J.; B., David (July 2013). "Le jardin botanique de Ranopiso : lieu de conservation et de connaissance ethnopharmacologique en Androy (Madagascar)". Ethnopharmacologia (in French) (50). Société Française d'Ethnopharmacologie: 62–3.
  5. ^ Chudasama, C.A.M. (2018). "Molecular marker study in ornamental plant Euphorbia milii". Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 7 (3). Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Crown of Thorns". Retrieved 11 December 2020.


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