Euphorbia neriifolia L.
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Synonyms
E. ligularia Roxb.
Vernacular Names
| Malaysia | Sesudu, sudu-sudu (Peninsular). |
| English | Common milk hedge, hedge euphorbia, oleander spurge. |
| Indonesia | Sudu-sudu, susudu, susuru. |
| Philippines | Bait (Pampangan, Tagalog), soro-soro (Tagalog), sorog-sorog (Pampamgan, Tagalog). |
| Thailand | Som chao (Central). |
| Vietnam | x[uwl[ow]ng r[oof]ng, x[uwl[ow]ng r[oof]ng r[af]o, x[uw][ow]ng r[oof]ng ta. |
Geographical Distributions
The distribution of Euphorbia neriifolia is probably of South-Asian origin, but nowadays locally cultivated and naturalising in Sri Lanka, India, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand and throughout the Malesian region except for Borneo; also occasionally cultivated in other tropical region except for Borneo; also occasionally cultivated in other tropical regions.
Description
E. neriifolia is an armed, succulent shrub or small tree that can reach up to measure 8 m tall. The branches are obtusely 5-angular, with pairs of spines of measure 4-12 mm long that arise from the ribs.
The leaves are arranged alternate, obovate to narrowly oblanceolate in shape, with measuring (5-)15-30 cm x (1.5-)2-7.5 cm, wedge-shaped base to attenuate, rounded apex, entire margin and hairless.
The inflorescence is lateral, composed of 3-7 cyathia on short, rigid and forked peduncles while the bracts are ovate. The cyathia is with 5 oblong glands, which is measure 1.5-2 mm x 4-5 mm.
The smooth capsule is with a size measure 10-12 mm in diametre.
Ecology / Cultivation
E. neriifolia grows well in dry, often rocky places.
Line Drawing / Photograph
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1) Safety
References
1. Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 12 (1): Medicinal and poisonous plants 1.
