Euphorbia, or euphorbia, belongs to the huge Euphorbiaceae family. These are amazing plants. Euphorbia is widely distributed throughout the world. According to various sources, its species number from 800 to 1600 different plants. These are perennial and annual herbs, trees and shrubs. One fifth of this diversity is found only in South and Central Africa.
The spurge plant also grows in central Russia. It can be seen on roadsides, fields, river banks. Many of our readers are familiar with spurge (species that grow in the regions of Russia). And lovers of indoor plants probably know its decorative varieties.
Properties and Applications
You need to know that all members of this family contain milky juice, which is very poisonous. The substances contained in it can cause severe burns, severe inflammation of the mucous membranes. Once in the stomach, it can cause gastrointestinal dysfunction. Therefore, it should be handled very carefully and when working with it, weargloves.
The poisonous properties of African spurges were often used by hunters who made deadly arrowheads. In addition, the spurge plant is used in folk medicine. It is used in some kidney diseases, as an analgesic, laxative, antihelminthic. It is used as an antacid for rabid animal bites.
Many of our readers may have heard that spurge is also used in perfumery to make whitening creams. Species of some plants of this family have been used to produce rubber. There are varieties of milkweed that people eat and use as feed for livestock.
Spurge: species
We will not be able to describe even very briefly all the species of this plant. Nevertheless, we will try to tell you at least some of them.
Spurge-"cactus"
In the usual sense for us, this plant can hardly be called a cactus. In fact, it belongs to the genus Euphorbia. In its shape, it really resembles a cactus, but differs in that it has inflorescences and flowers. The tissues contain white milky juice, poisonous to humans. "Cactus" - Euphorbia belongs to the genus, which is distinguished by a huge variety of species.
This plant has large trihedral, fleshy stems. A straight trunk with proper care reaches a height of 2-3 meters. Shoots are evenly distributed along the perimeter of the stem. On its edges there are brown-red spines and dense oval-shaped leaves about 5 cm long.
There are species with articulated and yellow-speckled shoots. These include the following:
- Abyssinian;
- trihedral;
- triangular;
- Canarian.
Growing
Grow "cactus" - spurge should be at a temperature of +18 … +20 degrees. There are species that tolerate lower temperatures well (+4 - +5). In this case, it is necessary to provide the plant with a sufficient amount of light and artificially increase the temperature of the soil. The flower can be placed next to the heater.
"Cactus"-spurge can't grow without light. It tolerates direct sunlight, dry air well, does not suffer from a lack of watering. In winter, they stop watering it altogether and resume soil moisture from spring to autumn.
Stem and twigs should not be moistened, as rotting may begin. Due to the fact that the plant is covered with thorns, we recommend brushing off the dust from it with a brush.
Bordered Euphorbia
This is an annual herbaceous plant with erect, densely leafy stems. Their height reaches 70 cm. The leaves are light green, oval in shape. The white wide border, which gave the name to the plant, appears during the flowering period on the upper leaves.
Euphorbia bordered with large white bracts during this period looks very impressive. The bush of this plant during the flowering period resembles a large snow globe. Perhaps that is why they began to give him other names: “mountain snow”, “bride”, “early snow”. Bloomplants occurs from mid-June until frost.
Espurge bordered loves the sun. In the shadows, he languishes and even dies. The soil prefers loose, fertile, slightly acidified. This bush is responsive to regular fertilizing with manure and mineral fertilizers. Does not tolerate waterlogging.
It can be propagated by cuttings and seeds. Cut cuttings should be kept in warm water for 2-3 hours. This will help stop the secretion of juice, which will prevent the plant from taking root. Then, for about a week, the cuttings are “dried” in the air at a temperature of +22 degrees. After that, they can be planted in sandy-peat soil.
Pallas Euphorbia
Another herbaceous member of the Euphorbiaceae family. It has two names - Euphorbia Pallas and Fisher. It has a well-developed and very powerful root system.
The stems of this milkweed reach 25 cm in height, most often they are pubescent. The leaves are dense, green in color, with a brown tint. Their shape depends on where they are located on the stem. The flowers form umbellate inflorescences. The root of Euphorbia Pallas is sinuous, thick, juicy. Plant flowering occurs in May.
This is an endemic plant found only in China, Mongolia and Transbaikalia. Most often it can be seen on steppe slopes, gravelly and stony soils.
Experts believe that Pallas' Euphorbia is the famous medieval mandrake. In the reference book of Tibetan medicine, which has been used since the time of Genghis Khan, mentions of this plant were found asanthelmintic agent. Since ancient times, doctors of Siberia have treated them with male diseases, tuberculosis, and tumors. It was believed that its root had the ability to give vitality and prolong youth.
Healing properties
Currently, Pallas spurge is not used in traditional medicine, but scientific research aimed at studying its properties and composition does not stop. For example, it has already been established that preparations containing juice from the root of a plant normalize the hormonal balance in a man's body due to the content of phytoandrogens in it. In addition, the anticoagulant activity of this milkweed is noted, which gives confidence that it will soon be used in the treatment of patients with impaired hemocoagulation.
Drugs based on this plant have a detrimental effect on the fungal flora, inhibit the growth of tumor cells. This is due to the presence of special lactones in the roots, which are able to fight tumor activity.
Traditional healers use preparations of the Pallas spurge root in the treatment of leukemia. Chinese healers cure tuberculosis of the bone and lymphatic system. In Tibet, a decoction of the roots, which is prepared according to a special recipe, is successfully treated with anthrax. Many herbalists advise taking Pallas' Euphorbia for uterine myoma and mastopathy. However, you should not self-medicate, consult your doctor.
Contraindications
The use of this plant is undesirable for individual intolerance. Since it is poisonous, in case of an overdose, loose stools withblood, vomiting, heart rhythm disturbances.
Garden spurge
This is a herbaceous annual belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family. Euphorbia garden grows up to 25 cm. The stems are thick and fleshy, creeping. Quite often they have swollen nodes. Leaves up to 3 cm long, having an oblong shape. The glass is bell-shaped, about 1.5 cm. Inside it is short-haired, 4 nectaries are concave and narrow on top. The calyx perianth is slightly visible. This spurge blooms in June-September.
The plant is distributed in Ukraine, in the central part of Russia, in the Upper Volga, Volga-Don, Black Sea regions. A little less common in Belarus, in the Caucasus. It grows like a weed on cultivated soil: in gardens, fields and orchards.
For medicinal purposes, grass, juice and roots of the plant are used. It has an emetic, laxative and keratoplastic effect.
Milky juice is used for external purposes - to remove corns, warts, age spots. Medicinal preparations containing plant juice are recommended for bronchial asthma, cancer of the liver, stomach and uterus. The plant is an effective insecticide against insects.
Small-fruited Euphorbia
Plant from the Euphorbiaceae family, growing up to 80 cm in height, glabrous or slightly pubescent. Euphorbia small-fruited has a creeping, cord-like root. Single or few stems erect. From above they have about 11 axillary peduncles up to 8 cm long, sometimes they are absent. No non-flowering branches.
Stem leaves petiolate, almost sessile,35mm long, 9mm wide. They can be wedge-shaped at the base, linear-spatulate, elliptical-linear, linear-filamentous.
From 4 to 12 peduncles - simple or bifid. The cup is bell-shaped, about 2 mm in diameter. Outside, it is naked, has rounded or fringed lobes. Blooms in late May - early July.
Turnip three-nut is the fruit of this plant. It is 3mm long and 4mm wide. The fruit is smooth, rounded, only on the back there are wrinkled-tuberous lobes.
Seeds are small - 1.5-2 mm, ovoid, smooth, brownish or gray-brown. Caruncle sessile, flattened. Blooms in early June.
Spurge leafless
Strongly branched and low shrub with 2-3 segments. They are arched, light green in color. Each segment is up to 8 cm long and 6 mm thick. This beautiful plant is used for both garden and home cultivation. In Europe, it is often bred as an indoor succulent.
Northern Euphorbia
Shrub plant with vertical main root, thin, woody. Northern Euphorbia is a shrub up to 40 cm high. It has orthotropic generative shoots. They can be simple, solitary or with short lateral shoots. The stems do not exceed 1.5 mm in thickness, are smooth, cylindrical, pinkish at the base.
Lower leaves are scaly, small, brown. Median leaves no more than 4 cm long, 8 mm wide.
Umbrella inflorescence has from 4 to 8 simple, sometimesbifid apical umbrellas. 4 or 5 nectaries are brown, two-horned. The columns are thin - only 1.5 mm. Truncated-spherical boxes about 3 mm long. Their diameter is 3 mm.
Globular
Euphorbia flower, the photo of which can be seen in almost any publication for flower growers, is a decorative culture in our country. Most often it is grown in standard form and used for landscaping. Houseplant Euphorbia is unpretentious in care and undemanding to external conditions. It can be grown even with minimal light levels.
Spurge spherical - a dwarf plant no more than 8 cm high, without thorns. The branches that extend from the base form intricate globular segments that form cushions up to 30 cm in diameter. Branches can be cylindrical or spherical, their length is approximately 2.5 cm.
Mountain Euphorbia
Very spectacular ornamental foliage plant, which is often used in rock gardens and in compositions with stones. Euphorbia mountain has semi-spreading shoots. The leaves are rhombic, painted in a bluish-gray hue. During wintering, they densely cover the stems. It blooms in mid-May - early June, but flowers are not its main decorative quality.
Agrotechnology
This type of milkweed loves the sun, but if necessary, can grow in partial shade. The soil is more suitable light and nutritious.
Seeds should be sown in March in boxes and lightly covered with earth. Seedlings are planted in the ground when the temperature is above zero.
The distance between seedlings must be at least30 cm. In order for the plant to bloom for a long time and profusely, it must be regularly watered, weeded, loosened and fed with mineral fertilizers.
Almond Euphorbia
This variety is popular with gardeners and indoor plant enthusiasts. It has unusual flowers that have a bright light green color. They gather in beautiful inflorescences, which sway very gracefully with the slightest breath of wind. They are located on high (up to 60 cm) stems. The plant begins to bloom in April and ends in June. Euphorbia almond is suitable for garden cultivation on a site in the southern regions of Russia, as it does not like severe frosts.
Spurge akalifa
This plant is also called foxtail. It is an evergreen, highly branched shrub, not very tall. Euphorbia akalifa is a beautiful ornamental plant. Its leaves are small, egg-shaped, with fine teeth.
Gardeners fell in love with it for unusually bright red flowers that gather in spike-shaped inflorescences atypical for Euphorbia. Akalifa begins to bloom in March and pleases the eye until late autumn.
With proper care, about 30 inflorescences bloom simultaneously on a plant. At this time, it needs watering and top dressing. Likes a lot of light. Best propagated by cuttings.
Spurge bupleurum-leaved
This is a very rare species from a large family. A low-branching shrub that grows up to 20 cm in height. Small tubercles arranged in a spiral can be seen on the stem. Leaves appear at the top of the plant. milkweed flowerslocated on a long peduncle and at the top of the shrub in the form of a bundle. In winter, this species does not need to be watered. Propagated only by seeds.
Canarian Euphorbia
This is a real tree that reaches 12 meters in height. It has 4-5-costal branches up to 5 cm in diameter. The ribs have small tubercles and double brown spines about 0.5 cm long. In their infancy, the leaves are rudimentary. This beautiful plant thrives indoors.
Medusa Head
A striking succulent with a short, thickened stem and numerous branches diverging in different directions. This variety of milkweed is very popular among flower growers because of its eye-catching, unusual appearance. If the plant is hung in a basket, then its "tentacle" branches will stretch in different directions.
This spurge is undemanding to lighting, it feels quite comfortable both in partial shade and in bright light. In winter, it should be watered very rarely. If you do not follow this rule, the spurge will rot. In addition, he is extremely negative about drafts.
Spurge cereus
Shrub succulent with a height of up to one meter. The branches are erect, with fifteen ribs, up to 5 cm wide, painted in dark green.
There are small tubercles on the narrow ribs. And along the edges of the ribs, jagged notches are visible. Spines grey, solitary. Their length is about 2 cm. The leaves are very small, no more than 3 mm. They dry out pretty quickly, but in some casesremain on the branches for several years.
Cereus spurge is very similar to the cereus cactus, which is why it got its name. He loves the light, however, it should be protected from direct sunlight. Otherwise, the spurge may get burned.
Euphorus enoplas
A highly branched shrub. Under natural conditions, it grows up to one meter in height. The stems are erect, with five or nine ribs. This spurge is especially famous for its huge spines, which grow up to 5 cm. At first they are reddish, later turning gray. Can grow in indirect light or partial shade. In summer, it needs watering and top dressing. It needs loose soil and drainage. Propagated by cuttings.
Euphorn euphorbia
This is a large plant. Euphorbia largehorn in nature grows up to two meters. The branches of this shrub are three-ribbed, divided into separate segments. They are wavy, pterygoid, with a gray horny edge.
At home, it can grow to the ceiling. It needs bright light and regular but moderate watering. Propagated by cuttings, but very rarely blooms when bred indoors.
Euphorus large-winged
A species very close to the large-horned milkweed. Differences only in the tetrahedral stem with bright green stains and smaller spines.
Propagation of Euphorbia
The Euphorbia plant, the photo of which you can see in our article, is picky in care. However, there are certain rules to be aware of. Quite often readersask the question: “How does spurge reproduce?” We will try to answer it.
There are several ways to propagate this plant. The most commonly used are:
- cutting;
- leaf cuttings;
- using seeds;
- dividing the bush.
Growing milkweed from seeds
If you want, you can sow the seeds directly into the ground in spring or early summer. Many gardeners prefer to propagate euphorbia in this way. Growing from seeds makes it possible to plant seedlings as early as March.
Seeds must be soaked in warm water for about two hours. Remember that milkweed roots are very fragile and should not be damaged. Therefore, it is better to sow the seeds one at a time in peat pots or plastic cups.
About a week after sowing, the seeds are in cups (the air temperature should not be lower than +10 degrees). Then the cups should be moved to a warmer place (+20 degrees). Euphorbia seeds germinate for quite a long time - from 3 weeks to 2 months.
Don't forget to make a hole in the bottom of the glass so that excess moisture flows into it. It is advisable to put agroperlite on the bottom of the dishes in a small layer - about 1 cm. Then the container is filled with soil mixture, which consists of leafy soil, sand and clay-soddy soil. The proportions 2:2:3 must be respected. Do not dig the seeds too deep into the soil.
Before planting them, the ground must be moistened. It is better to put glasses with sown seeds in a pan where water should be poured so that the soil does notdried up. It should not be wet, but moist.
Seedlings should be accustomed to outdoor conditions (of course, if you grow a plant for a summer cottage). To do this, they must be taken outside 10 days before planting.
Irrigation
Spurge needs moderate watering - once a week. For this purpose, settled or filtered water should be used. Make sure that the top layer of soil does not dry out. Do not water the plant when the ground is still damp. Dry soil can cause flowers and leaves to fall off. And over watering can cause root rot. In spring and autumn, the plant should be watered no more than once every two weeks. In winter, watering is reduced to once a month. Do not spray spurge.
