Euphorbia cotinifolia is a broadleaf red shrub native to Mexico and South America. Treated as a shrub, it reaches 10 to 15 ft (3.0 to 4.6 m) but can be grown as a tree reaching 30 ft (9.1 m). Small white flowers with creamy bracts bloom at the ends of the branches in summer. The purplish stems, when broken, exude a sap that is a skin irritant.[1]
The scientific name of the plant comes from the words cotinus meaning "smoketree" and folia meaning "leaf".[2] Common names for the species include smoketree spurge, tropical smoke bush, Caribbean copper plant,[3] and Mexican shrubby spurge.[4]
The species is well known in Central America, where its poisonous sap has been used both as a medicine and a poison. As a medicine, it has been used in folk remedies as both an emetic and cathartic substance. Fishermen have been known to add the sap to water in fishing grounds to stun fish and force them to float to the top. It was also historically used as a poison for arrowheads by the natives of Curaçao.[5]
The sap can cause irritation if it comes into contact with human skin or eyes.[6] If ingested, the sap can cause severe damage to internal organs.[5]
Gardeningedit
Euphorbia cotinifolia is commonly grown as an ornamental plant in gardens and in pots, due to its colourful and distinctive foliage. It prefers a site with well-drained soil and full sun. While relatively hardy, it does not react well to wind, salt, or frost.[7]
Referencesedit
^Nelson, Lewis S.; Shih, Richard D.; Balick, Michael J. (2007). Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants (2nd ed.). Springer. p. 162. ISBN978-0-387-33817-0.
^"Euphorbia cotinifolia". Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
^"Euphorbia cotinifolia (Tropical smoke bush, Caribbean copper plant) - Fine Gardening Plant Guide". Retrieved 30 December 2012.
^USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Euphorbia cotinifolia". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
^ abClay, Horace F.; Hubbard, James C.; Golt, Rick (1987). Tropical Shrubs Paper. University of Hawaii Press. p. 72. ISBN978-0-8248-1128-0.
^Nelson, Lewis S.; Shih, Richard D.; Balick, Michael J. (2007). Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants (2nd ed.). Springer. p. 162. ISBN978-0-387-33817-0.
^Weissich, Paul R.; Rauch, Fred D. (2000). Plants for tropical landscapes: a gardener's guide. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. p. 50. ISBN978-0-8248-2034-3.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Euphorbia cotinifolia.
Fine Gardening
Euphorbia cotinifolia in West African plants – A Photo Guide.
December 18, 2023
euphorbia, cotinifolia, broadleaf, shrub, native, mexico, south, america, treated, shrub, reaches, grown, tree, reaching, small, white, flowers, with, creamy, bracts, bloom, ends, branches, summer, purplish, stems, when, broken, exude, that, skin, irritant, sm. Euphorbia cotinifolia is a broadleaf red shrub native to Mexico and South America Treated as a shrub it reaches 10 to 15 ft 3 0 to 4 6 m but can be grown as a tree reaching 30 ft 9 1 m Small white flowers with creamy bracts bloom at the ends of the branches in summer The purplish stems when broken exude a sap that is a skin irritant 1 Smoketree spurgeScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder MalpighialesFamily EuphorbiaceaeGenus EuphorbiaSpecies E cotinifoliaBinomial nameEuphorbia cotinifoliaL foliage coloursfruit The scientific name of the plant comes from the words cotinus meaning smoketree and folia meaning leaf 2 Common names for the species include smoketree spurge tropical smoke bush Caribbean copper plant 3 and Mexican shrubby spurge 4 Contents 1 Toxicity 2 Gardening 3 References 4 External linksToxicity editThe species is well known in Central America where its poisonous sap has been used both as a medicine and a poison As a medicine it has been used in folk remedies as both an emetic and cathartic substance Fishermen have been known to add the sap to water in fishing grounds to stun fish and force them to float to the top It was also historically used as a poison for arrowheads by the natives of Curacao 5 The sap can cause irritation if it comes into contact with human skin or eyes 6 If ingested the sap can cause severe damage to internal organs 5 Gardening editEuphorbia cotinifolia is commonly grown as an ornamental plant in gardens and in pots due to its colourful and distinctive foliage It prefers a site with well drained soil and full sun While relatively hardy it does not react well to wind salt or frost 7 References edit Nelson Lewis S Shih Richard D Balick Michael J 2007 Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants 2nd ed Springer p 162 ISBN 978 0 387 33817 0 Euphorbia cotinifolia Missouri Botanical Garden Retrieved 30 December 2012 Euphorbia cotinifolia Tropical smoke bush Caribbean copper plant Fine Gardening Plant Guide Retrieved 30 December 2012 USDA NRCS n d Euphorbia cotinifolia The PLANTS Database plants usda gov Greensboro North Carolina National Plant Data Team Retrieved 26 April 2015 a b Clay Horace F Hubbard James C Golt Rick 1987 Tropical Shrubs Paper University of Hawaii Press p 72 ISBN 978 0 8248 1128 0 Nelson Lewis S Shih Richard D Balick Michael J 2007 Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants 2nd ed Springer p 162 ISBN 978 0 387 33817 0 Weissich Paul R Rauch Fred D 2000 Plants for tropical landscapes a gardener s guide Honolulu University of Hawai i Press p 50 ISBN 978 0 8248 2034 3 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Euphorbia cotinifolia Fine Gardening Euphorbia cotinifolia in West African plants A Photo Guide Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Euphorbia cotinifolia amp oldid 1160267900, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
