Euphorbia Cactus Plant Information

The genus Euphorbia is home to over 1,600 different species of plant. Certain species of Euphorbia with small leaves and spines are often informally referred to as Euphorbia cacti, although they are not true cacti. Other common houseplants of this genus include the croton and the poinsettia.

Like cacti, some species of Euphorbia have small leaves, and many are covered with spines. For this reason, Euphorbia are often mistakenly referred to as cacti. In fact, Euphorbia originated in Africa, whereas cacti are native to the Americas. One easy way to determine whether a plant is from the genus Euphorbia or a cactus is by cutting it open. If the liquid inside is clear, it is a cactus. If the liquid inside is whitish and milky, it is from the genus Euphorbia.

Because Euphorbia cacti originated in the dry environments of Africa, they evolved certain features to cope with desert conditions. Small leaves, for instance, help them to conserve water. Spines help to protect them from thirsty animals that might otherwise view them as easy sources of water and nutrients. Euphorbia cacti typically bear small, dry fruit known as schizocarps. Euphorbia cacti exhibit a range of statures; some are small, bush-like plants, while at least one type bears a strong similarity to the saguaro cactus.

The easiest way to differentiate Euphorbias is by type of spine. The most common are stipular spines. Stipular spines are relatively sharp, and are usually arranged in pairs that grow along the ribs of the plant. The second type is the peduncular spine, which are in general less sharp than stipular spines, and are usually found either singly or in groups of three. A third type of spines, where the spine is actually an outgrowth (or bump) on the rib of the plant, is found on Euphorbias endemic to the island of Madagascar.

Certain members of the genus Euphorbia, including those with peduncular spines, are dioecious. This means that a single plant will contain only male or female reproductive organs. Species of Euphorbia with stipular spines are monoecious, meaning that male and female flowers are present on the same plant. However, only certain Euphorbia are able to fertilize themselves. Any gardener wishing to propagate Euphorbia must know what type she has be successful. Typically, only the species E. groenwaldii and E. ingens are self-fertile; other species will require more than one plant for successful propagation.

The sap of Euphorbias contains latex, which some are allergic to. Depending on the species, the sap can also contain any number of other chemicals, some of which are quite dangerous. The sap of some Euphorbias is a skin irritant, so owners should take caution when pruning the plant. Their sap can also contain varying levels of poison, so they should be kept out of the reach of small children.