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Magnoliopsida
Euphorbia cotinifolia L.
EOL Text
"Notes: Plains to Low Altitude, Cultivated, Native of Africa"
Native of C America
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings, Flora of Zimbabwe |
Source | http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/cult/species.php?species_id=162600 |
Distribucion en Costa Rica: Se encuentra en el Valle Central y ambas vertientes; Zona Protectora El Rodeo, Pacuare y Puriscal. Elevación de 0 a 1800 m.
Distribucion General: Desde México hasta Sur América.
Arbusto o árbol.
Arbusto o árbol, de 2 a 9 m.
Hojas opuestas (a veces 3 por nudo). Lámina de ovado-elíptica a sub-orbicular, de 2 a 6 por 1.5 a 5 cm. Margen entero. Inflorescencias ciatias en cimas abiertas. Frutos de casi 4 mm de longitud. Se reconoce por sus hojas opuestas, a veces ternadas, de color morado o púrpura cuando están frescas.Localidad del tipo: No localizada.
Depositario del tipo: No localizado.
Recolector del tipo: No localizado.
Bosques húmedos.
Whole plant: Used to remedy sores in NW Guyana. Latex: Milky latex is strongly purgative. Used by the French Guiana Galibi as a fish poison. Exudate used to treat infected nails in NW Guyana. Latex in the roots is more poisonous than in other parts of the plant.
Su savia caústica a menudo se utiliza para envenenar peces en los ríos. También se usa frecuentemente para cercas vivas.
Euphorbia cotinifolia is a broadleaf evergreen 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]
Name[edit]
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, and Caribbean copper plant.[3]
Toxicity[edit]
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.[4]
The sap can cause irritation if it comes into contact with human skin or eyes.[5] If ingested, the sap can cause severe damage to internal organs.[4]
Gardening[edit]
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.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ Nelson, Lewis S.; Shih, Richard D.; Balick, Michael J. (2007). Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants (2nd ed.). Springer. p. 162. ISBN 9780387338170.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b Clay, Horace F.; Hubbard, James C.; Golt, Rick (1987). Tropical Shrubs Paper. University of Hawaii Press. p. 72. ISBN 9780824811280.
- ^ Nelson, Lewis S.; Shih, Richard D.; Balick, Michael J. (2007). Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants (2nd ed.). Springer. p. 162. ISBN 9780387338170.
- ^ Weissich, Paul R.; Rauch, Fred D. (2000). Plants for tropical landscapes: a gardener's guide. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. p. 50. ISBN 0-8248-2034-7.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Wikipedia |
Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Euphorbia_cotinifolia&oldid=588986055 |