Euphorbia heterophylla

Painted Euphorbia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Rosidae (unranked): Eurosids I Order: Malpighiales Family: Euphorbiaceae Subfamily: Euphorbioideae Tribe: Euphorbieae Subtribe: Euphorbiinae Genus: Euphorbia Species: E. heterophylla
Binomial name
Euphorbia heterophylla L.
Synonyms
Euphorbia cyathophora

Water droplets on Euphorbia heterophylla

Euphorbia heterophylla (common names include (Mexican) fireplant, painted puphorbia, desert poinsettia, wild poinsettia, fire on the mountain, paint Leaf and kaliko plant) is a plant belonging to the Euphorbiaceae or spurge family.

Distribution

It is a native plant of Mexico, and its original distribution includes an area spreading from California to east Texas and to much of Central America.

This plant has spread to South and Southeast Asia, having become a weed in India and Thailand, where it has invaded cotton fields and other agricultural terrain.

Introduced for ornamental purposes, it quickly spreads, becoming a common sight by the side of the roads and rural pathways.

Description

It is a hardy, ruderal species, growing between 30 and 70 cm in height. The leaves at the upper end of the stalk, close to the cyathium, have a striking, scarlet red coloration.^[1] Leaves are mainly 2-4 lobed and 4-7cm long by 1.5-3cm wide. Their contrast with the lower dark green leaves gives this euphorbia most of its common names.

The stalk exudes a toxic milky white sap. The cyathia or false flowers, are located in clusters at the head of the stalk and are yellowish green. They have no petals, the red color being part of the young leaves' coloration. The fruits are small, segmented capsules.

This plant often loses its coloration when it grows wild as a weed. It is resistant to herbicide.^[2]

Toxicity

Toxicity is documented in most members of the genus Euphorbia. Individuals sensitive to latex are known to have strong reactions, including dermatitis and anaphylaxis, to the sap exuded by this plant.

Gallery

Zebra Blue Leptotes plinius on Painted Euphorbia cyathia in Hyderabad, India.

Zebra Blue on Painted Euphorbia in Hyderabad.

Painted Euphorbia in Hyderabad.

Painted Euphorbia near Talakona forest, in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Painted Euphorbia near Talakona forest.

References

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