''Euphorbia milii'', the crown of thorns, Christ plant, or Christ thorn, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae, native to Madagascar. The species name commemorates Baron Milius, once Governor of Réunion, who introduced the species to France in 1821. It is imagined that the species was introduced to the Middle East in ancient times, and legend associates it with the crown of thorns worn by Christ. It is commonly used as an ornamental houseplant that can be grown in warmer climates. The common name is due to the thorns and deep red bracts referring to the crown thorn Jesus had to wear during his crucifixion and his blood.

Description

It is a woody

succulent In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...

subshrub or

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

growing to tall, with densely spiny stems. The straight, slender spines, up to long, help it scramble over other plants. The fleshy, green

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

are found mainly on new growth, and are up to long and broad. The flowers are small, subtended by a pair of conspicuous petal-like

bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...

s, variably red, pink or white, up to broad.

Wat Phrik ) , native_name = วัดพริก , nickname = , settlement_type = Subdistrict , motto = , image_skyline = , imagesize = , image_caption = , image_flag ...

in Thailand claims to be the home of the world's tallest Christ thorn plant.ThaiTambon.com
/ref> The plant thrives between spring and summer but produces flowers all year round. Mutation in Crown of thorns

Toxicity

The sap is moderately poisonous, and causes irritation on contact with skin or eyes. If ingested, it causes severe stomach pain, irritation of the throat and mouth, and vomiting. The poisonous ingredients have been identified as phorbol esters. It is very toxic to domesticated animals such as, horses, sheep, cats and dogs. For humans it is mildly toxic and only acts as an irritant.

Uses

Pesticide

The plant itself has proven to be an effective molluscicide and a natural alternative to pest control. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the usage of ''Euphorbia milii'' in aiding snail control. Especially in endemic countries. Schistosomiasis is an infectious disease from freshwater parasites, carried by snails. Extracts from the plant are used to control the snail population to avoid getting infected from a parasite.

Varieties

''E. milii'' is a variable species, and several varieties have been described; some of these are treated as distinct species by some authors. '' E. milii var. splendens'' (syn. ''E. splendens'') is considered to be the living embodiment of the supreme deity in Bathouism, a minority religion practiced by the Bodo people of Eastern India and Nepal. *''Euphorbia milii'' var. ''bevilaniensis'' ( Croizat) Ursch & Leandri 1955 *''Euphorbia milii'' var. ''hislopii'' ( N.E.Br.) Ursch & Leandri 1955 (syn. ''E. hislopii'') *''Euphorbia milii'' var. ''imperatae'' ( Leandri) Ursch & Leandri 1955 *''Euphorbia milii'' var. ''longifolia''

Rauh Werner Rauh (16 May 1913 in Niemegk (district Bitterfeld), Niemegk – 7 April 2000 in Heidelberg) was an internationally renowned German biologist, botanist and author. Biography Born in the town of Niemegk (district Bitterfeld), Niemegk near Bit ...

1967 *''Euphorbia milii'' var. ''milii'' *''Euphorbia milii'' var. ''roseana'' Marn.-Lap. 1962 * ''Euphorbia milii'' var. ''splendens'' ( Bojer ex Hook.) Ursch & Leandri 1955 *''Euphorbia milii'' var. ''tananarivae'' ( Leandri) Ursch & Leandri 1955 *''Euphorbia milii'' var. ''tenuispina''

& Razaf. 1991 *''Euphorbia milii'' var. ''tulearensis'' Ursch & Leandri 1955 *''Euphorbia milii'' var. ''vulcanii'' ( Leandri) Ursch & Leandri 1955

Cultivation

''Euphorbia milii'' can be propagated from cuttings. ''E. milii'' is not hardy, and does not tolerate temperatures below . In temperate areas it needs to be grown under glass in full sun. During the summer it may be placed outside in a sheltered spot, when all risk of frost is absent. The species and the variety ''E. milii'' var. ''splendens'' have both gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

Gallery

File:Euphorbia Milii-crown of Thorns.jpg, ''Euphorbia milii'', crown of thorns File:Christ thorn flowers just opening.jpg, Christ thorn inflorescences (cyathia) opening File:Emerging stem.jpg, Emerging stem Christ thorn flower close up view.jpg, Christ thorn inflorescence (cyathium) close up view Image:Euphorbiamilli.jpg, ''Euphorbia milii ''var'' splendens'' Image:Euphorbia sp 01.jpg, ''Euphorbia milii'' Image:E milii vulcanii ies.jpg, ''Euphorbia milii ''var''. vulcanii'' Image:Euphorbia milii var.milii.JPG, ''Euphorbia milii ''var''. milii'' Image:Cyathium cross1 ies.jpg, Longitudinal section of the cyathium File:Mahkota duri.jpg, Grown in Malaysia File:Euphorbia milii buds.jpg, Flower buds of crown-of-thorns (''Euphorbia milii''). File:Infected euphorbia flower.jpg, Infected euphorbia inflorescences (cyathia) File:Euphorbia milii in Malaysia.jpg, Close-up view of ''Euphorbia milii'' File:Euphorbia milii Prague 2011 1.jpg, In Prague botanic garden EUPHORBIAMILII.jpg, ''Euphorbia milii'' from Kerala, India File:Euphorbia milii-1.jpg, ''Euphorbia milii'' in Pakistan File:Euphorbia milii bd2.jpg, ''Euphorbia milii'' in Bangladesh. File:Euphorbia milii bd3.jpg, Thorns of ''Euphorbia milii''. File:Leaf of Euphorbia milii.jpg, Leaf of ''Euphorbia milii'' from the back. File:Euphorbia milii bd.jpg, Leaf of ''Euphorbia milii'' from the back.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q148829 milii Endemic flora of Madagascar Data deficient plants Taxa named by Charles des Moulins