''Stillingia'' is a

plant Plants are predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all current definitions of Plantae exclud ...

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family, is a large family of flowering plants. In English, they are also commonly called euphorbias, which is also the name of a genus in the family. Most spurges, such as ''Euphorbia paralias'', are herbs, but some, e ...

, first described for modern science as a genus in 1767. The genus is native to

Latin America Latin America or * french: Amérique Latine, link=no * ht, Amerik Latin, link=no * pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived f ...

, the southern

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, and various islands in the

Pacific The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...

and Indian Oceans. Toothleaf is a common name for plants in this genus.

Medical use

'' Stillingia sylvatica'' was used by Native Americans for

syphilis Syphilis () is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium ''Treponema pallidum'' subspecies ''pallidum''. The signs and symptoms of syphilis vary depending in which of the four stages it presents (primary, secondary, latent, an ...

and as a

cathartic In medicine, a cathartic is a substance that ''accelerates'' defecation. This is similar to a laxative, which is a substance that ''eases'' defecation, usually by softening feces. It is possible for a substance to be both a laxative and a catha ...

diuretic A diuretic () is any substance that promotes diuresis, the increased production of urine. This includes forced diuresis. A diuretic tablet is sometimes colloquially called a water tablet. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics in ...

laxative Laxatives, purgatives, or aperients are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation. Laxatives vary as to how they work and the side effects they may have. Certain stimulant, lubri ...

, and

emetic Vomiting (also known as emesis and throwing up) is the involuntary, forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose. Vomiting can be the result of ailments like food poisoning, gastroenteri ...

.Native American Ethnobotany
/ref> In large doses, it causes

vomiting Vomiting (also known as emesis and throwing up) is the involuntary, forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the Human nose, nose. Vomiting can be the result of ailments like Food-poisoning, foo ...

and

diarrhea Diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery bowel movements each day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration due to fluid loss. Signs of dehydration often begin wi ...

Taxonomy

Species include: Many species formerly in ''Stillingia'' have been moved to other genera, including '' Actinostemon'', ''

Adenopeltis ''Adenopeltis'' is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae first described as a genus in 1832. Its name comes from Greek and means "glandular shield". It contains only one known species, ''Adenopeltis serrata'', endemic to the central part of t ...

'', '' Anomostachys'', '' Balakata'', '' Bonania'', ''

Ditrysinia ''Ditrysinia'' is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae first described as a genus in 1825. It contains only one recognized species, ''Ditrysinia fruticosa'', the Gulf Sebastian-bush, native to the southeastern United States (E Texas, Louisia ...

'', ''

Excoecaria ''Excoecaria'' is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae, formally described by Linnaeus in 1759. The genus is native to the Old World Tropics (Africa, southern Asia, northern Australia, and assorted oceanic islands). Etymology Genus name, '' ...

'', ''

Grimmeodendron ''Grimmeodendron'' is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae first described as a genus in 1908. It is native to the West Indies. ;Species # '' Grimmeodendron eglandulosum'' (A.Rich.) Urb. - Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola (Dominican Republic, Hait ...

'', '' Gymnanthes'', '' Homalanthus'', '' Maprounea'', '' Microstachys'', '' Neoshirakia'', ''

Sapium ''Sapium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Euphorbiaceae. It is widespread across most of Latin America and the West Indies. Many Old World species were formerly included in the genus, but recent authors have redistributed all the ...

'', ''

Sclerocroton ''Sclerocroton'' is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae first described as a genus in 1845. There a total of 6 known species in this genus; 5 species in continental Africa and a single species in Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madaga ...

'', ''

Sebastiania ''Sebastiania'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Euphorbiaceae first described in 1821. It is native to North and South America from Arizona and the West Indies south to Uruguay.Webster, G. L. & M.J. Huft. 1988. Revised synopsis of Pa ...

'', '' Shirakiopsis'', ''

Spegazziniophytum ''Spegazziniophytum'' is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae first described as a genus in 2001. It contains only one known species, ''Spegazziniophytum patagonicum'', endemic to Argentina (Provinces of Mendoza, Neuquén Neuquén (; ...

'', ''

Spirostachys ''Spirostachys'' is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae first described as a genus in 1850. It is native to Africa.Govaerts, R., Frodin, D.G. & Radcliffe-Smith, A. (2000). World Checklist and Bibliography of Euphorbiaceae (and Pandaceae) 1- ...

'', and '' Triadica''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q147720 Euphorbiaceae genera