Euphorbia milii
COMMON NAME | Crown of thorns,
Christ plant, or Christ thorn |
TYPE | Shrub |
FAMILY | Euphorbiaceae |
NOTES | The species name
milii honors Baron Milius, once governor of the island of Bourbon, who
introduced the species into cultivation in France in 1821. The common name
refers to a legend that this plant was used as the thorny crown worn by Jesus
at his crucifixion. There is evidence that this plant had been brought to the
Middle East before the time of Christ and the stems are flexible enough to
weave into a circle, but it is more likely that another plant was used as his
crown. |
GEOGRAPHIC REGION | Madagascar |
NATIVE HABITAT | Can be found
naturalized in disturbed areas near cultivated areas and dry thickets |
WEB SOURCES |
