We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Euphorbia abyssinica - J.F.Gmel.

Common Name Candelabra Spurge
Family Euphorbiaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards Euphorbia abyssinica has toxic milky sap that causes irritation and blistering if it comes into contact with the skin. The sap can also cause temporary or permanent blindness if it comes into contact with the eyes.
Habitats Steep rocky hillsides; sometimes forming pure stands, often around churches; locally abundant or common at elevations from 840 - 2,400 metres[328 ].
Range Tropical Africa - Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Well drained soil Semi-shade Full sun
Euphorbia abyssinica Candelabra Spurge


edibleplants.org
Euphorbia abyssinica Candelabra Spurge
wikimedia.org Michael Wolf

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Euphorbia abyssinica is an evergreen Tree growing to 7.5 m (24ft) by 5 m (16ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Euphorbia acrurensis N.E.Br. Euphorbia aethiopum Croizat Euphorbia controversa N.E.Br. Euphorbia disclusa N.E.Br. Euphorbia erythraeae (Berger) N.E.Br. Euphorbia grandis Lem. Euphorbia neglecta N.E.Br. Euphorbia neutra A.Berger Euphorbia obovalifolia A.Rich. Euphorbia officinarum kolquall Willd. Euphorbia richardiana Baill.

Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Malaria

A stem bark decoction is taken to treat gastro-intestinal complaints[299 ]. The latex is taken in milk, or eaten with bread, to treat gonorrhoea or ascariasis[299 ]. The latex is applied to wounds to accelerate healing[299 ]. In Ethiopia, the sap has been used mixed with butter as a topical treatment for fungal skin infections. It is also used by traditional healers in the treatment of malaria and visceral leishmaniasis.

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

The soft, yellow wood is used for water pots, xylophones, roofing, matches, boxes, tables and saddles[299 , 364 ]. The wood is used for fuel[299 ]. The carbon from burnt wood is used for making gun powder[364 ]. Studies have shown the sap can promote rooting in cuttings of other species such as the threatened tree, Boswellia papyrifera. Dynamic accumulator.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Dynamic accumulator

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Experimental Crop  Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon  Management: Coppice

A plant of drier places in the tropics, where it can be found at elevations from 840 - 2,400 metres[423 ]. Plants cannot tolerate frosts[423 ]. Succeeds in full sun and in light shade[423 ].

Carbon Farming

  • Experimental Crop  Plant breeders are testing these plants to see if they could be domesticated for cultivation, but they are still in an experimental phase. Examples include milkweed and leafy spurge.
  • Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon  Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.
  • Management: Coppice  Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - Cuttings root easily. They need to be stored in light shade for a few days to dry before being planted, or else they will rot. It is best to plant the cuttings when the rain is about to stop, in a well-drained soil[299 ]

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Abyssinica Euphorbia

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Djibouti; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Somalia; Sudan

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : All succulent species of Euphorbia are listed in CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), an international agreement that governs the trade in plants to ensure their survival into the future is not threatened.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Acalypha australisAsian copperleafAnnual0.5 0-0  LMHSNM01 
Alchornea castaneifoliaIporuruTree8.0 10-12 FLMHSNMWe042
Alchornea cordifoliaChristmas BushShrub8.0 10-12 MLMHNDMWe243
Aleurites cordataJapan Wood-Oil TreeTree7.0 9-11  LMSNM002
Aleurites fordiiTung Tree, Tung Oil Tree, Wood Oil Tree ChinaTree7.0 8-10 FLMSNM133
Aleurites moluccanusCandle Nut, Country WalnutTree20.0 10-12 FLMHNDM334
Caryodendron orinocenseTaccy Nut, Nuez de BarinasTree25.0 10-12 FLMHNM312
Chrozophora tinctoriaDyer's Croton, GiradolPerennial0.0 0-0  LMHSNM102
Cnidoscolus aconitifoliusTree Spinach, Tread Softly, Cabbage Star, ChayaShrub5.0 9-11 FLMHSNM433
Cnidoscolus elasticusHighland chilteShrub1.0 9-11 FLMHNDM004
Croton lechleriSangre De Grado, Dragon's bloodTree12.0 10-12 FLMHNM041
Croton megalocarpusCroton treeTree25.0 10-12 FLMNM024
Croton palanostigmaSangre De Grado, Dragon's bloodTree12.0 10-12 FLMNM042
Croton salutarisSangre De Grado, Dragon's bloodTree12.0 10-12 FLMNM040
Croton tigliumCroton Oil Plant. Croton, Purging croton.Tree7.0 10-12 MLMHNDM032
Euphorbia antisyphiliticaCandelillaShrub1.0 7-10  LMNDM204
Euphorbia corollataWild Spurge, Flowering spurgePerennial1.0 4-8  LMSNDM022
Euphorbia drummondiiCaustic WeedAnnual0.2 -  LMNDM01 
Euphorbia esulaLeafy Spurge. Green spurgePerennial1.0 3-9 FLMHSNDM004
Euphorbia helioscopiaMadwoman's MilkAnnual0.4 -  LMNDM12 
Euphorbia hirtaAsthma Weed, Pill-Bearing SpurgeAnnual0.3 -  LMNDM13 
Euphorbia humifusa Annual0.2 -  LMNDM12 
Euphorbia intisyIntisy, Pencil PlantShrub5.0 10-12 FLMSND003
Euphorbia ipecacuanhaeAmerican Ipec 0.0 -  LMHSNM01 
Euphorbia lacteaMottled SpurgeShrub5.0 10-11 MLMHSNDM004
Euphorbia lathyrisCaper Spurge, MoleplantAnnual/Biennial1.0 5-9  LMHSNDM123
Euphorbia marginataMountain Snow, Ghost Spurge, Ghost WeedAnnual0.6 4-8 FLMNDM113
Euphorbia neriifoliaFleshy spurge, Hedge Euphorbia, Oleander spurgeShrub4.0 10-12 FLMSND222
Euphorbia pekinensisDa JiPerennial0.6 -  LMNDM03 
123

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

J.F.Gmel.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Euphorbia abyssinica  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.