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10. Euphorbia neriifolia Linn. Sp. PI. 451. 1753. (Fig. 200).
Eulophia ligularia Roxb.—Euphorbia pentagona Blanco—Euphorbia trigona'Merr.
EUPH0RE1ACEAE
Sinh. Pathuk; Tarn. Ilaikkalli, Kalli, Manjevi, Nedanji, Naynakki; Hindi Patlonkisend,
Sehund, Sij, Thohar; Sans. Patrasnuhi, Snuhi, Svarasna.
A large, glabrous, fleshy, erect shrub or small tree, 1.8—4.5 m tall, branches round,
somewhat verticillate with pairs of sharp stipular spines arising from low, conical, truncate,
distant, spirally arranged tubercles; leaves towards the ends of branches, fleshy, alternate,
10—20 cm long, 3—6.2 cm broad, obovate or obovate—oblong, rounded or emarginate at
apex, smooth, glabrous, tapering towards the base, sessile or nearly so, deciduous, midrib conspicuous
beneath, other nerves obscure; flowers unisexual, monoecious; combined in involucres
forming cymes, usually 3 with very short, fleshy peduncles, solitary or twin cymes arising from
above the leaf scars on the tubercles, central involucre of each cyme male, sessile, appearing
first, the two lateral ones bisexual and pedicellate; lobes of involucres large, erect, fimbriate;
glands transversely oblong without a petaloid limb, bracteoles numerous, fimbriate; stamens
40 in 5 bundles, anthers sagittate, apiculate; ovary superior, 3-locular, styles 3, connate to the
middle, stigmas slightly dilated and minutely toothed, capsule 3-lobed, seeds smooth.
Flowers from March to May.
Illustrations. Rumph., Herb. Ambo. 4: pi. 40. 1741—45; Kirtikar and Basu, Indian Med.
Plants, pi. 840-4. 1933.
Distribution. Occurs in India and probably cultivated in Burma, Malaya and Ceylon.
It is often planted for hedges.
Composition. Contains euphorbin, resin, gum caoutchouc, malate of calcium, etc.
Uses. The fluid extracted from the roasted leaves is used for earache. The milky juice
is a purgative and is used in the preparation of strong purgatives. An extract prepared
from the latex of this plant and syrup is found to cure asthma. The leaves are considered diuretic
and the expressed juice of the leaves relieves paroxyms of spasmodic asthma. The plant has
the same properties as Euphorbia antiquorum on rheumatism, removal of warts, etc. In Netherlands
Indies, Indonesia, Malaya and Philippines, the plant is used as a fish-poison.
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