Euphorbia milii cv.
Crown of thorns, poinsettia, christplant
The crown of thorns looks more like a rose bush on steroids than a cactus-like euphorbia, but a euphorbia it is. This red-flowering native of Madagascar is not found in the wild in North America (although it may be becoming naturalized in Florida). Cultivars of this plant are popular as house plants, with flowers (really modified leaves) that are pink, yellow, white, and orange, as well as red.
Plants: This climbing shrub grows to 6′ (1.8 m) tall, spewing densely spine-covered branches in every direction. The randomly curving branches are in search of other plants, which the shrub uses to support itself as it grows. Branches are dark and woody, not the green cactus-like color of many euphorbias.
Leaves: Alternate, in spirals along branches, and obovate, spatulate, or lanceolate. Leaves are ⅜–1¾ ⨉ ½–¾″ (1–5 ⨉ 1.5–2 cm), with smooth edges.
Flowers: Flowers (actually bracts called cyathia) are scarlet red.
Fruits: Capsules contain one seed.
Habitats: A variety of bush and forest habitats, but always on rocks (usually granite formations).
Edibility: Poisonous 
All euphorbias exude a
milky latex when cut, which can cause
dermatitis, and are poisonous when ingested.
Online References:
7/15/2012 · Gordon and Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine · ≈ 7 × 6″ (18 × 15 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
7/15/2012 · Gordon and Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine · ≈ 8 × 7″ (20 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain 
2/26/2010 · San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California 
7/15/2012 · Gordon and Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm) ID is uncertain 
7/15/2012 · Gordon and Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine · ≈ 8 × 7″ (19 × 16 cm) ID is uncertain 
2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, California 
2/26/2010 · San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California · ≈ 4 × 3½′ (1.3 × 1 m) 
2/26/2010 · San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California · ≈ 4 × 3½″ (10 × 8.8 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Malpighiales | A broad group encompassing 16,000 species |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae | Euphorbia or spurge family |
| Genus | Euphorbia | An extremely diverse-looking genus of mostly tropical and subtropical succulent plants. For Euphorbus, corpulent Greek physician of Juba II, King of Mauretania. Literally, “euphorbia” means “well-fed” |
| Species | milii |
Euphorbia milii description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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