Euphorbia milii var. splendens
Common name
crown of thorns
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Known from one site on Rangitoto Island, where it is a minor cultivation escape.
Flower colours
Yellow
Year naturalised
1993
Origin
Madagascar
Etymology
euphorbia: After Euphorbus, a Greek physician who served King Juba of Numidia in 12BC. Juba named a cactus to honour Euphorbus and later Linnaeus named the entire genus after the physician.
splendens: Splendid
Reason For Introduction
Horticultural
Life Cycle Comments
Perennial shub
Reproduction
In New Zealand exclusively by vegetative spread and stem disarticulation
Seed
Not produced in New Zealand
Dispersal
Established on Rangitoto from disarticulated stem pieces, some of which may have been deliberately discarded.
Tolerances
Drought tolerant. Dislikes cold, frost and snow.