Euphorbia milii var. splendens
Common names
crown of thorns
Biostatus
Exotic
Conservation status
Not applicable
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Flower colours
Yellow
Habitat
Known from one site on Rangitoto Island, where it is a minor cultivation escape.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Year naturalised
1993
Origin
Madagascar
Reason for introduction
Horticultural
Tolerances
Drought tolerant. Dislikes cold, frost and snow.
Life cycle and dispersal
Perennial shub. In New Zealand reproduces exclusively by vegetative spread and stem disarticulation, no seed production observed. Established on Rangitoto from disarticulated stem pieces, some of which may have been deliberately discarded.
Other information
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