Euphorbia tirucalli - Flora of Qatar

Euphorbia tirucalli L.

Synonyms

Arthrothamnus bergii, Arthrothamnus ecklonii, Arthrothamnus tirucalli, Euphorbia geayi, Euphorbia laro, Euphorbia media, Euphorbia rhipsaloides, Euphorbia scoparia, Euphorbia suareziana, Euphorbia viminalis, Tirucalia indica, Tirucalia tirucalli

Common names

Pencil tree

Extract from Wikipedia article

Euphorbia tirucalli (also known as aveloz, firestick plants, Indian tree spurge, naked lady, pencil tree, pencil cactus, sticks on fire or milk bush) (Sanskrit: सप्तला saptala, सातला satala,Marathi : sher-kandvel शेर-कांडवेल) is a shrub that grows in semi-arid tropical climates.[+]

It has a wide distribution in Africa, being prominently present in northeastern, central and southern Africa. It may also be native in other parts of the continent as well as some surrounding islands and the Arabian peninsula and has been introduced to many other tropical regions. Its status in India is uncertain. It grows in dry areas, and is often used to feed cattle or as hedging. It is well known in Sri Lanka where it is called Sinhalese: නවහන්දි Navahandi in Sinhalese.

Euphorbia tirucalli is a hydrocarbon plant that produces a poisonous latex which can, with little effort, be converted to the equivalent of gasoline. This led chemist Melvin Calvin to propose the exploitation of E. tirucalli for producing oil. This usage is particularly appealing because of the ability of E. tirucalli to grow on land that is not suitable for most other crops. Calvin estimated that 10 to 50 barrels of oil per acre was achievable. It has also been used in the production of rubber, but this was not very successful.

Shoots of Pencil tree (Euphorbia tirucalli) in abandoned gardens in area of Ras Laffan farms. North-eastern Qatar, February 19, 2016

Unnamed Road, Qatar

Pencil tree (Euphorbia tirucalli) in abandoned gardens in area of Ras Laffan farms. North-eastern Qatar, February 19, 2016

Unnamed Road, Qatar

Base of Pencil tree (Euphorbia tirucalli) in abandoned gardens in area of Ras Laffan farms. North-eastern Qatar, February 19, 2016

Unnamed Road, Qatar

Pencil tree (Euphorbia tirucalli) in a park at Al Meshrif Street in Onaiza area. Doha, Qatar, May 29, 2016

Meshrif St, Doha, Qatar

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Acknowledgements

QNHG (Qatar Natural History Group) and associated people, for a possibility to participate in their field excursions and to learn about local nature.