Euphorbia tirucalli (also known as Firestick Plants, Indian Tree Spurge, Naked Lady, Pencil Tree, 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.^[1] It is well known in Sri Lanka where it is called Sinhala: නවහන්දි Navahandi^[3] in Sinhalese.

Milk bush 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 milk bush for producing oil. This usage is particularly appealing because of the ability of milk bush 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.^[1]

Milk bush also has uses in traditional medicine in many cultures. It has been used to treat cancers, excrescences, tumors, and warts in such diverse places as Brazil, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It has also been used as an application for asthma, cough, earache, neuralgia, rheumatism, toothache, and warts in India.^[4] There is some interest in milk bush as a cancer treatment. However Euphorbia Tirucalli has been associated with Burkitt's lymphoma and thought to be a cofactor of the disease rather than a treatment ^[5]

First aid

The milky sap contained in this plant is extremely irritating to the skin and mucosa and possibly toxic. Contact with skin causes severe irritation, redness and a burning sensation; contact with the eyes may cause severe pain, and in some cases temporary blindness for several days. Symptoms may worsen over 12 hours.

For eye exposures, flush eyes with fresh, cool water for at least 15 minutes and repeat after a few minutes. Seek medical attention if there is no relief. Over-the-counter anti-histamines may provide relief for some people.

If swallowed, it may cause burning to the mouth, lips, and tongue. Deaths have been recorded from swallowing the sap and, if swallowed one should seek medical attention.

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  Habit
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  'Sticks-on-fire'
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  Mature tree in Tanzania

See also

• List of vegetable oils
• Biodiesel

Notes

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Euphorbia tirucalli

1. ^ ^{a b c} Haevermans (2004). Euphorbia tirucalli. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
2. ^ "Euphorbia tirucalli L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) online database. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?400211. Retrieved 16 March 2010. 
3. ^ sinhala-botany website
4. ^ Euphorbia tirucalli L. in Handbook of Energy Crops, James Duke
5. ^ van den Bosch C; Griffin BB, Gazembe B, Dziweni C, Kadzamira L, 1993, Br J Cancer, 68, 1232-1235

• Euphorbia tirucalli in West African plants - A Photo Guide.