Euphorbia virosa

"Gifboom" redirects here. For the social network application, see GifBoom.

Euphorbia virosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Euphorbiaceae
Genus:	Euphorbia
Species:	E. virosa
Binomial name
Euphorbia virosa Willd.

Euphorbia virosa, the Gifboom or poison tree, is a plant of the spurge family Euphorbiaceae. It has a short main stem, usually twisted, from which 5–10 cm branches emerge. These leafless branches have 5 to 8 edges. Paired thorns grow in regularly spaced intervals from the edges.

Euphorbia virosa is commonly distributed from the Orange River in South Africa to Southern Angola, and occurs throughout the Namib Desert, mainly on rocky slopes. The plant contains within the branches a milky and creamy substance with carcinogenic properties. This substance is very poisonous and is used by San (Bushmen) to dip the tips of their hunting arrows. Contact with it causes skin irritation, and if the eyes are afflicted, blindness may occur.

Gifboom in a natural setting at the Fish River Canyon

External links

• "Euphorbia virosa". Desert-tropicals. Archived from the original on 2010-02-11. Retrieved 2010-02-15.
• "Euphorbia virosa". The Cactus and succulent plant mall. Retrieved 2010-02-15.
• "Euphorbia virosa in Spain". La Guía de Plantas (in Spanish). Retrieved 2010-02-15.
• Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Euphorbia virosa". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.