Introduction to The British Gardener's website

Euphorbia milii

COMMON NAME

Crown of thorns, Christ plant, or Christ thorn

TYPE

Shrub

FAMILY

Euphorbiaceae

NOTES

The species name milii honors Baron Milius, once governor of the island of Bourbon, who introduced the species into cultivation in France in 1821. The common name refers to a legend that this plant was used as the thorny crown worn by Jesus at his crucifixion. There is evidence that this plant had been brought to the Middle East before the time of Christ and the stems are flexible enough to weave into a circle, but it is more likely that another plant was used as his crown.

GEOGRAPHIC REGION

Madagascar

NATIVE HABITAT

Can be found naturalized in disturbed areas near cultivated areas and dry thickets

WEB SOURCES

wikipedia.org

hort.extension.wisc.edu

missouribotanicalgarden.org


Euphorbia milii