Euphorbiaceae is a family of flowering plants. Most representatives have both toxic and medicinal properties, so they are used in medicine. Such a plant, for example, is Fisher's euphorbia, widely used in Russia. Moreover, the family of euphorbia has a number of specific and interesting characteristics, which will be discussed in the article.
Description
Plants of the euphorbia family in nature are found both in the form of large trees, and in the form of herbs, shrubs, vines and water plants. Most of them have special fabrics for water supply (succulents), so they are easily confused with cacti. These include euphorbia and papillary terrible.
A distinctive feature of plants of the family of euphorbiaceae is white juice, which flows down their stems from time to time. It resembles a milky viscous liquid. Thanks to this, the family received this name. However, not everyone has this symptom manifested equally: juice can be transparent.
From the point of view of biology, plants of the euphorbia family have regular, most often underdeveloped leaves. They have a dry fruit containing two seeds, due to which they are classified as dicotyledonous.
Spread
In tropical forests, mainly tree-like plants of the euphorbia family are found, which are powerful tall trees. In areas of Australia and Africa, where the climate is rather deserted and arid, representatives of this family are more reminiscent of cacti or undersized shrubs. In the deserts of North America there is also creeping euphorbia, which is capable of reaching a height of 13 meters.
Floating lovers of water include phyllanthus buoyant.
Breeding
Euphorbia family is characterized by reproduction both by seeds and vegetatively, because of which they often become weeds.
They are also grown indoors. In this case, you should be quite careful: after all, some members of the family are very poisonous. Moreover, there are pests of indoor plants. Such, for example, is a spider mite on which euphorbia poisons do not act.
Use for medicinal and other purposes
The euphorbia family is widely used in industry, medicine and some other areas, as its representatives have a number of useful properties.
For example, the juice of some of them is rich in rubber. Its main supplier is the Brazilian Hevea, which can be found on the Amazon.
Common castor oil plant, which is even specially grown for industrial purposes, is widespread in Africa, Asia, as well as subtropical and tropical zones of the hemispheres. Castor oil is obtained from it, used for medicinal purposes in medicine, as well as technical, necessary in industry.
Some members of the euphorbia family contain poisons. For example, marcinella poison used to lubricate arrowheads so as not to leave their enemies a chance of survival. And if the poison of the exceccaria agallochus accidentally enters the human eye, the latter will lose the ability to see.
The cassava plant, which is specially grown in Africa, is quietly eaten. Its root vegetables are like potatoes and contain some starch. When cooked, the fruits are harmless, and when raw, they are poisonous. However, raw root vegetables are also processed: they produce cereal for porridge or flour for the preparation of cakes.
Juice secreted by euphorbiaceae is used in perfumes.
Beautiful euphorbia and poinsettia are grown as indoor plants. During flowering, they are very attractive. If such a plant bloomed on Christmas Day, it was called the "Christmas Star" just because of the blooming flowers.
Euphorbiaceae are widely used in medicine. For example, Fisher’s euphorbia is popular in Russia. It is used as a blood purifying, tonic and stimulating agent. Moreover, it can help prevent the appearance of a tumor.
Mancinella tree
This is a poisonous tree-like plant of the family Euphorbiaceae. It is also sometimes called the "death tree" because of the dangerous poisonous milky juice. Included in the list of the most poisonous plants on the planet. It is entered in the Guinness Book of Records.
You can meet the plant in Central America and on the islands of the Caribbean.
The tree reaches a height of 15 meters. Fruits are similar to medium-sized green, sometimes with a yellowish tint, apples or tangerines, sweetish in taste and have a specific aromatic odor. After eating them over time, bitterness and burning are felt in the mouth. The poisonous juice that it contains can cause swelling of the larynx and respiratory tract, and then lead to death.
The plant does not have any special distinctive external features, at first glance it looks like an ordinary tree.
There were attempts to destroy him, but it all ended in failure. As it turned out, all parts of marcinella are poisonous and, on contact with the skin, cause severe burns.