Candelabra tree
Euphorbia ingens

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A succulent tree. It grows 4-15 m high. The trunk is stout and simple. The bark is rough, grey and cracked. The end branches are fleshy, 4 angled and 6-12 cm wide. There are wings 3 cm wide. The leaves are 8 cm long by 2 cm wide. They are on young growth and very small on old growth. There are many male flowers and one female flower. The fruit is a capsule 7 mm long by 10 mm wide. They are green but become red. They have 3 lobes.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows from low to high altitudes. It usually occurs singly in dry woodland and often on rocky outcrops. It grows between 10-1,500 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Caution: The milky sap is very poisonous and an irritant.

Edible parts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cibeka Cikasa, Cisu, Mugonde, Mukonde, Umhlonho

Synonyms

Euphorbia natalensis A. Berger Euphorbia similis A. Berger;