Euphorbia tirucalli (Indian tree spurge, "Midorisango")

Japanese name: ミドリサンゴ （緑珊瑚）
Scientific name: Euphorbia tirucalli

[Overview]
A succulent evergreen shrub to small tree 6–9 m tall, with a spread of about 3 m.
When the stem or leaves are damaged, a white latex comes out.
Branches grow in whorls on the trunk; the trunk and branches become woody with age and turn brown to grayish white.
The new branches are green, short and cylindrical, 0.5–0.7 cm thick like a pencil, and the branches have no thorns.
Leaves are absent or very few, borne at the branch tips, linear to linear-lanceolate, 7–15 mm long and 0.7–1.5 mm wide, and fall very quickly.
It is dioecious.
The flowers are cream to yellowish green and are borne in cup-shaped inflorescences (cyathia) at the tips of lateral branches; the inflorescence has no bracts, and the flowers have no perianth.
The fruit is a capsule that splits into 3 parts.

[Uses]
Although it is poisonous, the latex is used medicinally, and there is also a report that it may possibly become a source of petroleum.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings.
For cuttings, wash off the white latex right away by rinsing the cut end in water or soaking it in water, then let the cut end dry before inserting it.
The latex is poisonous and causes a rash if it gets on the skin, so wear gloves when working with it.
Also take care that it does not get into the eyes or mouth.
To overwinter, keep it at 5°C or above.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil.
It grows very fast and is easy to cultivate.
Take care not to let it become too wet when watering; water thoroughly when the soil dries from spring to autumn, and keep it on the dry side in winter.
It tolerates dryness well.
From spring to autumn, place slow-release fertilizer on the soil once every 2 months.
Pests and diseases include nematodes, spider mites, aphids, mealybugs and branch blight.

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