1145

  Euphorbia tirucalli L.

Synonym	:	Arthrothamnus ecklonii Klotzsch & Garcke
Family	:	EUPHORBIACEAE
Local name	:	Malayalam- Thirukkalli. .
Flowering and fruiting period	:	February-April
Distribution	:	Paleotropics
Distribution in kerala	:	All districts
Habitat	:	Dry deciduous forests, also in the plains .
Uses	:	It acts as a purgative in small doses while in big doses it is bitter irritant and emetic.
Key Botanical Characters; Shrubs; branchlets terete, succulent, articulated. Leaves deciduous, 5-10 mm long, linear-oblong, base cuneate, apex obtuse to subacute. Cyathia clustered in the forks of the branchlets, shortly pedicelled, mostly female. Involucre campanulate; glands 3-5, transversely oval, peltate, lobes short, hairy; appendage 0. Male florets bracteolate, bracteoles laciniate at tip. Styles short, recurved, 2-lobed. Capsule 5 mm, globose, cocci compressed, velvety. Seeds ovoid, smooth.