Fujairah Flora: Euphorbia Larica
Botanical Description
Perennial evergreen shrub, many erect stems rising close together from base, up to 150cm. Lower stems smooth, woody and brown in colour, while the upper stems are light green. Milky sap exuded when stems are broken.
Leaves
Reduced; linear and virtually absent.
Flowers
In terminal and upper lateral spikes with clusters of pale yellow stamens surrounded by glistening yellow green glands.
Fruits
Spherical brown capsules (1cm across) contain six segments with two seeds each.
Flowering
From November to April.
Habitat
Gravel Plains, mountain slopes at elevation of up to 1300m.
Distribution
Common and widespread in the Hajar mountain and Ru’us al-Jibal.
Uses
Dried branches used for thatching of roofs; latex used as glue to catch birds; used to catch fish by throwing branches into water – the fish are poisoned by the plant’s sap.
