Euphorbia tithymaloides

There are numerous fun and descriptive names for the devil’s backbone houseplant. In an effort to describe the blooms, devil’s backbone has been called red bird flower, Persian lady slipper, and Japanese poinsettia. Descriptive monikers for the foliage include rick rack plant and Jacob’s ladder. Whatever you call it, learn how to grow the devil’s backbone plant for unique and easy to care for indoor flora. Devil’s Backbone Plant Info The scientific name for this plant, Pedilanthus tithymaloides, means foot-shaped flower. The plant is native to the American tropics but only hardy in The leaves are lance-shaped and thick on wiry stems. The bract color may be white, green, red, or pink. The plant is a member of the spurge family. No devil’s backbone plant info would be complete without noting that the milky sap may be poisonous to some people. Care should be exercised when handling the plant. How to Grow the Devil’s Backbone Plant Growing the plant is easy and propagation even simpler. Just cut a 4 to 6 inch (10-15 cm.) section of the stem from the plant. Let the cut end callus for a few days and then insert it into a pot filled with Keep the perlite lightly moist until the stems root. Then repot the new plants in a good houseplant potting soil. Care of devil’s backbone babies is the same as the adult plants. Growing Pedilanthus Indoors Devil’s backbone houseplant likes bright indirect sunlight. Plant in Water the plants when the top few inches (8 cm.) of soil feels dry. Keep...

Advertisements Scientific Name Euphorbia tithymaloides 'Variegata' Common Name(s) Japanese Poinsettia, Redbird Cactus, Slipper Spurge, Variegated Devil's Backbone, Synonym(s) Euphorbia tithymaloides f. variegata, Pedilanthus tithymaloides f. variegatus, Pedilanthus tithymaloides 'Variegatus' Scientific Classification Family: Subfamily: Euphorbioideae Tribe: Euphorbieae Subtribe: Euphorbiinae Genus: Description Euphorbia tithymaloides 'Variegata', formerly known as Pedilanthus tithymaloides 'Variegatus', is a succulent shrub with green, white-edged leaves arranged alternately on green branches with a zigzag shape. It grows up to 8 feet (2.4 m ) tall, branching profusely from the base. Leaves are ovate, pointed at the tip, up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) long and 2 inches (5 cm) wide. They are flushed pink or red when flowering or cool winter temperatures occur. The branches terminate in dichotomous clusters with a short stalk supporting each flower. The floral leaves are bifid and ovate, while the involucral bracts are bright red, irregularly acuminate in shape, with a long, thin tube. The male pedicel is hairy, while the female is glabrous. Flowers generally appear in mid-spring. Origin This succulent is a variegated cultivar of Photo via Advertisements Hardiness How to Grow and Care Euphorbias are very easy to care for. They require a little pampering to become established, but once they are, they are self-sufficient. In fact, more die from too much care and watering than from ne...

back Accepted name in llifle Database: L. Sp. Pl. 1: 453. 1753 [1 May 1753] Synonymy: 36 • L. • (L.) Poit. • (L.) Croizat • Descourt. • Lodd. • (Lodd.) Sweet • Donn • (Donn) Haw. • (Donn) Spreng. • L. • (L.) Haw. • (L.) Raf. • (L.) Link • (L.) Kuntze • (L.) Mill. • hort. • • Standl. & Steyerm. • Millsp. • (Millsp.) Croizat • Boiss. • (Boiss.) Kuntze • (Boiss.) Croizat • Zahlbr. • Baill. • (Baill.) Kuntze • Britton • (Britton) Croizat • Brandegee • (Brandegee) Croizat • Rob. • (B.L.Rob.) Croizat • (Haw.) Sweet • Haw. • Croizat • Croizat Accepted name in llifle Database: (Poit.) V.W.Steinm. Acta Bot. Mex. 65: 49. 2003 [2 Dec 2003] Synonymy: 6 • (Poit.) V.W.Steinm. • Poit. • (Poit.) Dressler • (Poit.) Griseb. • (Poit.) Kuntze • Croizat Accepted name in llifle Database: (Millsp.) V.W.Steinm. Acta Bot. Mex. 65: 49. 2003 [2 Dec 2003] nom. inval. ( Art. 33 Ex. 11) Synonymy: 4 • (Millsp.) V.W.Steinm. • Millsp. • (Millsp.) Dressler • (Millsp.) Croizat Accepted name in llifle Database: (Millsp. & Britton) V.W.Steinm. Acta Bot. Mex. 65: 49. 2003 [2 Dec 2003] Synonymy: 6 • (Millsp. & Britton) V.W.Steinm. • Millsp. & Britton • (Millsp. & Britton) Dressler • (Millsp. & Britton) Croizat • Millsp. & Britton • (Millsp. & Britton) Croizat Accepted name in llifle Database: (L.) V.W.Steinm. Acta Bot. Mex. 65: 49. 2003 [2 Dec 2003] Synonymy: 9 • (L.) V.W.Steinm. • (L.) Haw. • (L.) Gussone • L. • (L.) Poit. • (L.) Dressler • (L.) Griseb. • Kuntze • (L.) Croizat Accepted name in llifle Database:...

0 shares • Share • Tweet • Pin One of the most exciting and easy to care for houseplants to add to your home is the Devil’s Backbone. This plant is drought-resistant, can withstand an array of temperatures and humidities, and is extremely attractive to the eye to boot! The Devil’s Backbone plant is a tropical succulent native to the tropical and subtropical regions of North and Central America, including Mexico. Today, however, the plant is endangered in many parts of Central America. This plant received the nickname “Devil’s Backbone” and many others thanks to its alternating leaf pattern which can resemble a spine. Its leaves are variegated with yellow and cream streaks. It produces blooms often described as beak- or slipper-shaped. While the sap produced within this plant is toxic upon ingestion and touch, it is a great plant to keep within your home as long as you are safe. They are very easy to care for, look beautiful, and will not die of thirst if you must leave town for a few days. So without further ado, here’s everything you need to know in order to grow and care for E. tithymaloides. Plant Facts Scientific name Euphorbia tithymaloides; Pedilanthus tithymaloides Common names Devil’s Backbone; Jacob’s Ladder; Red Bird flower; Rick Rack plant; Zigzag plant, devil’s spine Family Euphorbiaceae Plant Type Tropical Perennial Succulent; Houseplant Height and Width 2-3 feet tall; Origin Tropical and subtropical regions of North America; Central America; Mexico (zones 9-1...

Devil’s Backbone (Euphorbia tithymaloides) is perennial succulent spurge. This erect shrub can grow to 6 to 8 feet in height and generally is about 18 to 24 inches in width. The leaf is a simple angiosperm leaf, arranged oppositely on the stem. Each leaf is sessile (attaching directly to the plant), and about 3.6 to 7.6 cm in length. The leaves are glabrous (smooth) and acuminate in shape, with entire (smooth) edges. The veins in the leaves are pinnate. The plant terminates in a dichotomous cyme, with a peduncle supporting each flower. The floral leaves are bifid (split into two parts) and ovate, while the involucral bracts are bright red, irregularly acuminate in shape, and about 1.1 to 1.3 mm in length with a long, thin tube. The flower is void of scent. The male pedicel is hairy, while the female is glabrous. The seed pod is about 7.6 mm long and 8.9 mm wide, and ovoid in shape (with truncated ends). The plant generally flowers in mid-spring. Scientific Classification: Family: Euphorbiaceae Subfamily: Euphorbioideae Tribe: Euphorbieae Subtribe: Euphorbiinae Genus: Euphorbia Scientific Name: Euphorbia tithymaloides Synonyms: Pedilanthus tithymaloides, Tithymalus tithymaloides. Common Names: Devil’s Backbone, Redbird Flower, Buck Thorn, Cimora Misha, Christmas Candle, Fiddle Flower, Ipecacuahana, Jacob’s Ladder, Japanese Poinsettia, Jew’s Slipper, Jewbush, Milk Hedge, Myrtle-Leaved Spurge, Padus-Leaved Clipper Plant, Red Slipper Spurge, Redbird Cactus, Slipper Flower, Sli...

Phonetic Spelling yoo-FOR-bee-uh tith-ee-mal-OY-deez This plant has medium severity poison characteristics. Description A succulent shrub with milky juice; stems green, often zig-zag; leaves alternate, simple, pointed, green or white-edged; flowers red and clustered at the ends of branches; fruit a capsule VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for " Euphorbia. Profile Video: See this plant in the following landscape: Cultivars / Varieties: Tags: • Attributes: Genus: Euphorbia Species: tithymaloides Family: Euphorbiaceae Life Cycle: Woody Country Or Region Of Origin: Tropical America • Whole Plant Traits: Plant Type: Poisonous Shrub • Fruit: Fruit Type: Capsule • Flowers: Flower Color: Red/Burgundy Flower Value To Gardener: Showy Flower Description: Red flowers clustered at the ends of the branches. • Leaves: Leaf Color: Green White Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Arrangement: Alternate Hairs Present: No Leaf Description: Leaves alternate, simple, pointed, green or white-edged. • Stem: Stem Color: Green Stem Is Aromatic: No Stem Form: Zig Zags Stem Leaf Scar Shape: Round • Landscape: Landscape Location: Houseplants Problems: Contact Dermatitis Poisonous to Humans • Poisonous to Humans: Poison Severity: Medium Poison Symptoms: Irritation of the mouth and throat, vomiting and diarrhea when ingested; skin irritation, rash, and blistering and eye irritation upon contact. Poison Toxic Principle: Diterpene esters Causes Contact Dermatitis: Yes Poison Part: Sap/Juice

Introduction The Devil’s Backbone in a Southern African native. The rather ominous moniker, ‘Devil’s Backbone’ comes from the plant’s thorns that appear on the stem and resemble a vertebral column only with thorns. The spiked vertebrate fits the shared imagination of the Devil’s appearance. It is a member of the euphorbia genus widespread in Africa. Tithymaloides means fiery spines in Greek; therefore, the botanical name describes the plant’s appearance. Botanist Vahl from Norway named it. * Note: We will earn a small fee when you purchase through any of the above affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Origin and Description Euphorbia Tithymaloides is a native of South Africa. It is a succulent shrub and it is green all through. Its leaves appear in zig-zag formation; thin and pointed, the plant may shed some of its leaves. The Devil’s Backbone produces red flowers that are usually clustered end the end of branches. The flowers mature to produce capsule-like fruits. Like most other plants in the Euphorbia genus, the plant produces milky sap when injured. The sap is poisonous, irritate the skin when touched, and causes blindness in extreme cases. The sap causes the plant to be toxic, so you should consider it when positioning it as a house plant or garden. @ngagrows The Devil’s Backbone Plant’s Benefit The people of South Africa have been using the plant as traditional medicine. They use it as an antidote for snake venom. Latex (white sap) has also been used to trea...