Family: Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbia poissonii (candle plant, cylindrical euphornbia) is a succulent shrub native to northern Nigeria. In Nigeria, farmers use its latex for a pesticide. It currently is being researched for its potential use as a treatment for chronic pain, and has many traditional medicinal uses in Africa. The latex of the plant is toxic to humans and animals, and can cause blindness. This plant has not been documented as naturalized in any Hawaiian Islands to date
High Risk Traits:
- Grows, and could spread, in arid tropical climates
- Other Euphorbia species are invasive
- Spiny branches
- Unpalatable to browsing/grazing animals
- Caustic and toxic latex
- Reproduces by seeds
- Dispersed by explosively dehiscent capsules
- Gaps in biological and ecological information may reduce accuracy of risk prediction
Low Risk Traits:
- No reports of invasiveness or naturalization, but limited evidence of widespread introduction outside native range
- Grows best in high light (dense shade may limit ability to spread)
- Not reported to spread vegetatively