Euphorbia cotinifolia

Euphorbia cotinifolia subsp. cotinifolia

Euphorbia cotinifolia is a flowering plant in the genus Euphorbia (Euphorbia ) from the family of the spurge family ( Euphorbiaceae ). The botanical name refers to the similarity of the foliage to that of the wig tree ( Cotinus coggygria )

Description and origin

Euphorbia cotinifolia forms a somewhat succulent shrub or tree 2-6 (sometimes up to 19) meters high and rounded crown. Their stems are often thickened at the base of bottle-shaped and covered in age from a white bark. The cylindrical, initially about 6 mm thick branches are divided and branch at the nodes in three - whorls. Also planned three - whorls at the nodes the leaves. These are rounded triangular to broadly oval, about 4 to 14 cm long, 2-7 cm wide and pure green. They sit on stalks that are about as long as the leaves.

The inflorescences are terminal and pendant formed. By repeatedly bifurcated branches particularly the lateral inflorescence branches creates a flat inflorescence head. The cyathia are 2 to 4 mm in size. Your four to six nectar glands are oval to nearly circular, greenish and carry about 1 mm long, white to off-white petal -like appendages.

Subspecies and their occurrence

• Euphorbia cotinifolia subsp. cotinifolia is that described above, green leafy subspecies that is not in culture. It grows wild in Central America to South America, from Mexico to the Caribbean islands and Venezuela to Brazil at altitudes 200-2600 m above sea level.
• Euphorbia cotinifolia subsp. cotinoides ( Miq. ) Christenh. the subspecies present in culture. They differ because of striking red-brown leaves, initially red-brown branches and dense inflorescences. In nature, it comes in the Amazon region of Suriname on altitudes between 0 and 500 m MSL, but is held worldwide in tropical and subtropical regions as an ornamental plant and has run wild there partially.

Cultivation

Through its strong colored leaves Euphorbia cotinifolia forms subsp. cotinoides a very decorative ornamental plant that can be successfully kept as a container plant in Germany. A year-round culture in a greenhouse is possible, but the plants are then usually long and branch only slightly. Beautiful and stocky they are, if they can spend the summer outdoors. Conditions for a successful culture are a nutritious but well drained soil and a warm and very bright place. Waterlogging and temperatures below about 10 ° C will not be tolerated. A lot of direct sun is not necessary and is often not well tolerated. Especially in the spring when the plants are no longer accustomed to the sun, it must be ensured that there are no burns on the leaves.

Since the entire foliage is shed in the fall, the plants are bare in winter. You now need a rest period in which they must be kept warm ( about 15 ° C) and dry. Is poured over the winter, the plants may drive and then etiolate due to lack of light or they rot from the roots. Since dry in the winter anyway, the outer branches back, now is the best time to cut the plants in the form. Attention must be paid to the specific toxicity of the milk juice!

An increase is possible in spring and summer by the intersection of cuttings. A safe method is already easily select woody, not too fresh branches to ask this after the cut directly into a glass of water, wait until the roots are 2 to 3 inches long and then to pot the young plants.

Gallery

E. cotinifolia subsp. cotinoides

Typical leaf form

Node of a branch with bright leaf scars and buds of new branches