list of plants in the family Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family, comprises some 6,880 species and 223 genera of flowering plants distributed primarily in the tropics. The flowers are typically unisexual and are borne in a characteristic cluster known as a cyathia. Many species contain milky latex, and some are useful as a source of oil or wax. The following is a list of some of the major genera and species in Euphorbiaceae, arranged alphabetically by common name.

• cassava (Manihot esculenta)
• castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis)
• copperleaf (genus Acalypha)
• croton (Codiaeum variegatum)
• jatropha (genus Jatropha)
• manchineel (Hippomane mancinella)
• mercury (genus Mercurialis)
• genus Omphalea
• genus Phyllanthus
• purging croton (Croton tiglium)
• rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis)
• sandbox tree (Hura crepitans and H. polyandra)
• spurge (genus Euphorbia)

  • crown of thorns (E. milii)
  • poinsettia (E. pulcherrima)
  • devil’s backbone (E. tithymaloides)
  • snow-on-the-mountain (E. marginata)
• tallow tree (Triadica sebifera)
• tung tree (Vernicia fordii)