Euphorbia heterophylla

Scientific name: Euphorbia heterophylla L.

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Synonym: Euphorbia elliptica Lam., Poinsettia heterophylla (L.) Klotzsch & Garcke

Bengali/Vernacular name: Agni pata.

English name: Mexican fire plant, Japanese poinsettia, Mole plant.

Description of the plant: An erect herb, up to 1 m high, stems hollow with scattered hairs. Leaves petiolate, alternate, ovate-elliptic to rhomboid, base obtuse, apex acuminate, margin entire to subserrate. Flowers male or female in clusters at the top of the stems, each flower-head (cyathium) with a solitary terminal female flower surrounded by male flowers enclosed in a cup-shaped involucre with a solitary conspicuous gland. Capsule 3-lobed.

Plant parts used: Leaf, stem.

Ethnomedicinal uses: Decoction prepared from the leaves and stems of the plant is given for body pain, stomachache, constipation, bronchitis, asthma, and to expel intestinal worms.

Infusion of the plant is used as a wash to treat skin problem, including fungal disease, and abscesses.

Latex of the plant is applied to treat skin tumours.

A powder is made with the leaves of the plant is taken with water twice a day (5 gm amount each time) for 15 days to treat gonorrhoea.

Distribution: The species occurs in Dhaka district.

Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….