Crazy over euphorbia

The flower-mad people of Negros Oriental and Dumaguete City have shifted their romance with flowers from bromeliad to euphorbia. And the mad fever is catching on. A house is poorer without euphorbia milii that its household equates with good fortune.

Remember the fortune plant craze? Like other fads, floral or otherwise, the obsession with euphorbia could also wane. But for the moment, it is the current passion of the province's flower-lovers. I confess I am guilty.

But imagine a rainbow in a garden or a rainbow in a petal. It would be joy in the heart! Colorful euphorbia plant flowers lay before my eyes every time I walk by in our garden. And I think of the artist responsible for mixing these colors to produce happy thoughts to the beholder.

God made them so, but humans should do the cultivation.

History

In her research in the Internet, Professor Joy G. Perez, head of the mass communication department of Negros Oriental State University (Norsu), discovered there are over 2,000 species of euphorbias in the world! They range from annual weeds to trees. They all have latex and a unique flower structure. A significant percentage is succulent.

The euphorbia was named after a Greek surgeon named Euphorbus hundreds of years ago. He was a physician of Juba II who was the Romanized king of a north African kingdom, and was supposed to have used the plant's milky latex as an ingredient for his potions.

A warning, though, says Professor Perez. Euphorbia Milii is poisonous, particularly the juice from its woody stems.

Some euphorbia species are called 'Crown of Thorns' or 'Christ plant'. A research is yet to be made to trace how the plant found its way to Jerusalem at the time of Jesus from Madagascar, an African island in the Indian ocean.

Euphorbia is a dense shrub with a centimeter-long sharp thorn. It has clusters of leaves produced near the growing tips of stems that last for several months before dropping off. Old leaves are not replaced. New ones appear only on new terminal growth.

The flowers are tiny, each surrounded by a pair of one-centimeter long, kidney-shaped bright red or white, yellow, orange, pink bracts that look like petals. Clusters of these paired flower-like bracts appear on stalks at the tip of the spiny stems.

Flowering and growing can be continuous if plants get exceptionally good light because they grow best in sunny location. The cactus family has many plant variations of euphorbia.

In the 70's several euphorbia species were introduced into cultivation by Stephen Jankalski. Later, cross-breeds were made.

In the 1990's, hybrids were produced by Somona in Germany. Somona hybrids are self-branching with deep-green, soft, large, thick leaves. They are free flowering with colors ranging from cream or beige and various shades from pink to red.

Luck plant

For those who believe in luck, good news! Known as the 'luck plant', it was named poysean by Chinese immigrants in Thailand.

'Poy' means light and 'sean' means saints after the eight saints of Chinese mythology each representing a different face: health, bravery, riches, beauty, art, intelligence, poetry, and the ability to overcome evil.

The old euphorbia milii hybrid typically has light flowers in each bunch, hence the local name 'ocho-ocho' or 'octopus'.

Thais believe that keeping poysean outside the house, in the balcony, or terrace brings these positive forces to the house and owner. Thus, poysean is an old Thai-Chinese name for 'Crown of Thorns' and a new one for the large flowered Thai hybrid.

The euphorbia milii fever hit Dumaguete City two years ago when large flowered hybrids appeared.

Until when the fever will subside, it is anyone's guess. But for now, it is fun to cultivate these plants. Its beauty brings not only happiness, but also...extra income.

Source: 'Notes', a newsletter of the College of Arts and Sciences, Negros Oriental State University, May 2005.

Sunday, June 26, 2005
Crazy over euphorbia
By Rodorica Tolomia

IT IS confirmed.