Pedilanthus tithymaloides (L.) Poit.
Frost tender, upright, bushy, clump-forming, succulent shrub with zigzagged stems, evergreen or deciduous, elliptic leaves, often powdery beneath, and fleshy red bract-cups, to 1.5cm long, yellow green at the base, in summer. To 2m. [RHSE, Hortus].
Horticultural & Botanical History
‘Of the numerous genera which have been contrived out of the Linnaean genus Euphorbia, the Pedilanthus of Necker is the only one which has been retained by M. Adrian de Jussieu, in his recent valuable work upon the Euphorbiaceae. From Euphorbia it is scarcely distinguishable except by the very curious and peculiar form of the involucrum. In addition to the synonyms usually cited to this plant, we observe, that Professor Link quotes the Euphorbia myrtifolia of Linnaeus and Swartz, a wholly different plant, and a true Euphorbia. Our drawing was made at Mr. Colvill’s Nursery. The plant is a native of South America, and requires the protection of a stove. We have had no opportunity of describing it.’ [BR f.837/1824]. Introduced to Britain in 1820. [PD].
History at Camden Park
Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues only [T.738/1850].
Notes
Published Feb 20, 2010 - 02:09 PM | Last updated Jul 18, 2010 - 03:34 PM
Family | Euphorbiaceae |
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Category | |
Region of origin | Central America, Southern North America, Caribbean |
Synonyms |
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Common Name | Jew bush, Slipper spurge, Red-bird cactus |
Name in the Camden Park Record |
Pedilanthus tethymaloides |
Confidence level | high |