Candelabra Tree

Euphorbia candelabrum is a succulent plant in the spurge family, one of several plants commonly called candelabra tree. It is endemic to the Horn of Africa and eastern Africa along the East African Rift system, and is known in Ethiopia by its Amharic name, qwolqwal, and its Oromo name, adaamii. The Latin name comes from its growth habit, which resembles the branching of a candelabrum. When damaged, the tree releases an abundant milky-white latex, which the article calls extremely toxic. Components of the plant are used as poisons: the Ovaherero people of Namibia use the latex in arrow poison, and the Damara people poison water holes and streams with the latex extract or pounded branches. In traditional Ethiopian medicine its sap, mixed with clarified honey, was used as a purgative to cure syphilis and, mixed with other plants, as a salve for the symptoms of leprosy. In folk medicine it has also been used for coughs, tuberculosis, malaria and HIV infections.