For all eye exposures by sap rinse the eye with water for 15 minutes. Then seek medical assistance.
Description
A leafless, succulent shrub with angled stems and short, brown to black spines.
The stems are usually dark green marbled with white or pale green. Grown as an ornamental.
The flowers are yellow, and very small to insignificant. There are no leaves.
Toxicity
Symptoms
The sap causes skin rash and blisters, intense burning and, if splashed into the eye, temporary blindness. The stout, sharp spines can also cause mechanical injury.
Images
Details
Common name: Candelabra cactus
Botanical name: Euphorbia lactea
Other common names: –
Family: Euphorbiaceae
General description: A leafless, succulent shrub with angled stems and short, brown to black spines. The stems are usually dark green marbled with white or pale green. Grown as an ornamental.
Flowers: The flowers are yellow, and very small to insignificant.
Leaves: There are no leaves.
Fruit/Berries: The fruit are 3-lobed capsules, rare or absent in cultivation.
Other: The sap is copious, milky and corrosive. Stout sharp spines are present along the angled stems.
Last updated: July 2023