Euphorbia hadramautica Baker

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Hadramaut Spurge

In Omani studies: Miller & Morris (1988) wrote that: "The edible species, Dorstenia foetida, is also called [J: kertib], and indeed the two species somewhat resemble one another in appearance. However, E. hadramautica is toxic, and the other is not, so care must be taken when gathering D. foetida for eating. On the whole, they tend to grow in differing habitats, a fact which is reflected in the local terminology which differentiates between the two plants. The toxic euphorbia is distinguished from the edible species by the addition of a term describing the kind of terrain in which it is usually to be found, such as [J: kertib eda'an, or kertib a'adob, or kertib adoneb], that is: 'kertib of the stony plains', 'kertib of the dry rocky foothills', or 'kertib of Wadi Adonib area' and so on, whereas the edible Dorstenia foetida tends to occur in the wetter areas further ... into the mountains. The latex of this plant has on occasion been taken as a drastic purge. It was also used as an abortifacient, as were other plants known to have a strong purging action. The seeds were taken by someone suffering from indigestion and flatulence, or to 'clean out' the system of someone who had gorged on meat (a relatively uncommon event in earlier years, when occasions for the herder to slaughter his precious livestock for meat were few and far between, being mainly restricted to such occasions as Eids, weddings and funerals, and celebrations after a circumcision or a birth and so on) and as a result felt nauseated and had stomach ache. The scales were scraped off the swollen stem and the exposed latex-exuding surface was rubbed on weeping sores, eczema, scabies and other skin conditions. It was believed that taking droplets that oozed from the part of the stem growing below ground acted as a purge, while droplets expressed from that part of the plant growing above ground caused vomiting. The latex was also used to treat fractures, pieces of cloth being smeared with it and then wrapped around the damaged limb as were the strips of cloth that were used to strap the splints to hold them tightly in place. The latex as it dried out caused the cloth to stiffen and set hard, forming a rigid casing for the damaged limb, allowing the bone to knit undisturbed. A similar method was used to treat bad dislocations or sprains as well. Where latex from E. balsamifera or E. smithii was not immediately available, the latex was also used as an adhesive to bind and repair the shafts and handles of various implements. The whole plant was said to have been beloved of hyenas in the times when these were much more common then they are now. The gazelles too, which in earlier years - within living memory - roamed the plains in large numbers, were also fond of the plant, and hunters catching a gazelle, either by shot or trap, had to be very careful when cleaning it to remove the stomach without tearing it. This was because any matter escaping from it was almost certain to contain partially-digested plants of this species, which would contaminate any flesh they touched, and make ill those who later partook of it. Domestic livestock browse the fresh green leaves, but avoid the root". (Ref. Plants of Dhofar). In addition, Ghazanfar (2007) mentioned that: "The stems have been used in traditional medicine for treating skin conditions, the latex as plaster for setting bones and as a purgative". (Ref. Flora of Oman, vol.2).

*Ghazanfar, S. (2007). Flora of the Sultanate of Oman, vol.2: Crassulaceae – Apiaceae. Meise, National Botanic Garden of Belgium (Scripta Botanica Begica, Vol. 36). ISBN 9789072619747 ISSN 0779-2387. *https://en.wikipedia.org *http://www.bihrmann.com *Miller, A., Morris, M. (1988). Plants of Dhofar, the Southern Region of Oman: Traditional, Economic, and Medicinal Uses. Published by Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court, Sultanate of Oman; ISBN 10: 0715708082 ISSN 13: 9780715708088. *Pickering, H. Patzelt, A. (2008). Field Guide to the Wild Plants of Oman. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Garden, Kew. ISBN 9781842461778. *POWO (2023). ""Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org