Euphorbia larica Boiss.

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In Omani studies: Miller & Morris (1988) wrote that: "E. larica is by many given the same name (J: hebšinút) as that of E. smithii, as well as its other more common name [J: mōt]. This is probably because like that plant its most important use of this plant was in veterinary medicine, as a remedy for the parasitic infestation [J, DA: jerb] that afflicts camels and goats Its other name [J: ba al ejόsόt] means 'possessing much latex', a name occasionally given to other plants which produce copious latex. To gather the latex the many shoots and stems of the plant were slashed at their base, and the latex was allowed to drip into a container or directly ito a holoow scraped out of the earth at the foot of the plant. Being a much smaller plant than E. smithii, and consequently exuding very much less latex per plant ... cut, E. smithii was usually preferred in the few places where both species are to be found growing together: E. larica grows in the Samhan foothills and inland from Mirbat to Hasik, in which areas E. smithii occurs only sporadically in the deeper wadis. It obviously took many more plants of E. larica to provide sufficient latex to treat the larger livestock; and to collect enough to treat a number of animals was hard and tiring work. As it was collected, this latex too was mixed with the urine of the infected animal, and was then put on the fire and brought to the boil. The thickened and cooled paste was then applied with a frayed out root of Salvadora persica or a cloth pad, and was left to harden and drop off of its own accord days later, or was scraped off with a knife, bringing hair, epidermis and scabs all off together. The raw, exposed layer of red skin was usually treated with a lotion of sulphur [DA, J: kibrit], mixed with oil and painted over the sore patches as a protection against further secondary infection and to speed up the healing process and growing in of the new soft hair. In its other uses this species of euphorbia also resembles E. smithii: for instance, the latex was painted around a pointed boil or infected swelling to draw the pus; small amounts of the latex were taken as a vermifuge and a purge; and the latex was used as an abortifacient. Young plants especially were considered to be of the group called [J: herum axitirot], that is 'dangerous plants', among which were also included E. hadramautica, E. smithii, and Cassia holosericea. In all these, the juice expressed from that part of the plant growing underground is taken to cause the patient's bowels to move, and that from the part growing above ground is taken to cause the patient to vomit. The latex was collected by women into a container and was mixed with very fine powdered clay, allowed to dry and stored for later use as a depilatory. When needed it was softened again by chewing. The prepared latex was used by some as a chewing gum (like that of E. balsamifera) but was never as well-liked, the latex being rather bitter and without the pleasant astringent flavour of that of E. balsamifera. The heated latex was a very efficient adhesive, and in areas where this species grew, replaced the latex adhesives of the more popular E. smithii and E. balsamifera of the monsoon areas". (Ref. Plants of Dhofar). In addition, Ghazanfar (2007) mentioned that: "The plant has been used in traditional medicine for its latex which is collected and applied around a boil to draw out the pus; mixed with fine clay it is used as a depilatory. It is also used for treating boils and wounds in camels and goats". (Ref. Flora of Oman; vol.2). Further, Pickering & Patzelt (2008) stated that: "Latex is poisonous and used to kill and catch fish, also as a glue to catch birds. In small quantities is a treatment for parasites in camels". (Ref. Field Guide to the Wild Plants of Oman; 2008). Furthermore, Patzelt (2015) wrote that: "The latex is used medicinally for humans, camels and goats around swellings to draw out the fluid. The latex is also mixed with clay, and used as depilatory". (Ref. Photographic Field Guide to the Plants of the Western Hajar Mountains; 2015).

*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 *Gledhill, D. (2008). The Names of Plants. Fourth Edition. Cambridge University Press, UK. ISBN 978-0-521-86645-3 ISSN 978-0-521-68553-5. *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. *Patzelt, A. (2015). Photographic Field Guide to the Plants of the Western Hajar Mountains, Sultanate of Oman: with a complete checklist of vascular plant species. Sultan Qaboos University – Academic Publication and Outreach Department. P.O Pox (17) Postal Code (123), Muscat, ... Al khoudh, Sultanate of Oman. *POWO (2023). ""Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org