Euphorbiaceae week - Redbird cactus (Pedilanthus tithymaloides)

[mani nair]

Dear friends,

Sending photos of Redbird cactus.


Botanical name : Pedilanthus tithymaloides
Place               :  Sanjay Gandhi National Park  (Thane end)
Date                 :  May 2009
Others             :  Attracts nectar loving birds


Regards,

Mani

[Rashida Atthar]

Thanks for the beautiful post Mani ji. The correct accepted name as per Kew Plant List is Euphobia tithymaloides L.   The synonyms are as follows: Pedilanthus tithymaloides (L.) Poit

           Pedilanthus tithymaloides subsp. tithymaloides

          Tithymalus tithymaloides (L.) Croizat 

 

regards,

Rashida.

[tanay bose]

This plant is commonly known as devils backbone .. I really dont know why?

Tanay

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[Pankaj Kumar]

Its called backbone may be just because of its structure which is
zigzag and similar to our backbone when we curve down and devil's may
be because it is poisonous.
But thats just a speculation.
Pankaj

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[Padmini Raghavan]

I have also heard it called as Jacob's Ladder.

Regards,

Padmini Raghavan.

[Pankaj Kumar]

Jacob's ladder is actually a mythological ladder which leads to
heaven. This may sound hilarious, but may be it is so poisonous that
it will straight away lead you to heaven, hence it is named that
way!!! and of course the stem is zigzag like a ladder.
Pankaj

[Padmini Raghavan]

I do know that it is "non-browseable" so we had a line of these plants near the barbed wire fence thro which the goats used to try to eat the marigold plants at Alto-Chicalim in Goa

(off Vasco.)

Regards,

  Padmini Raghavan.

[mani nair]

Thanks all for the valuable information on redbird cactus plant.  Good, I knew it is poisonous.  I was planning to plant a cutting of the plant.

Regards,

Mani.