Euphorbia pilosa

Euphorbia pilosa, commonly known as hairy spurge, is a versatile annual herb found in tropical and subtropical regions. Renowned in traditional medicine, this plant offers significant therapeutic potential. It is widely utilized for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties, serving as a valuable natural resource in folk remedies.

  • Scientific name: Euphorbia pilosa
  • Family: Euphorbiaceae
  • Native range: Africa

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Euphorbiaceae and falls under the genus Euphorbia.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Malpighiales WCVP
Family Euphorbiaceae WCVP
Genus Euphorbia WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Euphorbia pilosa, is referred to by several different common names depending on the language. In Russian, it is called Молочай волосистый, while in Chinese, it is identified as 毛大戟 (including the regional variations 毛大戟 for zh-cn and 毛大戟 for zh-tw).
Language Common Name Source
ru Молочай волосистый Wikidata
zh 毛大戟 Wikidata
zh-cn 毛大戟 Wikidata
zh-tw 毛大戟 Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a remarkably wide and fragmented geographical distribution across different continents. In the Western Indian Ocean, its presence is noted specifically around the Mozambique Channel Islands. Moving to the northern reaches of Asia, it can be found within the vast territories of Siberia. Within the Siberian region, its range includes the Altai mountains as well as the Irkutsk area. Furthermore, the species extends its reach to the Krasnoyarsk and Tuva regions.

Region Area Source
Western Indian Ocean Mozambique Channel Is. WCVP
Siberia Altay WCVP
Siberia Irkutsk WCVP
Siberia Krasnoyarsk WCVP
Siberia Tuva WCVP
Siberia West Siberia WCVP
Central Asia Kazakhstan WCVP
China Xinjiang WCVP
Mongolia Mongolia WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Euphorbia pilosa, possesses distinct leaf parts that play a significant role in its medicinal profile. The leaves are typically small, simple, and arranged alternately along the stem, characterized by their oval or lanceolate shape. Detailed examination of the leaf parts reveals a smooth or slightly hairy texture on the surface, with fine venation that helps transport essential nutrients throughout the foliage. In traditional medicine, these various leaf components are often harvested and utilized for their bioactive compounds, which are believed to contribute to the plant's therapeutic properties.
Total parts
1
Scientific sources
1
Plant Part Sources Confidence
leaf parts 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Euphorbia pilosa has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Zn.

Total chemicals
1
Scientific sources
1

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
Zn 1 ★☆☆☆☆