![plant with mauve stalk and soft thorns plant with mauve stalk and soft thorns](https://cactusway.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/orlando-madrigal-paASygI099U-unsplash-732.jpg)
The species epithet is named after Baron Milius, a former governor of the island of Bourbon, who introduced the species in France in 1821. Juba II was treated by a plant (probably the Resin Spurge, Euphorbia resinifera) with powerful medicinal properties, of which he named after his Greek physician 'Euphorbus'. The genus epithet ‘Euphorbia’ is derived from 'Euphorbus', the Greek physician to Juba II, King of Mauretania. Propagated by tip cuttings, whereby bleeding is stopped and allowed to dry and callus over a few days before inserting into propagation media. Prone to botrytis or powdery mildew when water collect on the leaves and flowers. Though very drought tolerant, regular watering will keep it from defoliating and encourages blooming. Prefers well-drained soil that can be watered regularly and is moderately salt tolerant. Fruit Fruit capsule 3-lobed-ovoid, 3.5 mm long, 4 mm wide, smooth and glabrous 1 seed per capsule Seed ovoid-terete, 2.5 mm long, 2 mm wide, brown, reticulate (net-veined). Flower: Cyathia (inflorescences consisting of cuplike clusters of bracts enclosing unisexual flowers) in subapical, dichasial (having two lateral flowers originating from opposite points beneath a terminal flower) cymes each cluster bears 2 bright red (pink, white or yellow in some cultivars), broadly ovate bracts beneath the miniscule flowers, up to 1.5 cm across male flowers numerous in each cyathium, calyx, absent, corolla absent, stamen 1 female flowers 1 in each cyathium calyx absent corolla absent pistil 1. Foliage: Leaves simple, alternate, obovate to oblong-oblanceolate, green, margin entire, 1.5 to 5 cm long, 0.8 to 1.8 cm wide, clustered near apical branches stipules forming spines, 1 to 1.3 cm long petiole absent or subsessile. Stem: Stems obscurely 3 to 5 angled, greyish-brown, covered with many prominent grey spines. A scrambling succulent, containing milky sap, multi-branched with spines all over branches.