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Euphorbia lactea cristata or Elkhorn is beautiful dark green
crested plant attractively marked with silver-gray zig-zag patterns.
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Warning: As with all other Euphorbias when a
plant get damaged it exudes a thick white milky sap known as latex. This
latex is poisonous and particularly dangerous for the eyes,
skin and mucous membranes. So pay extreme attention
not to get any in your eyes or mouth. Cultivated plants must be
handled carefully. |
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Advertising
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Family:
Euphorbiaceae
Scientific name:
Scientific
name: Euphorbia
lactea Haworth
In: Synops. Pl. Succ. 127, 1812
forma cristata
Origin:
Garden origin (Nursery
produced cultivar)
Conservation status: Listed in
CITES appendix 2.
Common Names include: "Elkhorn" , "Frilled Fan" or
"Crested Euphorbia".
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Description: Euphorbia lactea cristata
or Elkhorn is a crested form with intricately undulating fan-shaped
branches forming a snaky ridge or crowded cluster. The more common
crested form is dark green attractively marked with silver-grey zigzag
patterns. But now this plant is available in a large number of
picturesque
variegated cultivars ranging in colour from white to, yellow, pink,
violet and green. White Ghost is the cultivar name given to the white
variegated form of lactea.
There exist also the standard species, not crested, with flattened,
three sided stems that look like a candelabra who reach without problem
a height of 5/6 meter.
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This plant is also available in a large number of picturesque
variegated cultivars ranging in colour from white to, yellow, pink,
violet and green.
Culture: Euphorbia lactea "Cristata" need
bright light to partial shade for best appearance (but the variegated
forms do best if protected from strong sunshine in the hottest hours of
the day). It responds well to warmth, with its active growth period in
the late spring and summer months. Water thoroughly when soil is dry to
the touch during active growing season (more than once a week during hot
weather) In the winter months, waterigs should be suspended or
restricted to once over the winter. The most common failure in growing
this plant is over watering, especially during the winter months. Likes
porous soil with adequate drainage.
Reproduction: The green form of Euphorbia lactea "Cristata" is
propagated by cuttings or graft, while the variegated forms are
difficult to grow on their own roots, and are generally grafted for
convenience on
Euphorbia canariensis or
Euphorbia resinifera.
It is recommend taking Euphorbia cuttings in Spring/Summer when the
plant is growing so that they have a better chance of success. They key
is heat & good air circulation. These cuttings should be dipped in
Hormone powder (but it is not needed) and left for a period of 3-4 weeks
to callous. Then pot the cutting and don't water ( or kept slightly
moist) until rooted. These will root just fine, if you can put the pot
outside in the summer, or put pot on a heating pad.
Crested growth: Unlike 'monstrose' varieties
of plants, where the variation from normal growth is due to genetic
mutation, crested growth can occur on normal plants. Sometimes it's due
to variances in light intensity, or damage, but generally the causes are
unknown. A crested plant may have some areas growing normally, and a
cresting plant that looks like a brain, may revert to normal growth for
no apparent reason. If you have any of the crested part left you need to
remove the normal growth and leave the crested part behind this will
need to be done regularly.
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Photo of conspecific
taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Euphorbia lactea.
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