Euphorbia caducifolia

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Euphorbia caducifolia is a subtropical succulent flowering plant in the spurge family. It grows as a dense, branching shrub up to about 3 meters tall and 10 meters wide in the arid regions of northwestern India. The stems are succulent and often grow vertically. It has small oval leaves (2.5–8 cm long and about 2.5 cm wide) that soon fall off. Spines on the stipules reach up to 1 cm. It resembles the leafy milk hedge (Euphorbia nivulia) but has multiple stems and smaller, short-lived leaves. The orange-red flowers appear in February and March.

This species has a limited distribution in the Thar Desert, near the India–Pakistan border, in sandy hills and shifting dunes with thorny vegetation. In southern Rajasthan it grows among trees and shrubs such as Butea monosperma, Millettia pinnata, Syzygium hyrianium, Wrightia tinctoria, and Ziziphus nummularia. Near Sambhar Salt Lake it is found with thorny scrub like Anogeissus pendula and Boswellia.

Like all euphorbs, its sap is a milky latex that can irritate skin and mucous membranes and can be painful if it gets in the eyes, mouth, or a wound. In large amounts it can cause gastrointestinal problems if swallowed. Despite these traits, it has been used in Pakistan as an anti-tumor agent, and the roots are said to have similar properties. The latex also helps wounds heal, and research supports its wound-healing activity. The plant also contains hydrocarbons (C15 compounds) that can be used to produce biodiesel.