Indian spurgetree

It is a large, cactus-like, xerophytic, highly branched, succulent plant that grows as a tree with a loosely branched crown that reaches a height of 6.5 meters. The spread-out, upright branches are almost pentagonal, are about 3 centimeters thick and are divided into sections by constrictions. The main trunk and larger branches are rounded, younger branches are somewhat whorled, unjointed, whorled, grey or light green, glabrous, 8–30 mm thick, often leafless. The edges are covered with small, conical warts. The obovate leaves are almost sessile and are 30 centimeters long. They remain longer on young shoots and grow towards the end of the branches, are thick, fleshy, alternate, oblong or spatulate in shape, 10-18 cm long by 3-7 cm, with an attenuate base, entire margins and a rounded apex. The leaves feature very short petioles 2-4 mm long. They are deciduous, persistent during the vegetation period, falling in late summer and early autumn. The thorn shields are triangular and thorns up to 12 millimeters long are formed.

Inflorescence. The inflorescence consists of simple cymes that are forked once to three times. The short and strong inflorescence stalk bears the reddish cyathia. The elongated nectar glands touch each other. The deeply lobed fruit is about 12 millimeters in size and is on a protruding and bent back stalk. …

It is native to central India, Odisha, and southern India in the Deccan, but is now naturalized in West Bengal, Sri Lanka, and throughout Southeast Asia in Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia (except Borneo), the Philippines, and New Guinea. It is also cultivated as a hedge and ornamental plant in other tropical regions.

The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, when boiled with syrup. The leaves and slices of the branches can be turned into sweets similar to candied fruit. The plant is also grown as a living fence to delimit land or to contain livestock. The wood is aromatic, and is used for small objects such as knife handles. The latex is applied to cuts made by collectors in the bark of the Palmyra palm, to prevent attacks by the red weevil.

Culinary. In the Philippines, it is called karimbuaya in the northern regions of Ilocos and Cordillera, where the chopped leaves are a popular stuffing for lechon. It is called soro-soro in the Eastern Visayas, and is typically mixed into dinuguan and paklay.

Medicinal. The latex is slightly irritating on contact with the skin and toxic. Though it is a diuretic, purgative, rubefacient and vermifuge, and therefore has been used to treat constipation, asthma, sore throat and other conditions. Sushruta prescribed it mixed with water to treat various abdominal conditions such as jaundice and ascites, skin diseases, urinary disorders, even diabetes. It has also been used in the treatment of problems such as hemorrhoids. The latex is used to remove warts and other skin eruptions by applying it directly to the lesion. The juice squeezed from heated leaves is a remedy for otalgia and otitis. The root and the pulp of the stem are considered antiseptic. …