I wanted to talk about this plant I have on my property.
This plant that caused me so much pain. This plant that left made my face swelling and stinging for many hours. The evil of the sap that lives inside this simple looking, living hell that left such an impression that I was inspired to do a painting of it.
This evil plant, I called a cactus, it looks like a cactus, it’s not. We live in the desert and there are tons of cactus all over the place. It has thorns and it is nasty mean. At the same time, it is a most awesome creation of beautiful plant I have ever encountered.
Origin: It is native to Morocco, where it occurs on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains in the surroundings of Marrakesh.
Common Name: Resin spurge
Toxicity Warning: Resin euphorbia emits a thick white milky sap known as latex when stems are cut or damaged. This latex (resin) is poisonous containing some of the most potent irritants known. The latex is particularly dangerous for the eyes, skin and mucous membranes and will produce burning pain in bones and limbs and paralytic weakness in the joints. Also, resin spurge will produce respiratory and skin toxicity symptoms. Handle cultivated plants carefully and use extreme caution to not get any latex in eyes or mouth.
