Euphorbia balsamifera aka Balsam Spurge

Euphorbia balsamifera is in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. People call it balsam spurge or sweet tabaiba. Kew gives its native range as the Canary Islands and western Morocco to Western Sahara. It grows in deserts and dry scrub. Other sources give a wider range in Africa. These sources use a broader view of the species. In the Canaries, it grows among rocks and on stable dunes.

This woody shrub is semi-succulent and branches near the ground. Useful Tropical Plants gives heights of 2.3–16.4 feet [0.7–5 metres]. LLIFLE says plants in pots tend to stay small. Its thick, short trunk gives it a tree-like shape. The stem can reach about 0.5 feet [0.15 metres] across. Grey or earth-red branches have leaf scars but no spines. Broken stems give off white latex with a strong smell. Plants often shed their leaves. Some stay green when conditions are very good.

The leaves grow in groups near the branch tips. They have no leaf stalks. Some are narrow and pointed; others are long and oval. They may look green or have a blue-grey cast. Small flower cups, called cyathia, grow at the branch ends. Pale yellow-green parts grow around these cups. Each cup has five glands that make nectar. The fruit is a sticky capsule with slight lobes. It starts green, then takes on pink or red tones. The seeds are smooth, grey, and almost round.

People grow this plant for its looks, including in dry gardens. Its thick trunk also appeals to those who grow bonsai. People plant it as a hedge and to hold soil. Sources list dry, sandy sites, plus clay, scree, and rocky soils. Cuttings can take root where they will grow. Useful Tropical Plants says they can last months in drought before growing. The supplied evidence for this species gives no firm frost limit. Nor does it give guidance on pests.

Local people have long used the plant to treat illness. Reports list uses for worms, skin problems, and other illnesses. These reports do not prove that such treatments work or are safe. Some people have eaten young shoots or thickened plant juice. Others have judged it unfit for food, even after famine use. Warnings state that the plant and its latex can be toxic. The latex can harm eyes. Reports of food use do not remove that risk.