Euphorbia drupifera aka Dodo

Euphorbia drupifera is a tree from tropical Africa. It belongs to the spurge family. Some sources use the name Elaeophorbia drupifera. Its native range spans western tropical Africa to Uganda. Useful Tropical Plants also lists it south to northern Angola. It grows at forest edges and on flooded coastal plains. It grows in rainforest too, often near termite mounds. Kew places it in the tropics where dry seasons occur.

The tree has a broad, round crown and spreading branches. Useful Tropical Plants gives its height as 49 feet [15 metres]. Other accounts give 39–72 feet [12–22 metres], at times more. These figures do not give a distinct size range for gardens. The trunk can reach about 2 feet [0.6 metres] across. Branches start low on the trunk in open sites. In forests, trees can have long trunks with no low branches. Young shoots are fleshy and have four to six faint angles. Spines grow in pairs along these angles. Older branches turn round and woody.

Thick, smooth leaves grow in groups near the branch tips. They have smooth edges and a strong midrib beneath. Some are long and narrow; others have broad tips. Short spines in pairs stay clear when the leaves fall. Sources differ on whether the tree keeps its leaves. Useful Tropical Plants says it stays green all year. LLIFLE says its leaves fall. Small, greenish groups of flowers form clusters called cyathia. The same tree bears male and female flowers. Fleshy fruits called drupes then form. They turn from green to yellow or orange. Their size ranges from that of cherries to about walnuts. Each has a hard inner layer with three chambers. Antelopes feed on the fruit.

Grow this tree in full sun or light shade. It cannot stand frost. Growers raise new plants from seed or stem cuttings. People use it as a hedge or living fence. They plant it near homes and graves for protection. This custom stems from beliefs about spirits and lightning. Its broad crown and thorny branches shape its landscape form. The supplied sources name no specific pest or disease problems.

The branches hold much white latex, which can burn tissue. Contact with eyes can cause lasting harm, including blindness. People have used the latex, leaves, and fruit as poisons. Folk medicine uses include skin problems and stings. Uses also include purgatives, which help empty the bowels. These records do not show that such treatments work or are safe. Useful Tropical Plants reports no known uses as food. Though antelopes eat the fruit, this does not prove it safe for people.