Euphorbia grantii aka African Milk Bush

Euphorbia grantii is a woody plant in the spurge family. The family name is Euphorbiaceae. It comes from tropical Africa, from Rwanda to Zambia. Records also place it in DR Congo and Uganda. Its range includes Burundi and Tanzania as well. It grows in warm regions with a dry season. In the wild, it grows in open woodland and on rocky hillsides. These sites have sandy or rocky soils. It grows up to about 5,740 feet [1,750 metres] above sea level.

This plant is semi-succulent and forms a shrub or small tree. Shrubs have few stems; trees have a fairly small number of branches. Reports give heights of about 5–30 feet [1.5–9 metres]. One source gives a height of about 16 feet [5 metres]. The sources do not set a normal garden height or spread. Wounds release large amounts of milky sap, called latex. The accounts give no bark or leaf shape details for this species. They do not describe its flowers or fruit either.

People grow this plant for its looks and as a hedge. They also gather wild plants for use in local medicine. The sources list seed as a way to grow new plants. They give no more help on how to raise seedlings. They do not state its water, light, or frost needs. Its wild sites alone do not show these garden needs. The sources give no pest or disease details for this species.

All parts are poisonous, and there are no known food uses. People and animals can suffer poisoning if they swallow the latex. It can cause severe harm to skin and the body's moist linings. Latex in the eyes can cause severe harm. It can even rupture the cornea, the eye's clear front layer. Reports of use in medicine do not prove it safe. The roots can force strong bowel movements and cause vomiting.

Local uses include latex blends for gut worms, wounds, and earache. Reports also note leaf blends for gonorrhoea. People use root remedies for stomach problems and constipation. Other uses include epilepsy, poisoning, and snakebite. These records describe local practice, not proven treatments or care advice. Some arrow poisons also contain the latex. Its dry matter has roughly 2.5–6.9 percent rubber. Thus, the latex is central to both its reported uses and its risks.