euphorbiaceous

[yoo-fawr-bee-ey-shuhs]

adjective

1. belonging to the Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family of plants.

euphorbiaceous

/ juːˌfɔːbɪˈeɪʃəs /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Euphorbiaceae, a family of plants typically having capsular fruits: includes the spurges, the castor oil and cassava plants, cascarilla, and poinsettia

Word History and Origins

Origin of euphorbiaceous¹

1850–55; < New Latin Euphorbiace ( ae ) name of family ( euphorbia, -aceae ) + -ous

Example Sentences

Turnsole, turn′sōl, n. a name sometimes given to the Heliotrope and other plants, esp. to the euphorbiaceous Chrozophora tinctoria, from which a deep-purple dye is obtained.

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CASSAVA, the name given to the farinaceous root of two species of Euphorbiaceous plants, the bitter cassava, Manihot utilissima, and the sweet cassava, M. Aipi, both highly important sources of food starches; Manihot is given as the native Brazilian name in Spanish writings of the 16th century.

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The hardened juice of a euphorbiaceous tree, Croton draco, a resin resembling kino, is the sangre del drago or dragon’s blood of the Mexicans, used by them as a vulnerary and astringent.

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Manihot utilissima.—This euphorbiaceous plant yields cassava or mandiocca meal.

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Pedilanthus tithymaloides.—This euphorbiaceous plant has an acrid, milky, bitter juice; the root is emetic, and the dried branches are used medicinally.

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