Euphorbia bracteata

Euphorbia bracteata
Red bracts of Euphorbia bracteata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Euphorbia
Subgenus: Euphorbia
Section: Euphorbia sect. Crepidaria
Species:
E. bracteata
Binomial name
Euphorbia bracteata
Jacq.
Synonyms[1]

Euphorbia bracteata,[1] the tall slipper plant,[2] emerald bird cactus or little bird flower,[2] is a perennial succulent spurge native to Mexico. It was formerly placed in the genus Pedilanthus, the slipper spurges, and was known as Pedilanthus bracteatus.[3]

The plant is a semi-succulent shrub that grows primarily in desert and dry shrubland in northern, central and southwestern Mexico.[1] It is recognizable for its reddish bracts surrounding green or yellow flowers.

The Latin specific epithet bracteata means "with bracts".[4] In Spanish the plant is known as venenillo, planta zapatilla and candelilla, though the latter name almost always refers to Euphorbia antisyphilitica. In East and Southeast Asia, where it is cultivated as an ornamental plant, it is known as bunga cucak rowo or bunga burung in Indonesian and Malay and xiǎoniǎo huā (小鳥花) or cuìquè shānhú (翠雀珊瑚) in Chinese.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Euphorbia bracteata Jacq". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b Euphorbia bracteata (Tall Slipper Plant) at TopTropicals.com. Retrieved on 25 February 2026.
  3. ^ Steinmann, V. W. (2003). "The submersion of Pedilanthus into Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae)" (PDF). Acta Botanica Mexicana. 65: 45–50.
  4. ^ Dictionary of Botanical Epithets: brachiatus - brassicoides