Uncommon Plant

by Cromwell
(Moscow, ID, USA)


This is the second plant, (the first plant is here: Unknown Common Plant)I got from a restaurant where no one knew what the plant was.

It was on a much taller plant (about 5+ feet), but I've had a friend tell me it seems to be a kind of succulent.

It seems to have characteristics of both a fern and cactus, with alternate leaves sprouting out (only two are visible in this picture), and the plant grows, at least from my perception of the mother plant, by those side leaves growing bigger, some turning into new branches of similar structure (like a simple cactus).

When the leaves break off as many of these ones did, a white milk-like fluid secretes, similar to a milkweed or dandelion stock.

I really like my plants, but need to know what they are to give them proper light and water, as I have no way to know for sure if I'm doing it right, though little or no growth suggests I'm doing something wrong.


Drought Smart Plants reply:

Okay, the characteristic that most worries me (right after the part about finding this in a restaurant!!) is the part above that I've emphasized with bold text.

This is some type of Euphorbia, and the milky sap is really caustic, and in some cases has caused blindness and extreme contact dermatitis. Please use extreme caution handling this plant, especially when pruning it.

In fact I would advise that you get rid of the plant by disposing of it in the garbage, where it can't cause any trouble.

Jacki

Comments for Uncommon Plant

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May 02, 2017
 Dragon fruit
by: Debbi

It looks like a
Dragon Fruit cactus to me. They get real tall and branch out. They love full sun and will bear fruit. Research Dragon Fruit
Jan 06, 2012
 Thank you!
by: Cromwell

Will do! Thanks to your help I was able to find more info about the plant, and am glad to know that it isn't a plant to be around kids (which luckily it isn't). I believe this one is a Euphorbia candelabra, and am happy I can now look up how to care for it properly :) Thanks again!
Jan 06, 2012
 Forewarned is Forearmed..
by: Jacki

Now that you know that this is a poisonous succulent plant, you can take the proper precautions, which will include keeping small kids, pets and other non-knowledgeable adults away from it.

You may be able to find out what it is here if you do a search for Euphorbia: Daves Garden Website.
Jan 06, 2012
 Can't bring myself to toss it...
by: Cromwell

I really don't want to get rid of it, as it is a very beautiful plant (at least the mother was) that seems to be an ordinary houseplant, and I am one of those people who can't bring themselves to throw away anything green that isn't poisonous (even if the secretion possibly is, though I didn't experience any problems when the leaves fell off after separation from mother plant). It is thriving well at the restaurant (an Arby's here in Moscow, ID) where dozens of plants are thriving, appearing well taken care of. The problem is that no one seems to know anything about the plant whenever I go in to ask :( I was just hoping that someone might recognize it somehow, but I'll still keep looking. I'll try to get a picture of the mother plant for better views too!

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