Euphorbiaceae
| Spurge family | |
|---|---|
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| Candlenut tree (Aleurites moluccana) | |
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| Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
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The spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) is a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs. Some, especially in the tropics, are shrubs or trees.
The name spurge comes from the Latin word espurge meaning to purge: this refers to its use as a laxative.
