On Sat, 04 Dec 2004 17:12:50 GMT, "glenon"
wrote:

In trying to move a cape honeysuckle from my very big pencil cactus, I got
the milky sticky sap from the cactus - THIS IS A WARNING! Always wear
gloves when working with the cactus! The sap caused lots of irritation to
me, stings a lot! especially on mucuous membranes. I had to change my
contact lenses and my eyes were watering and stinging for several hours.
And yes, I had washed my hands thoroughly several times before touching my
eyes! This stuff even got on icecubes that I took with my hands (again
washed) from the bin - as I drank my iced water, my mouth and lips were
stinging and hurting a lot! So, gardeners, beware the pencil cactus - it
seeks revenge!


I have one of these "pencil plants" and it grows crazy unless it is
kept pruned. And when cut, it "bleeds" quite a bit. I cut the stems
that point down for a better shape. I also have a "Crown of Thorns"
that blooms small bright red simple flowers and bleeds similar to the
pencil plant when cut. The sap is a poisonous white latex, typical of
euphorbias.