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Stewart Robert Hinsley · 22-04-2010, 11:11 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

In message ,
writes
Janet Baraclough wrote:
it sounds as if it could be a euphorbia. Nice plants but sensitive
people can get a very unpleasant longterm contact skin rash.
So be careful/wear gloves for the next suggestion; break a stem or leaf
off and see if milky white sap ooozes out. Like cream.

After a bit of googling, I realise - "otherwise known as poinsettia"?
Surely anyone who had been around a shop at Christmas would recognise this
instantly? Mind you, not surprised at one growing wild, as they seem to
just get chucked away each year - surprised it survived the winter, though.

There are hundreds of different types of Euphorbia. Some of them are
pretty good imitations of cacti, and few of them look much like a
poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima).

The Wikipedia page gives you an idea of the variety in the genus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia

I've just been looking after the MiL's 4 from the past couple of
Christmases, and I know /I/ would like to throw them away now!

--
Stewart Robert Hinsley