Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae)

Many of the about 7 500 members of the large family are growing in the tropics.

The family contains very diverse plants: waterplants, trees of tropical rain forests, desert- and steppe plants. The majority of these plants produces a special latex, containing in some cases caoutchouc (e.g. the para-rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis). Further important plants for human use are cassava (Manihot esculenta), Ricinus communis, and Croton tiglium. The figure shows flowers of cypress spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias).