Named after Euphorbos, a physician from ancient Numidia, this family of plants is extremely diverse and intriguing. Euphorbias are not only succulent; they can be grasses, shrubs, trees, but all members of this family share a milky, white sap that is secreted when the plant is cut or damaged.
They have a worldwide distribution, but succulent ones are to be find in desertic and semi-desertic regions, especially in the African continent.
Although physiologically very different, succulent Euphorbias are often confused with cacti, because of their morphological similarities.