Euphorbia tirucalli (Pencil Tree)

Native to Madagascar, this semi-succulent shrub or small tree forms a dense crown of smooth, cylindrical branchlets. Small, narrow leaves appear near the tips of young shoots and soon fall, leaving the pencil-like stems largely bare. Tiny flower cups occur in crowded clusters at the branch ends, followed by small, rounded capsules. The plant grows in dry habitats. Its milky sap is strongly irritating and can severely injure the eyes; it is harmful if eaten. Widely cultivated for hedges and as an ornamental, it has been introduced across tropical and subtropical regions. Photographed in Colombia.