Common Name: Triangular spurge. Tamil Name: Kalli
Commonly found in Peninsular India up to 800 msl. The plant can grow to a height of about 7 meters if left undisturbed. The stem is 3-5 angled. The plant appears leaf-less, however the leaves are produced- they are rudimentary and shed fast. Flowers are in the form of a cyathia and are yellow-green in color. The male and female flowers are separate. The male flower has one stamen and the female flower has a bifid style. The fruit is in the form of a 3 lobed red capsule. The milky latex is very poisonous. This plant prefers dry climatic habitat zones of the Western Ghats. This plant does not belong to cacti family. The main difference is that in the case of Cactus family plants areoles are present. The areoles are dark colored cushion like areas on the cacti plant from which spines and flower emerge. In the case of E antiquorum the spines and flowers are produced on the stem. Another notable difference is that in the case of cactus the flowers have petals. In the case of E antiquorum the petals cannot be distinguished.
