Common name: Pencil tree, Indian tree spurge. Tamil Name: Kalli, Chakkalavi
Pencil tree is small tree of African origin, often deployed in Tamilnadu as a hedge plant and grows to a height of about 4 meters. The sub-branches are gree in color, thick, fleshy, smooth with milky sap. The leaves are rudimentary; measure around 1cm and fall off quickly; the plant is generally seen without any conspicuous leaves. The plant is thorn less. The inflorescence is borne at branch tips and flowers are yellowish in color. Male and female are distinct. The fruit is in the form of a triparted green capsule measuring around 1 cm diameter. The seeds are oval and glabrous. Pencil tree is a highly poisonous tree with an acrid sap. Used as a hedge tree
