Attractive but Thorny Plant

I was pondering in our garden how this plant managed to grow so many thorns around it. Why does it have to cover itself with so many thorns? The flowers looked good but you have to be careful in approaching it. It also reminded me of Christ’s torture and crucifixion. And I asked myself, does this plant have something to do with it?

The thorny stem of Euphorbia milii

My wife who took fancy on this thorny but attractive plant couldn’t remember its name so I made a little search in the internet to find out what it is. I learned it is a species of Euphorbia, or Euphorbia milii, to be more precise. It’s a native of Madagascar in the southeastern coast of Africa. It must be growing in the desert or the xeric shrublands where water is sparse. In fact, this plant tends to lose its leaves when too much water is given to it.

The Function of Thorns

And what about the thorns which intrigued me. What are those thorns for? In one of the articles I read, it described the thorns, or rather more accurately the spines, as outgrowths to help it scramble over other plants. Interestingly, another use is to ward off intruders or herbivores from consuming the plant. It could also serve as warning to potential consumers as the latex may produce severe dermatitis and poisonous if ingested in large amounts.

Point to Ponder

There seems to be affirmation of my feeling that this plant has something to do with Christ. Indeed, an article described that stems of this plant may have been used to crown Him. It is pliable and can be formed into a circle. Substantial evidence exists that this plant was brought to the Middle East before the time of Christ. That must be painful, and the latex could have caused severe dermatitis. Christ must have suffered a lot.

I pondered once again, as I look at the thorns. How can man be so cruel as to use these thorns to make an innocent man suffer, who in fact is God himself, who died that man may live.