Euphorbiaceae
| Spurge family | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Candlenut tree (Aleurites moluccana) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae Juss. |
| Subfamilies | |
The Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) is a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are also shrubs or trees. The name Spurge comes from the Latin word espurge meaning to purge, due to its use as a laxative.
