© BGCI

Species of the Day: Euphorbia cedrorum

Euphorbia cedrorum is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened
SpeciesTM. Referred to as a ‘coralliform’ euphorbia because of the crown’s resemblance to
coral, Euphorbia cedrorum was first described in 1993 from a plant that was being cultivated
in a French botanical garden. Later that same year, a small number of mature specimens were
discovered at a single location in south-west Madagascar.

Geographical range
The habitat in which the remaining specimens occur is highly threatened and prone to
www.iucnredlist.org clear-cutting for charcoal production.
www.globaltrees.org
Help Save Species Euphorbia cedrorum receives some protection from international trade under its listing on
www.arkive.org Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES),
which requires international trade to be carefully controlled through the use of trade permits.
Fortunately, specimens are also still being cultivated in botanical gardens. Nonetheless, in
the absence of more direct conservation measures, this species is likely to soon qualify for
classification as ‘Critically Endangered’ or even ‘Extinct in the Wild’ on the IUCN Red List.

The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership:
Species of the Day IUCN (including the Species Survival Commission), BirdLife
is sponsored by International, Conservation International, NatureServe and
Zoological Society of London.