Origin and Habitat: Garden origin. Its parent is a tender succulent native to tropical and subtropical Americas (From Florida in North America, to Central America and South America to the Amazon Basin and in the Caribbean). It is widely cultivated as edge plant in the tropics worldwide and cultivate in greenhouses as ornamental in temperate climate.

• Euphorbia tithymaloides f. variegata hort.
• Pedilanthus tithymaloides cv. Variegatus

• Euphorbia tithymaloides L.
• Pedilanthus tithymaloides (L.) Poit.
• Tithymalus tithymaloides (L.) Croizat
• Euphorbia anacampseroides Descourt.
• Euphorbia canaliculata Lodd.
• Pedilanthus canaliculatus (Lodd.) Sweet
• Euphorbia carinata Donn
• Crepidaria carinata (Donn) Haw.
• Pedilanthus carinatus (Donn) Spreng.
• Euphorbia tithymaloides var. myrtifolia L.
• Crepidaria myrtifolia (L.) Haw.
• Pedilanthus myrsifolius (L.) Raf.
• Pedilanthus myrtifolius (L.) Link
• Tithymaloides myrtifolia (L.) Kuntze
• Tithymalus myrtifolius (L.) Mill.
• Euphorbia tithymaloides f. variegata hort.
• Pedilanthus tithymaloides cv. Variegatus
• Pedilanthus camporum Standl. & Steyerm.
• Pedilanthus deamii Millsp.
• Tithymalus deamii (Millsp.) Croizat
• Pedilanthus fendleri Boiss.
• Tithymaloides fendleri (Boiss.) Kuntze
• Tithymalus fendleri (Boiss.) Croizat
• Pedilanthus gritensis Zahlbr.
• Pedilanthus houlletii Baill.
• Tithymaloides houlletii (Baill.) Kuntze
• Pedilanthus ierensis Britton
• Tithymalus ierensis (Britton) Croizat
• Pedilanthus petraeus Brandegee
• Tithymalus petraeus (Brandegee) Croizat
• Pedilanthus pringlei Rob.
• Tithymalus pringlei (B.L.Rob.) Croizat
• Pedilanthus subcarinatus (Haw.) Sweet
• Crepidaria subcarinata Haw.
• Tithymalus petanophyllus Croizat
• Tithymalus villicus Croizat

• Euphorbia tithymaloides subs. angustifolia (Poit.) V.W.Steinm.
• Pedilanthus angustifolius Poit.
• Pedilanthus tithymaloides subs. angustifolius (Poit.) Dressler
• Pedilanthus tithymaloides var. angustifolius (Poit.) Griseb.
• Tithymaloides angustifolia (Poit.) Kuntze
• Tithymalus sarissophyllus Croizat

• Euphorbia tithymaloides subs. bahamensis (Millsp.) V.W.Steinm.
• Pedilanthus bahamensis var. Millsp. Millsp.
• Pedilanthus tithymaloides var. bahamensis (Millsp.) Dressler
• Tithymalus bahamensis (Millsp.) Croizat

• Euphorbia tithymaloides subs. jamaicensis (Millsp. & Britton) V.W.Steinm.
• Pedilanthus jamaicensis Millsp. & Britton
• Pedilanthus tithymaloides subs. jamaicensis (Millsp. & Britton) Dressler
• Tithymalus jamaicensis (Millsp. & Britton) Croizat
• Pedilanthus grisebachii Millsp. & Britton
• Tithymalus grisebachii (Millsp. & Britton) Croizat

• Euphorbia tithymaloides subs. padifolia (L.) V.W.Steinm.
• Crepidaria padifolia (L.) Haw.
• Euphorbia padifolia (L.) Gussone
• Euphorbia tithymaloides var. padifolia L.
• Pedilanthus padifolius (L.) Poit.
• Pedilanthus tithymaloides subs. padifolius (L.) Dressler
• Pedilanthus tithymaloides var. padifolius (L.) Griseb.
• Tithymaloides padifolia Kuntze
• Tithymalus padifolius (L.) Croizat

• Euphorbia tithymaloides subs. parasitica (Boiss. ex Klotzsch) V.W.Steinm.
• Euphorbia parasitica Pav. ex Boiss.
• Pedilanthus parasiticus Boiss. ex Klotzsch
• Pedilanthus tithymaloides subs. parasiticus (Boiss. ex Klotzsch) Dressler
• Tithymaloides parasitica (Boiss. ex Klotzsch) Kuntze
• Tithymalus parasiticus (Boiss. ex Klotzsch) Croizat
• Pedilanthus itzaeus Millsp.
• Tithymalus itzaeus (Millsp.) Croizat
• Pedilanthus latifolius Millsp. & Britton
• Pedilanthus ramosissimus Boiss.

• Euphorbia tithymaloides subs. retusa (Benth.) V.W.Steinm.
• Pedilanthus retusus Benth.
• Pedilanthus tithymaloides subs. retusus (Benth.) Dressler
• Tithymaloides retusa (Benth.) Kuntze
• Tithymalus melanopotamicus Croizat

• Euphorbia tithymaloides subs. smallii (Millsp.) V.W.Steinm.
• Pedilanthus smallii Millsp.
• Pedilanthus tithymaloides var. smallii (Millsp.) Dressler
• Tithymalus smallii (Millsp.) Small

Description: Euphorbia tithymaloidesSN|29032]]SN|24097]] is an erect perennial succulent spurge growing to around 0,4 to 3 metres tall and 40-60 cm wide that branches profusely from the base; It produces abundant flowers (cyathia) with somewhat shoe-shaped reddish-colored involucrum bracts that give this species the common name Slipper Plant. It is also widely known by the old scientific name Pedilanthus tithymaloidesSN|24098]]SN|24098]].
Variegated form: The variegated form (Euphorbia tithymaloides f. variegataSN|24097]]SN|29032]]) is a popular selection with medium-green, slightly glossy leaves that are perfect ovals and edged edged in white. The zigzag stems are also stripped whit white. When flowering or chilly winter temperatures occur, the leaves may blush pink. It is also called 'red-bird plant'. The little flowers at the tips of new growth resemble a bird.
Stem: Branches, upright, woody to succulent, rubbery, slightly zig-zagging, wax-coated, narrow, green stripped in white and often leafless before flowering.
Leaves: Evergreen or caduceus, arranged alternately just near the branch tips, sessile (attaching directly to the plant) or sub-sessile 2 to 12 mm long, glabrous (smooth), simple, ovate to lanceolate 1-16 cm long, 1-10 cm wide, acuminate in shape, base cuneate, margins entire. The veins in the leaves are pinnate with a thick keeled midrib beneath. An extended drought or winter cold spell may cause the leaves to completely drop off. The leaves will drop off also if the soil becomes too wet.  The plants are extremely variable in size and growth patterns.  
Inflorescence: The inflorescence is a apical or axillary dichotomous congested cyme near the stem's tip. Each cyathia (flower structures containing separate male and female parts) is supported by a peduncle 3-8 mm long, red, green below and enclosed in bright red involucral, bracts, ovate and irregularly acuminate in shape (e.g., like a slipper) 4-12 mm long, 2-5 mm wide. Cyathia, bilaterally symmetrical, scentless, tube red green below, 7-15 mm long. Nectar glands 4. Style up to 12 mm long with a thin tube.
Fruit: Capsule, cuboid with truncated ends, deeply 3- lobed. 5-6 mm in diameter. Pedicel 4-14 mm long.
Seed: Ovoid. 3-4,5 mm long, 2,5-3,2 mm wide.
Blooming season: Although flowering in flushes year round in warm tropical regions, it blooms most heavily in summer.
Remarks: Subspecies are usually identifiable by their leaves, which come in several types such as laurel-like and variegated and which can be tinged with white or red.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Urs Eggli "Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: With 487 Colour Photos, Printed in 64 Colour Plates. Dicotyledons" - Springer, 2002 pag. 226-227
2) Forest & Kim Starr “Pedilanthus tithymaloides (Slipper flower)”. Plants of Hawaii. <http://www.starrenvironmental.com>. Web. 27 Sep. 2014.
3) Sydenham Teak Edwards and alt. "The Botanical Register: Consisting of Coloured Figures of Exotic Plants, Cultivated in British Gardens, with History and Mods of Braetment" Ridgway, 1846
4) George E. Burrows, Ronald J. Tyrl "Toxic Plants of North America" John Wiley & Sons, 15/Oct/2012
5) David W. Nellis "Poisonous Plants and Animals of Florida and the Caribbean" Pineapple Press Inc, 1997
6) Wikipedia contributors. "Euphorbia tithymaloides." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 25 Sep. 2014. Web. 5 Oct. 2014.
7) Sajeva and Costanzo, "Succulents: The Illustrated Dictionary" 1994
8) Vardhana "Direct Uses of Medicinal Plants and Their Identification" 2008
9) Steinmann, "The Submersion of Pedilanthus into Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae)," Acta Botanica Mexicana, 2003
10) Spoerke and Smolinske, "Toxicity of Houseplants" 1990
11) Nellis, "Poisonous Plants and Animals of Florida and the Caribbean" 1997
12 Balfour, "Cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia Commercial, Industrial and Scientific..." 1873
13)Strong, "The American Flora: Or History of Plants and Wild Flowers" 1850
Datta, Systematic Botany, 1988, p. 321.
14) Quattrocchi, "CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, and Etymology" 1990
15) Torkelson, "The Cross Name Index to Medicinal Plants: Common Names, M-Z" 1996
16) Liogier and Martorell, "Flora of Puerto Rico and Adjacent Islands: A Systematic Synopsis" 2000.
17) Pienaar, "The South African "What Flower Is That?" 2000
18) Neumann, Kumar, and Sopory, "Recent Advances in Plant Biotechnology and Its Applications" 2008
19) Millspaugh and Hamet, "The Genera 'Pedilanthus' and 'Cubanthus', and Other American Euphorbiaceae", 1913
20) Strong, "The American Flora: Or History of Plants and Wild Flowers" 1850
21) Wijnands, "The Botany of the Commelins" 1983.
22) Neumann, Kumar, and Sopory, "Recent Advances in Plant Biotechnology and Its Applications" 2008.
23) Khare, "Indian Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated Dictionary" 2007.
24) Anderson, Edward F. "The Cactus Family" Portland, Ore.: Timber Press, 2001

Cultivation and Propagation: Euphorbia tithymaloides f. variegataSN|24097]]SN|29032]] is a relatively fast grower succulent in frost free zones and also a great container plant for full sun to partial shade. It is probably a winter grower and need water from October, when the new leaves can be seen forming on the growing tip. In April the leaves begin to go yellow and drop off, so now it rests quite dry in to summer. But others suggest to water it moderately all year round as it tends to be an opportunistic plant that tend to grow in each time of the year whenever it has enough water in fair weather and rest when temperatures are too hot or too cool and may have several or sometimes no growth cycles in a year. It must be grown very hard in the nursery as close to the natural conditions as possible. This ensures that it keeps its compact habit.
Soil: Give the plant a well drained, sandy, and nutrient-rich, particularly with higher concentrations of boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc or use a growing medium which mainly consists of non organic material such us clay, pumice, lava grit, and only a little peat or leaf-mould.
Irrigation: It prefers to be on the dry side with good but infrequent waterings but looks best with regular watering in hot months. Less water during winter. No water should ever be allowed to stand around the roots. But it adapts to different growing conditions from extreme heat and drought, to high moisture as it has a low rot potential. The plant tends to be taller and have more biomass if it is well-watered.
Feeding: Feed the plant with slow release fertiliser occasionally.
Re-potting: The plant grows rather slowly in pot. When necessary, re-pot to a slightly bigger pot. The pot should be just slightly bigger than the original pot and with a hole for drainage.
Hardiness: Hardy to approx to -5 degrees Celsius, it is cultivated in open air in the tropical and warm Mediterranean climate, with temperatures which it is good to keep over the 5°C, best 10-12°C, but can withstand light frost for short periods if very dry, in these situations it will better resist if sheltered by the winter rains, seen that the humidity and low temperatures render it more sensitive to rottenness. Plants in containers however, suffered major leaf loss. USDA Zone 9b to 12.
Exposure: Full sun to filtered light (leafy but with fewer flowers in deeper shade).
Salt tolerance: It is relatively intolerant of high soil salinity levels, but exhibits saline tolerance if well fertilized.
Maintenance: If the flower bracts dry up and the tip is not showing any blooms, prune about six centimetres of the tip of the stem to encourage new growth. This species do tend to get sort of leggy, which is particularly a problem if grown as a potted plant, and pruning is sometime necessary to shape. Staking is often necessary to prevent the plant from falling or bending over.
A round and sturdy support stake is advisable for a pot of plant with many stems. Use a soft rope or covered wire to tie. Secure the tie to the stake . Loop around the plant or make the figure "8" loosely so that they do not cut the stems. Then tie back to the stake with a knot.
Use: This plant is a fun addition in the garden in the ground or as a container specimen.
Traditional uses: In Peru, the plant is known as "cimora misha," "timora misha," or "planta magica." It is sometimes added to drinks made from mescaline-containing Trichocereus pachanoiSN|8471]]SN|8471]] (although Euphorbia tithymaloides has no known psychoactive properties).
Other uses: This is a "petrocrop" plant (a plants that could yield biofuel compounds for internal combustion engines).
Pest and diseases: Cabbage worms are particularly fond of the plant's leaves.
Warning: Like most species in the Spurge family Euphorbia tithymaloidesSN|29032]]SN|24097]] has a white latex, a milky sap in the plant's stems and leaves that is poisonous. Even a few drops of the juice of the root can irritate mucosal membranes. When ingested, the irritation of the mucosal membranes of the stomach and intestines will cause nausea and vomiting. Topical application causes skin irritation, inflammation, and even blisters. If introduced topically to the eye, severe pain, conjunctivitis, and reduced visual actuity occur. Ingesting even a few seeds can cause violent and persistent vomiting and extreme diarrhea. Gardnerers are cautioned to wear goggles, gloves, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants when handling it.
Propagation: Seed or cutting. It is easy to propagate by cuttings in late spring to summer. Take a middle or tip stem cutting just above a joint, about 10 to 15 cm long and put it directly into the soil after milky sap has totally flowed out. (preferably dry, loose, extremely well draining soil) and allow to root before planting