Excoecaria cochinchinensis (Chinese Croton, Blindness Tree)

[M Farooq]

Chinese croton is a common foliage plant often requested for identification in this forum. The Latin difficult-to-pronounce Excoecaria cochinchinensis is to be read as eks-see-KAIR-ee-a ko-chin-chin-EN-sis as per Dave's garden instruction. Cochinchina is an old name for Taiwan and the genus means Excoecaria means to make blind. The plant has bi-colored leaves, green on the top and red underneath

Note: The sap/ latex, like many plants of the Euphorbia family, can make a human go blind for a short period of time in case of eye contact. Avoid "Pencil cactus" (Euphorbia tirucalli) and this plant in homes if there is a chance that curious children might interact with these plants. Pencil cactus is a common plant of Pakistan as well. Please share the picture of pencil cactus with us.

Photo credit: Forum members