Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Streptophyta

Class: Equiseptosida

Subclass: Magnoliidae

Order: Malpighiales

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Genus: Codiaeum

Species: variegatum

Description: It is a monoecious shrub with colourful leaves. The cultivated varieties are smaller and has amazing diversity of leaf shapes and colour. It has inconspicuous, star shaped and yellow flowers in racemose inflorescence. Leaves are ovate, entire, lobed and variegated. Male flowers are white with small petals and 20-30 stamens. The female flowers are yellowish with no petals. The fruit is a capsule.

Uses: It is used as an ornamental, used to treat amoebic dysentery and stomach ache. It is used to cure wounds and diseases also used to treat diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance, high blood cholesterol level etc.