Euphorbia neriifolia, also known as Indian tree spurge, hedge Euphorbia, Oleander spurge and fleshy spurge, is a species of spurge native to India, originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The leaves of this plant are used in making traditional kajal in West Bengal, India. It is native to central India, Odisha, and southern India in the Deccan, but has now become naturalized in West Bengal, Sri Lanka, and throughout Southeast Asia, including Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia (except Borneo), the Philippines, and New Guinea. It is also cultivated as a hedge and ornamental plant in other tropical regions.

A xerophytic succulent plant well adapted to tropical and subtropical conditions. In nature, it is common in dry, rocky areas (slopes, rock crevices) and forest edges; modern ecological reports indicate it occurs up to ~1,000 m asl. It prefers very well-drained soils; it grows in sandy/loamy soils in rocky or poor soil locations, including rock gardens and dry gardens. It is drought-tolerant; sensitive to soggy/waterlogged soils (prone to root rot).

• A strong, deep-seated taproot with numerous lateral roots. This adaptation makes it drought-resistant, capable of absorbing water from rocky soil cracks. The root structure also plays a role in strengthening the relatively heavy and succulent stem. (This conclusion is supported by ethnobotany and rocky habitat ecology literature.)

• Stem: Green, thick, cactus-like, with 5–7 distinct ribs (angled ridges). The ribs contain spirally arranged tubercles (small protrusions) to which leaves and spines attach. The stem stores water (a succulent structure) to cope with dry conditions. Short, stiff spines derived from modified stipules serve as protection from herbivores.

• Leaves appear at the tips of young branches and are not permanent (deciduous), so older stems often appear bare. Shape: Obovate–oblong, thick and fleshy (succulent leaves), approximately 10–18 cm long and 3–7 cm wide. Leaf veins: Pinnate, with a shiny surface. Leaves play a vital role in photosynthesis during the growing season but fall to reduce water loss when dry.

• The inflorescence consists of simple, compound flowers that branch one to three times. The short, strong flower stalks bear reddish cyathia. The elongated nectar glands touch each other. The flowers are flattened, globose, measuring 1.5-2 mm x 4-5 mm, reddish, with a 6-7 mm pedicel. The corolla is absent, but the involucrum has two bright red, almost round to oval bracts, 3-7 mm long.

• The deeply lobed fruit is about 12 millimeters long and borne on a prominent, curved stalk.

• Generative propagation is by seed.

• Vegetative propagation is by stem cuttings, but this method is not relevant due to the difficult growth process.

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, wound healing, anti-anxiety, anti-convulsant, anti-psychotic, antioxidant, cytotoxic, purgative, diuretic, rubefacient, vermifuge; for constipation, asthma, sore throat, hemorrhoids, jaundice/ascites.

Terpenoids, especially ingenane-type diterpenoids, triterpenoids such as euphol, flavonoids, & saponins.