Blog — Name Origin
How Crown of Thorns Got Its Name
Euphorbia milii, with the common names “Crown of Thorns”, “Christ Plant” or “Christ Thorns” hails from Madagascar, a large island situated in the western Indian Ocean, about 225 miles off the east coast of South Africa. The Latin name, Euphorbia, was coined by King Juba II of Numidia (present day Algeria) after he was treated with a certain potent medicinal plant. He named this plant after his Greek doctor Euphorbus who obtained the plant from Morocco in the Atlas Mountains. King Juba II reigned from between 29 BC-27 BC till his death in 23 AD. However it was only in 1753 when Euphorbia was officially established as the botanical name...