Source: Wikipedia

Euphorbia milii, the crown-of-thorns, Christ plant , or Christ's thorn, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to Madagascar. The specifies commemorates Baron Milius, once Governor of Réunion, who introduced the species to France in 1821.

The native Malagasy name for this plant, songosongo, has also been applied to several other Euphorbia species. It is thought that the species was introduced to the Middle East in ancient times; legend, which associates it with the crown-of-thorns worn by Jesus Christ upon his crucifixion, has likely influenced the common name "crown-of-thorns". It is commonly used as an ornamental houseplant but can be grown outside year-round in warmer, frost-free climates.

E. milii is a woody, succulent subshrub or shrub growing up to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) tall, depending on cultivar, with densely spiny stems. Some varieties grow in a more horizontal, sprawling, or prostrate manner, while others grow nearly vertically.