Crown of Thorns

"The crown-of-thorns, Euphorbia milii, is a shrub of arid regions, belonging to the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It is native to Madagascar but is grown extensively as a houseplant. The slender stems are armed with spines, the leaves are dull green and fall off if disturbed, and the flower bracts are a soft salmon-pink with a pale center. The crown-of-thorns is grown as a hedge plant in the tropics, where it may reach a height of 1.2 m (4 ft)."