Couronne d’épines – Desert House, Princess of Wales Conservatory, Kew Gardens, Richmond upon Thames, London, England

Euphorbia milii (crown of thorns, Christ plant, Christ thorn, Couronne d’épines) is a flowering succulent climbing shrub growing to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) tall, with densely spiny stems. This species of the spurge family Euphorbiaciae is native to Madagascar. The species name commemorates Baron Milius, once Governor of Réunion, who introduced the species to France in 1821. It is suspected that the species was introduced to the Middle East in ancient times, and legend associates it with the crown of thorns worn by Jesus at the time of his passion. It is also found in Kerala, India. There is a tale stating that there were Jews living in Kerala and they brought the Christ thorn plant from Israel to India.