devil's backbone

English

Noun

devil's backbone (uncountable)

  1. A perennial succulent spurge, native to tropical and subtropical North and Central America, of species Euphorbia tithymaloides (formerly known as Pedilanthus tithymaloides).
    Synonyms: redbird cactus, slipperflower, zigzag plant
    • 1973, Wilfred T. Neill, Twentieth-century Indonesia, Columbia University Press, →ISBN, page 74:
      Among the ornamentals that are commonly seen in but not native to Indonesia are a pink-flowered Dombeya, some Bauhinias or orchid trees,  […] and trumpet vine. To this list may also be added yellow Allamanda, some kinds of Hibiscus, an Aloe, crown of thorns, shrimp plant, "Singapore holly" (neither a holly nor from Singapore), devil's backbone or slipperflower, Plumbago, Cape-honey-suckle,  […]
    • 2012 August 15, Nellie Neal, “Devil's Backbone (Euphorbia tithymaloides)”, in Gardener's Guide to Tropical Plants: Cool Ways to Add Hot Colors, Bold Foliage, and Striking Textures, Cool Springs Press, →ISBN, page 105:
      Some say the flowers of devil's backbone look like cardinals perched around a feeder, each flower a long-tailed red teardrop that gives rise to another common name, red bird cactus.
    • 2017 April 4, Betsy Singleton Snyder, Stepping on Cheerios: Finding God in the Chaos and Clutter of Life, Abingdon Press, →ISBN:
      For years the matriarchs of the family grew a plant they called "devil's back," short for "devil's backbone." It's considered a subtropical succulent with variegated leaves.

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