Crown Of Thorns Plant
The crown of thorns plant is a succulent species which is originally native to Madagascar. Being a succulent is of great advantage to the plant, who derives its moisture requirements from the humidity in the air rather than from the ground. The crown of thorns plant can reach heights of 6 feet and is most likely to flower all year round when conditions are fair. Unlike most species, this remarkable shrub does most of its blooming throughout the winter months, tapering off a bit toward the summer when energy needs to be conserved.
Though there is no concrete evidence that this is the very plant sourced for the making of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion crown, it certainly fits the description and roll to a tee. It is easily manipulated into a weaved circle, it bares the thorns worthy of both legend and historical record, and it was transported to the Middle East before the time of Christ. Both the climatic scopes and the historical attributes line up more perfectly with the time of the crucifixion than do those of any other plant, giving much to weight to the theory that the crown of thorns plant was named so for very good reason.
The crown of thorns plant carries within its leaves and stalks a lethal form of latex, and those who are sensitive to this element will often suffer effects much like those associated with poison ivy. Even those who have no allergy to the latex compound will have a difficult time negotiating the formidable thorns on this plant, thorns which can reach over an inch in length. They are strong and hardy, capable of causing very painful puncture wounds when handled improperly. As the plant grows skyward the foliage is often lost completely toward the upper end of the stalk. You may, therefore, detect plush, beautiful foliage blanketing the ground and scattered with pretty little pink flowers, but long, gnarly stalks of brown thorns protruding. This is natural, and these stalks are still alive, but their purposeful guard over the delicate new growth beneath is all that is required of them now.
On the positive side for the crown of thorns plant and its poisonous elements, it is never victim to pest invasion. There are few herbivorous organisms who can withstand the potency of latex, which leaves the plant to its own devices. Its worries then turn to the moisture content in the air, and an improper balance of this element can spell certain death for the crown of thorns plant. If you find that your beloved succulent may be struggling with drought, a nice misting with a spray bottle each day will help it to hold out for better days.