Thor/ Danda Thor/ Churee (Euphorbia royleana) is a large cactus-like shrub, up to 5 m tall, with stout trunk and many thick fleshy branches with 5-7 thick, wavy, winged ridges armed with pairs of thorns on their margins. Leaves are fleshy, spoon-shaped, 10-15 cm long. The stems become leafless during hot and cold seasons. Flower-heads are yellow-green, 3-4 in almost stalkless clusters in leaf axils. Fruit is 3-lobed, about 1 cm across. Danda Thor is found in the Himalayas up to 1800 m elevation. Flowering: March-May.
The fresh latex of the plant has a rich sweet odour. Extracts from the latex have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, anti-arthititic properties and even anti-leukemic properties. Danda Thor has traditionally been used in Ayurvedic and Yunani medicine.
Thor also makes a wonderful garden plant.
