''Stillingia'' is a

plant Plants are the eukaryotes that form the Kingdom (biology), kingdom Plantae; they are predominantly Photosynthesis, photosynthetic. This means that they obtain their energy from sunlight, using chloroplasts derived from endosymbiosis with c ...

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae (), the spurge family, is a large family of flowering plants. In English, they are also commonly called euphorbias, which is also the name of Euphorbia, the type genus of the family. Most spurges, such as ''Euphorbia paralias'', ar ...

, first described for modern science as a genus in 1767. The genus is native to

Latin America Latin America is the cultural region of the Americas where Romance languages are predominantly spoken, primarily Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese. Latin America is defined according to cultural identity, not geogr ...

, the southern

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, and various islands in the

Pacific The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is bounded by the cont ...

and Indian Oceans. Toothleaf is a common name for plants in this genus. It is known to contain

diterpene Diterpenes are a class of terpenes composed of four isoprene units, often with the molecular formula C20H32. They are biosynthesized by plants, animals and fungi via the HMG-CoA reductase pathway, with geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate being a primary ...

esters In chemistry, an ester is a chemical compound, compound derived from an acid (either organic or inorganic) in which the hydrogen atom (H) of at least one acidic hydroxyl group () of that acid is replaced by an organyl group (R). These compounds c ...

. It can grow up to 4 feet, but most Toothleaf do not.

Medical use

Stillingia sylvatica ''Stillingia sylvatica'', known as queen's-delight or queen's delight, is a species of flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae. It was described in 1767. It is endemic to the south-central and southeastern United States, growing in sandy area ...

'' was used by Native Americans for

syphilis Syphilis () is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium ''Treponema pallidum'' subspecies ''pallidum''. The signs and symptoms depend on the stage it presents: primary, secondary, latent syphilis, latent or tertiary. The prim ...

and as a

cathartic In medicine, a cathartic is a substance that ''accelerates'' defecation. This is similar to a laxative, which is a substance that ''eases'' defecation, usually by softening feces. It is possible for a substance to be both a laxative and a cathar ...

diuretic A diuretic () is any substance that promotes diuresis, the increased production of urine. This includes forced diuresis. A diuretic tablet is sometimes colloquially called a water tablet. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics ...

laxative Laxatives, purgatives, or aperients are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation. Laxatives vary as to how they work and the side effects they may have. Certain stimulant, lubri ...

, and

emetic Vomiting (also known as emesis, puking and throwing up) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose. Vomiting can be the result of ailments like food poisoning, gastroenteritis, preg ...

.Native American Ethnobotany
/ref> In large doses, it causes

vomiting Vomiting (also known as emesis, puking and throwing up) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose. Vomiting can be the result of ailments like food poisoning, gastroenteritis, pre ...

and

diarrhea Diarrhea (American English), also spelled diarrhoea or diarrhœa (British English), is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery bowel movements in a day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration d ...

. Stillingia root is one of the ingredients in Hoxsey Herbal Therapy, which is promoted as an alternative cancer treatment. However, there is no medical evidence to support use of Stillingia to treat cancer, infections, or other medical conditions.

Taxonomy

Species include: Many species formerly in ''Stillingia'' have been moved to other genera, including ''

Actinostemon ''Actinostemon'' is a plant genus of the family (biology), family Euphorbiaceae first described as a genus in 1841. It is native to South America, Central America, and the West Indies.González Ramírez, J. 2010. Euphorbiaceae. En: Manual de Plan ...

'', '' Adenopeltis'', '' Anomostachys'', '' Balakata'', ''

Bonania ''Bonania'' is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae first described as a genus in 1850. It is native to the West Indies.Govaerts, R., Frodin, D.G. & Radcliffe-Smith, A. (2000). World Checklist and Bibliography of Euphorbiaceae (and Pandaceae ...

'', ''

Ditrysinia ''Ditrysinia'' is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae first described as a genus in 1825. It contains only one recognized species, ''Ditrysinia fruticosa'', the Gulf Sebastian-bush, native to the southeastern United States (E Texas, Louisia ...

'', ''

Excoecaria ''Excoecaria'' is a plant genus of the family (biology), family Euphorbiaceae, formally described by Linnaeus in 1759. The genus is native to the Old World Tropics (Africa, southern Asia, northern Australia, and assorted oceanic islands). Etymol ...

'', ''

Grimmeodendron ''Grimmeodendron'' is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae first described as a genus in 1908. It is native to the West Indies. ;Species # '' Grimmeodendron eglandulosum'' (A.Rich.) Urb. - Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola (Dominican Republic, Hait ...

'', ''

Gymnanthes ''Gymnanthes'' is a genus of flowering plants in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, first described as a genus in 1788. It is found primarily in the warmer parts of the Western Hemisphere (from Florida and Mexico south to Argentina), but with som ...

'', ''

Homalanthus ''Homalanthus'' is a genus of plants in the family Euphorbiaceae, first described in 1824. It is the only genus in the subtribe Carumbiinae. It is native to mainland Southeast Asia, Malesia, Papuasia, northern and eastern Australia, and various ...

'', '' Maprounea'', ''

Microstachys Microstachys is a genus of plants in the Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae (), the spurge family, is a large family of flowering plants. In English, they are also commonly called euphorbias, which is also the name of Euphorbia, the type genus of th ...

'', '' Neoshirakia'', ''

Sapium ''Sapium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Euphorbiaceae. It is widespread across most of Latin America and the West Indies. Many Old World species were formerly included in the genus, but recent authors have redistributed all the O ...

'', '' Sclerocroton'', ''

Sebastiania ''Sebastiania'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Euphorbiaceae first described in 1821. It is native to North and South America from Arizona and the West Indies south to Uruguay Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of ...

'', ''

Shirakiopsis ''Shirakiopsis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Euphorbiaceae first described as a genus in 1999. There are six known species, 3 native to tropical Asia and 3 to tropical Africa.Spegazziniophytum ''Spegazziniophytum'' is a genus of plants in the family Euphorbiaceae first described in 2001. It contains only one known species, ''Spegazziniophytum patagonicum'', which is endemic to Argentina (Provinces of Mendoza, Neuquén, Chubut Chubut ...

'', '' Spirostachys'', and ''

Triadica ''Triadica'' is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae first described as a genus in 1790. It is native to eastern southeastern, and southern Asia. Species included are: # '' Triadica cochinchinensis'' Lour. - China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, ...

''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q147720 Euphorbiaceae genera