Q.(a) Write any five economic importance of family Euphorbiaceae. OR

Family Euphorbiaceae supplies economically valuable rubber, oil, food, medicine, and ornamental plants, illustrated by well-known genera such as Hevea, Ricinus, Manihot, Phyllanthus, and Euphorbia/Croton.

Family Euphorbiaceae (the spurge family) is a large dicot family with diverse economically important members:

1. Rubber — Hevea brasiliensis (the Para rubber tree) is the primary commercial source of natural rubber, obtained by tapping the latex from its bark; this rubber is used to manufacture tyres and countless other rubber products.

2. Oil — Ricinus communis (castor) seeds yield castor oil, an important non-edible oil used in medicine (as a laxative), as a lubricant, and in the manufacture of soaps, paints, and cosmetics.

3. Food — Manihot esculenta (tapioca/cassava) produces starchy tuberous roots that are an important staple food/carbohydrate source in many tropical regions, and are processed into tapioca pearls/starch.

4. Medicine — Phyllanthus emblica (amla/Indian gooseberry) produces a fruit rich in Vitamin C, widely used in traditional (Ayurvedic) medicine and in food preparations/preserves.

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