Euphorbia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. Consisting of 2008 species. Euphorbia kansui, Herbs, 20-30 cm tall. Rootstock irregularly swollen, somewhat moniliform, 20-40 cm × 6-9 mm thick. Stems many branched basally, sometimes only few, 3-5 mm thick. Leaves alternate; stipules absent; petiole absent; leaf blade linear-lanceolate, linear, or linear-elliptic, very variable, 2-7 cm × 4-5 mm, base attenuate, entire, apex obtuse or acuminate; lateral veins inconspicuous. Cyathophylls 3-6, obovate-elliptic, 1-2.5 cm × 4-6 mm, base attenuate, apex obtuse or acute. Cyathium subsessile; involucre cuplike, ca. 3 × 3 mm, lobes rounded, white pilose on margin and inside; glands 4, dark yellow to pale brown, crescent-shaped, 2 horns inconspicuous.

Three macrocyclic jatrophane diterpenes were isolated from euphorbia kansui and were characterized as kansuinin D1 (1), kansuinin D (2), kansuinin A (3).