The "4 Ages of Man" Folio

[bi3mw]

.... Why can't Euphorbia fruit have a double meaning? It's named after a famous doctor to an ancient king and the resemblance to a scepter or a guardian angel might be a reference to this important person.....

Just to clarify, when it comes to identification of plants according to well-known traditions, I'm fully on your side. Provided the illustrator(s) had no interest in hiding something.
I already had the idea that some plants might be depicted as described, but not on this subject. Of course, Euphorbia is a possible interpretation, but maybe it's too good to be true.

Now I have to stop myself, otherwise it will be completely off topic.