Euphorbia clava - 10 Seed Pack - Rare Endemic Indigenous Succulent - Combined Shipping, NEW

Euphorbia is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. Consisting of 2008 species, Euphorbia is the fourth largest genus of flowering plants. The family is primarily found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and the Americas, but also in temperate zones worldwide. Succulent species originate mostly from Africa, the Americas and Madagascar. The common name "spurge" derives from the Middle English/Old French espurge ("to purge"), due to the use of the plant's sap as a medicinal purgative. The plants are annual or perennial herbs, woody shrubs or trees with a caustic, poisonous milky sap (latex).  

In the genus Euphorbia, succulence in the species has often evolved divergently and to differing degrees. Sometimes it is difficult to decide, and it is a question of interpretation, whether or not a species is really succulent or "only" xerophytic. In some cases, especially with geophytes, plants closely related to the succulents are normal herbs.

About 850 species are succulent in the strictest sense. If one includes slightly succulent and xerophytic species, this figure rises to about 1000, representing about 45% of all Euphorbia species. Smaller Euphorbias make excellent potted plants while larger species are valuable landscaping plants.

Euphorbia clava commonly known as Club Euphorbia is a succulent shrublet that grows 60cm to 150cm in height. It is endemic to the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. They are characteristically club-shaped when young. The stems are cylindrical, deep green, erect, simple and ribbed, with hexagonal tubercles to 6 mm long and 1-1.5 cm wide at base. The branchlets are also club-shaped. From late winter to spring it bears pretty flowers which are followed by round seed pods, which when dry, catapult the seeds a surprising distance from the plant.