Euphorbia esculenta Seeds - True Vingerpol - Indigenous Endemic Succulent

Euphorbia esculenta Seeds

The True Vingerpol

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. Many species are more or less succulent, thorny or unarmed. The main stem and mostly also the side arms of the succulent species are thick and fleshy. 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 esculenta was previously known as Euphorbia inermis var. laniglans. It is commonly known as The True Vingerpol. It is endemic to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa where is can be found from Uitenhage to Jansenville, Graaf-Reinett and Somerset East. The main stem is buried with many smaller stems branching from it. The "head" measures 50 cm in diameter. The flowers are clusters of sweetly scented terminal cyathias. The involucres are filled with white wooly bracteoles. The species name "esculenta" means edible. Hermann Wilhelm Rudolf Marloth in 1908 told farmers to feed these plants to their stock during droughts as they are highly nutritious.