Euphorbia multiceps Seeds - South African Indigenous Succulent

Euphorbia multiceps Seeds

Manyheaded Euphorbia

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. 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. Hermann Wilhelm Rudolf Marloth discovered this very distinctive “manyheaded” Euphorbia in 1904 in the Laingsburg district. Not easily confused with any other species of Euphorbia, E. multiceps has a tall, conical main stem up to 600 mm high and 250 mm diameter at the base. The stem is covered with numerous horizontally spreading branches up to 75 mm long, decreasing upwards. Sharp-pointed, thick spines or modified peduncles arise from the stem and branches. Inflorescences are solitary at the tip of branches; glands light green.