Euphorbia tuberculata - 3 Seed Pack - Indigenous Endemic Drought Tolerant Succulent - NEW

Euphorbia tuberculata Seeds

South African Endemic Succulent

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. Euphorbia tuberculata is endemic to South Africa with a distribution that reaches from the Western Cape and Northern Cape from Malmesbury north to Namaqualand. The main stem of this succulent is mostly submerged below the soil. From the main stem appears a rosette of decumbent or erect stems that are 4cm thick and up to 7.5cm in height. The stems are tuberculed and green. This is a winter growing summer dormant species and should be kept relatively dry during this period.