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Euphorbia clava

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Euphorbia clava
Forms erect club-shaped leafed stems with hexagonal tubercles in rows.
 


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Family: Euphorbiaceae

Accepted scientific name:  Euphorbia clava Jacq.
Published In: Icones Plantarum Rariorum 1: 9. 1784. (Icon. Pl. Rar.)

Common English Names include:  Club Spurge

Origin: East Cape endemic (from Humansdorp to King William's Town), South Africa

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Etymology: Named for Euphorbus, Greek physician to Juba II, King of Mauretania.
The species name comes from the Latin 'clava', = 'club' and refers to the club-shaped branches.

Description: Succulent shrublet 60 to 1.5 m tall producing a dense cluster. Characteristically club-shaped when young.
Stem: Cylindrical, deep green, erect, simple and ribbed, with hexagonal tubercles to 6 mm long and 1-1.5 cm wide at base. Branchlets club-shaped.
Spines: Spineless.
Leaves: Bright green to glaucous green, linear, with the edges parallel and long lasting.
Flowers: Very pretty, and ample, long peduncled, cyathia with light-green to purplish bracts.
Blooming season:
Late winter to spring.
Fruits: Once the pod dries, it will dehisce and catapult it's seeds a surprising distance.
 

 


Cultivation: It is an easy species to grow that is suited for any well drained soil in full sun. But young plant are happy growing indoors, where they can easily reach the ceiling. Give the plant an airy growing medium which mainly consists of non organic material such us clay, pumice, lava grit, and only a little peat or leaf-mould. Water regularly during the active growing season from March to September. No water should ever be allowed to stand around the roots. Keep almost completely dry in winter. It is a moderately fast grower, and will quickly become large landscape masterpieces in just 3-5 years. Only downside is from strong winds, the columns often smash into each other, causing permanent scarring... best to plant in such a location where winds are not a big issue. If plant becomes very red, this is a sign that the roots have not developed properly. It is a relatively fast growing and long lived plant and once established, it will be content in its position and with its soil for years. It can tolerate moderate shade, and a plant that has been growing in shade should be slowly hardened off before placing it in full sun as the plant will be severely scorched if moved too suddenly from shade into sun. Like quite small pots, repott in very later winter, early spring. Can be pruned for shape and branching. Frost tender, frost free zones only. Plant Pests: Prone to mealy bugs and rarely scale.
Propagation:  It is easy to propagate by cuttings in late spring to summer,  just take a cutting of the plant let it dry for 1 or 2 weeks and stuff it in the ground (preferably dry, loose, extremely well draining soil).
Warning: All Euphorbias contain a white sap that can be irritating to eyes and mucous membranes. If contact is made with this white sap, take care to not touch face or eyes before washing hands with soap and water.

Photo gallery: Alphabetical listing of Cactus and Succulent pictures published in this site.

Photo gallery EUPHORBIA

Home | E-mail | Plant files | Mail Sale Catalogue | Links | Information | Search

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Encyclopaedia of Succulents. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.